bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-quantitative FDG parameters predict survival in multiple myeloma patients without autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: Lee Hyunjong , Hyun Seung Hyup , Cho Young Seok , Moon Seung Hwan , Choi Joon Young , Kim Kihyun , Lee Kyung-Han
Published: October 2023

Background

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) is useful in multiple myeloma (MM) for initial workup and treatment response evaluation. Herein, we evaluated the prognostic value of semi-quantitative FDG parameters for predicting the overall survival (OS) of MM patients with or without autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Methods

Study subjects comprised 227 MM patients who underwent baseline FDG PET/CT. Therein, 123 underwent ASCT while 104 did not. Volumes of interest (VOIs) of bones were drawn on CT images using a threshold of 150 Hounsfield units. FDG parameters of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and number of focal lesions (FLs) were measured. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed for overall survival (OS).

Results

In the ASCT cohort, R-ISS stage, MTV, and TLG were associated with survival. In the non-ASCT cohort, however, R-ISS stage was not associated with patient outcomes. In contrast, high SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, TLG, and FL could predict worse OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.569, 2.649, 2.506, 2.839, and 1.988, respectively). Importantly, combining FDG parameters with R-ISS stage provided a new risk classification system that discriminated worse OS in the non-ASCT cohort significantly better than did R-ISS stage alone.

Conclusions

In the non-ASCT cohort, semi-quantitative FDG parameters were significant predictors of worse OS. Furthermore, combining FDG parameters with R-ISS stage may provide a new risk staging system that can better stratify the survival of MM patients without ASCT.
Quality of End-of-Life Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer
Authors: Mack Jennifer W. , Cernik Colin , Uno Hajime , Laurent Cecile A. , Fisher Lauren , Xu Lanfang , Munneke Julie , Cannizzaro Nancy , Casperson Mallory , Schwartz Corey M. , Lakin Joshua R. , Cooper Robert M. , Altschuler Andrea , Wiener Lori , Chao Chun R. , Kushi Lawrence
Published: October 2023

Adolescents, young adults with cancer receive limited psychosocial and spiritual support near death.
Impact of Specialized Treatment Setting on Survival in Adolescent and Young Adult ALL
Authors: Muffly Lori S. , Parsons Helen M. , Miller Kate , Li Qian , Brunson Ann , Keegan Theresa H.
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Unlike children with ALL who receive cancer care primarily at specialized cancer centers (SCCs; National Cancer Institute and/or Children's Oncology Group centers), adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 15-39 years) receive care in a variety of settings. Using population-based data, we describe where AYAs with ALL receive treatment and determine associations with overall survival (OS).

METHODS

Data from the 2004 to 2018 California (CA, n = 2,283), New York (NY, n = 795), and Texas (TX, n = 955) state cancer registries were used to identify treatment setting of AYAs with newly diagnosed ALL. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models evaluated associations with OS.

RESULTS

Seventy percent were older than 18 years, and 65% were male. A majority in CA (63%) and TX (64%) were Hispanic while most in NY were non-Hispanic White (50%). Treatment at an SCC occurred in 48.2% (CA), 44.4% (NY), and 19.5% (TX). Across states, AYAs who were older or uninsured were less likely to receive treatment at an SCC. Treatment at an SCC was associated with superior OS in CA (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.85) and TX (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.83); a nonsignificant association was seen in NY (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.08).

CONCLUSION

Only 20%-50% of AYA patients with ALL received frontline treatment at SCCs. Treatment of ALL at an SCC was associated with superior survival, highlighting the importance of policy efforts to improve access and reduce inequities in AYA ALL care.
Slope Takers in Anonymous Markets
Authors: Quint Daniel , Weretka Marek
Published: October 2023

We present a learning-based selection argument for Linear Bayesian Nash equilibrium in a Walrasian auction. Endowments vary stochastically; traders model residual supply as linear, estimate its slope from past trade data, and periodically update these estimates. In the standard setting with quadratic preferences, we show that this learning process converges to the unique LBN. Anonymity and statistical learning therefore support this commonly used equilibrium selection rule. (JEL D43, D44, D83)
A systematic review of trends in photobiomodulation in dentistry between 2018 and 2022: advances and investigative agenda
Authors: Rodriguez Salazar David Yeret , Málaga Rivera Jimmy Alain , Laynes Effio José Edinson , Valencia-Arias Alejandro
Published: October 2023

Background Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves laser therapy utilized in medical sciences to modulate biological processes acting as a palliative and immune response-enhancing treatment. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore current trends in PBM-related scientific production, encompassing publications, citations, impact, keywords and clusters. Additionally, it aims to predict future research trends in this domain. Methods The data for this quantitative and qualitative bibliometric analysis were obtained from 608 scientific documents retrieved in November 2022, with 123 sourced from Web of Science and 485 from Scopus, Utilizing Excel, the data was processed in Excel to extract essencial information. Productivity and impact were evaluated for eligibility, and VOSviewer aided in determining associativity for the bibliometric analysis. Results The findings of this study demostrate that the scientific production related to PBM adheres to a growth power law, exhibiting characteristics of both exponential and linear phases. Notably, recent research trends emphasize critical concepts such as laser therapy, orthodontics, and dental pulp stem cells. Particularly significant is the burgeoning interest in utilizing PBM within dentistry as a complementary alternative to existing protocols. Conclusions PBM stands as a promising laser therapy within medical applications. Through a detailed bibliometric analysis, this study underscores the increasing significance of PBM, especially within the realm of dental treatments. These insights offer a glimpse into the evolving landscape of PBM research and provide valuable guidance for potential future directions of study.
Strategies for promoting sustainable use and conservation of indigenous chicken breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from low-income countries
Authors: Kanyama Christopher .M , Moss Amy .F , Crowley Tamsyn .M
Published: October 2023

This review explores innovative and sustainable strategies for the utilization and conservation of indigenous chickens (IC) (Gallus domesticus) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), drawing lessons from selected low-income countries. Small-scale farmers (SSF) have kept IC for hundreds of years to meet their households’ nutritional needs, incomes, and social-cultural and religious uses. The commitment exhibited by SSF to keeping IC has made them the significant custodians of essential animal genetic resources AnGR in most low-income countries. Between 1991 and 2012, Zambia’s private breeders invested over US$95 million in the commercial poultry sector, resulting in over a 100% increase in the annual production of day-old chicks to 65 million. However, high production costs and low market access hindered rural farmers’ full participation, hence their continued dependence on IC breeds. The erosion of AnGR poses the biggest threat to IC in SSA. The Food and Agriculture Organisation, an international body of the United Nations, highlighted that over 3.5% (60) of chicken breeds were extinct, 21.3% (368) were at risk of extinction, and nearly 67% (1068) were under unknown risk status. The report stated that 12.3% of the known chicken breeds were not at risk. Poultry diseases, lack of sustainable conservation strategies and poor use have significantly contributed to these losses. In 2012, 60% of IC were reportedly diseased in parts of SSA. The continued loss of IC-AnGR may negatively impact rural livelihoods and impede future poultry research and breeding programs. This paper reviews the IC sector in SSA, the socioeconomic, cultural and religious roles of IC and lessons on researcher-community-stakeholder strategies from selected low-income countries. The paper concludes and outlines some recommendations for future research.
Rejoinder on “Frontiers: The Interplay of User-Generated Content, Content Industry Revenues, and Platform Regulation: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from YouTube”
Authors: Wlömert Nils , Papies Dominik , Clement Michel , Spann Martin
Published: October 2023

This rejoinder acknowledges the thoughtful commentary of Tushnet (2023) on Wlömert et al. (2023) and summarizes the study’s relevance for questions concerning platform regulation.
Pemanfaatan Teknologi Informasi dalam Penyusunan Materi Pembelajaran Berbasis Multimedia Interaktif pada SDN Sutorejo I/240 Surabaya
Authors: Navastara Dini Adni , Suciati Nanik , Fatichah Chastine , Tjandrasa Handayani
Published: October 2023

Model pembelajaran yang efektif diperlukan oleh setiap Lembaga Pendidikan. Di era digital ini, teknologi dapat dimanfaatkan untuk meningkatkan pembelajaran tersebut. Dengan perkembangan teknologi yang semakin pesat dan canggih tentunya akan membuat pengelola pendidikan, khususnya guru/pengajar akan semakin berupaya untuk meningkatkan kompetensinya mempelajari teknologi dalam rangka meningkatkan kualitas pembelajaran di sekolah. Sekolah Dasar Negeri Sutorejo I/240 Surabaya merupakan salah satu sekolah dasar negeri yang turut serta dalam pengembangan materi pembelajaran pada program Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan (Kemdikbud) yaitu Rumah Belajar. Agar bahan materi pembelajaran menarik, terstruktur dan interaktif, maka guru menyusun materi pembelajaran dengan berbasis multimedia. Oleh karena itu, dalam rangka meningkatkan kualitas pembelajaran, dilakukan kegiatan pelatihan pemanfaatan teknologi informasi, seperti Microsoft PowerPoint untuk menyusun materi pembelajaran berbasis multimedia interaktif. Kegiatan terbagi menjadi empat tahap yaitu persiapan, pelatihan, pendampingan, dan evaluasi. Pelaksanaan pelatihan dan pendampingan dilakukan secara hybrid, yaitu daring dan luring di Laboratorium Pemrograman I Teknik Informatika ITS. Dan pelaksanaan evaluasi dilakukan secara luring di SDN Sutorejo I/240, Surabaya. Berdasarkan hasil evaluasi, peserta pelatihan yaitu guru dapat mengimplementasikan materi pelatihan dengan baik, sehingga peserta didik lebih tertarik dengan pembelajaran menggunakan Microsoft PowerPoint.
Hans Jonas's Gnostic Myth: An Existentialist Worldview Between Romanticism and Christianity
Authors: Engel Amir
Published: October 2023

abstract: The essay examines the historical role of an important yet largely forgotten work, namely, Hans Jonas's 1934 Gnosticism and the Spirit of Late Antiquity, Part 1: Mythological Gnosticism , the major project of his early philosophical career. The essay suggests that this early work should be understood not only as a preliminary stage of a debate that will reach fruition later, but as it addresses some of the fundamental problems in nineteenth-century German thought, namely the problem of dualism. More specifically, the essay suggests seeing Jonas's early work as part of the history of German thought as it depicts a transition from German Romanticism to Existentialism, making innovative use of two of the most salient terms of nineteenth-century German philosophy, the "symbol" and the "myth."
Uncommemorated Sites of Genocide: Mass Graves, Pits, or Garbage Dumps? Vernacular Responses to the Holocaust in Poland
Authors: Sendyka Roma
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Understanding the unique status of uncommemorated trauma sites requires questioning the practice of referring to such sites solely as "mass graves." Indeed, it is the fact that the people once thrown into the pits have never been buried that generates today's ambivalent memory of the past associated with a given place. The unburied—in grassroots perception—threaten social homeostasis. I compare the findings of anthropologists regarding burial practices with the knowledge provided today by forensic/conflict archaeologists and ethnographers, indicating the special status of sites containing unritualized bodies of victims. This more nuanced approach, differentiating "mass graves" from "burial pits" will allow for more complex readings of contemporary interactions with a site, exhibited by local "implicated" bystander communities. Eastern European Holocaust landscapes especially, may thus be open to renewed scrutiny.
It Looks Pretty from a Distance : Eco-memory and the Vitality of Holocaust Landscapes in Poland
Authors: Baker Emily-Rose
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Holocaust scholarship of the post-witness era has turned increasingly to environmental histories of the event as a means of implicating ecological sites and more-than-human lifeforms as powerful agents of memory. In this context, emergent concepts such as ecological memory and witnessing become useful paradigms for representing and remembering the Holocaust in places marked by the absence or erasure of human voices in particular. This article examines the role and representation of these concepts in Polish directors Anka and Wilhelm Sasnal's film It Looks Pretty from a Distance ( Z daleka widok jest piekny , 2011), in which ecological sites and landscapes bring the repressed local history of wartime Jewish murder and Catholic Polish collaboration to the surface of a provincial Polish community. I argue that the film reconceptualises humancentred notions of witnessing and testimony according to the theoretical works of Roseanne Kennedy and Shela Sheikh, and considers how Holocaust representation can portray the vitality of more-than-human ecological landscapes without their romanticisation.
Paris as a Material Witness in a Differend: Patrick Modiano's Dora Bruder
Authors: Duffy Helena
Published: October 2023

Abstract: The article examines Patrick Modiano's much commented upon semi-autobiographical historiographic metafiction Dora Bruder [The Search Warrant] (1997) through the lens of two interconnected theoretical concepts: the "differend", coined by Jean-François Lyotard to designate a situation where a plaintiff is divested of linguistic and legal means to claim her damage, and the "material witness", as Susan Schuppli has dubbed an object capable of testifying to past violence. I argue that, in the face of the evidential deficit that proceeds from the destruction of the Jewish diaspora of Paris during the Holocaust and from France's post-war memory politics in relation to the Occupation and Deportation, Modiano relies on the French capital's topography and architecture for information about Dora, her parents, and her community. Moreover, like Schuppli, he invests Parisian addresses with juridical significance so that they can become witnesses in the case he builds against wartime and post-war French authorities with a view to countering the differend to which Dora and her likes have been sentenced.
Dispersion models exhibiting natural optical activity: application to tartaric acid solutions
Authors: Hroncová Beáta , Franta Daniel , Dvořák Jan , Pavliňák David
Published: October 2023

A physically consistent dispersion model, incorporating the optical activity of an isotropic medium and dependent on the size and direction of the wave vector, is presented and used in the optical characterization of a solution of tartaric acid in dimethyl sulfoxide. It is shown that the optical activity can be described simply by three optically active harmonic oscillators. Two of these oscillators effectively describe the excitation of valence electrons, while the third describes the excitation of vibrational states in tartaric acid molecules. Higher-energy valence electron excitations are identified as the bond energies of C-C bonds, and lower-energy excitations correspond to the remaining bonds. The results presented in this work are compared with the results that can be obtained using the phenomenological models commonly used in practice. As part of the optical characterization, the non-locality radius of the dielectric response was found to be surprisingly large, namely, 56 nm.
Robust shortcut for controlling Bloch states in optical lattices
Authors: Hu Dong , Jin Shengjie , Yu Zhongcheng , Shui Hongmian , Wang Yu , Zhou Xiaoji
Published: October 2023

The ability to manipulate quantum states with robustness is crucial for various quantum applications, including quantum computation, quantum simulation, and quantum precision measurement. While pulsed shortcut techniques have proven effective for controlling bands and orbits in optical lattices, their robustness has not been extensively studied. In this paper, we present an improved shortcut design scheme that retains the advantages of high speed and high fidelity, while ensuring exceptional robustness. We conduct comprehensive experimental verifications to demonstrate the effectiveness of this new robust shortcut and its application in quantum gate design. The proposed scheme is expected to enhance the robustness of optical lattice orbit-based interferometry, quantum gates, and other processes.
Highly sensitive magnetic field sensors based on Fe2O3 nanorods grown on the surface of a tapered few mode fiber
Authors: Li Li , Jiang Chao , Han Yuanyuan , Hu Chuanju , Deng Longfeng , Gao Jiawei , Jiang Wenbo , Chen Fulin , Tan Haidong , Wen Jian , Li Hong
Published: October 2023

A magnetic field (MF) sensor with a stable structure and high sensitivity has been proposed and experimentally verified. We used the water bath method to produce a layer of Fe2O3 nanorods on a tapered few mode fiber (FMF) surface to form a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The experiment found that the nanostructure produced on the surface of FMF were particularly stable and firm. Under the action of an external MF, the magnetic permeability of a Fe2O3 nanorod will change, leading to a change in its refractive index, resulting in a linear shift in the resonance wavelength of MZI. The experimental results showed that the MF sensitivity of MZI reached -0.5348 nm/mT in 10 mT∼80 mT. In addition, MZI has a certain sensitivity to environmental humidity and temperature. A long-period fiber grating and a fiber Bragg grating are cascaded with MZI to achieve a simultaneous measurement of three quantities and eliminate their cross-sensitivity.
The impact of COVID-19 on health financing in Kenya
Authors: Kairu Angela , Orangi Stacey , Mbuthia Boniface , Arwah Brian , Guleid Fatuma , Keru Janet , Vilcu Ileana , Musuva Anne , Ravishankar Nirmala , Barasa Edwine
Published: October 2023

Sudden shocks to health systems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt health system functions. Health system functions may also influence the health system’s ability to deliver in the face of sudden shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the health financing function in Kenya, and how specific health financing arrangements influenced the health systems capacity to deliver services during the COVID-19 pandemic.We conducted a cross-sectional study in three purposively selected counties in Kenya using a qualitative approach. We collected data using in-depth interviews (n = 56) and relevant document reviews. We interviewed national level health financing stakeholders, county department of health managers, health facility managers and COVID-19 healthcare workers. We analysed data using a framework approach. Purchasing arrangements: COVID-19 services were partially subsidized by the national government, exposing individuals to out-of-pocket costs given the high costs of these services. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) adapted its enhanced scheme’s benefit package targeting formal sector groups to include COVID-19 services but did not make any adaptations to its general scheme targeting the less well-off in society. This had potential equity implications. Public Finance Management (PFM) systems: Nationally, PFM processes were adaptable and partly flexible allowing shorter timelines for budget and procurement processes. At county level, PFM systems were partially flexible with some resource reallocation but maintained centralized purchasing arrangements. The flow of funds to counties and health facilities was delayed and the procurement processes were lengthy. Reproductive and child health services: Domestic and donor funds were reallocated towards the pandemic response resulting in postponement of program activities and affected family planning service delivery. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plans: Prioritization of UHC related activities was negatively impacted due the shift of focus to the pandemic response. Contrarily the strategic investments in the health sector were found to be a beneficial approach in strengthening the health system. Strengthening health systems to improve their resilience to cope with public health emergencies requires substantial investment of financial and non-financial resources. Health financing arrangements are integral in determining the extent of adaptability, flexibility, and responsiveness of health system to COVID-19 and future pandemics.
Impact of cervical screening by human papillomavirus genotype: Population-based estimations
Authors: Wang Jiangrong , Elfström K. Miriam , Lagheden Camilla , Eklund Carina , Sundström Karin , Sparén Pär , Dillner Joakim
Published: October 2023

Background

Cervical screening programs use testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes. Different HPV types differ greatly in prevalence and oncogenicity. We estimated the impact of cervical screening and follow-up for each HPV type.

Methods and findings

For each type of HPV, we calculated the number of women needed to screen (NNS) and number of women needing follow-up (NNF) to detect or prevent one cervical cancer case, using the following individual level input data (i) screening and cancer data for all women aged 25 to 80 years, resident in Sweden during 2004 to 2011 (N = 3,568,938); (ii) HPV type-specific prevalences and screening histories among women with cervical cancer in Sweden in 2002 to 2011(N = 4,254); (iii) HPV 16/18/other HPV prevalences in the population-based HPV screening program (N = 656,607); and (iv) exact HPV genotyping in a population-based cohort (n = 12,527). Historical screening attendance was associated with a 72% reduction of cervical cancer incidence caused by HPV16 (71.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) [69.1%, 73.9%]) and a 54% reduction of cancer caused by HPV18 (53.8%, 95% CI [40.6%, 63.1%]). One case of HPV16-caused cervical cancer could be prevented for every 5,527 women attending screening (number needed to screen, NNS). Prevention of one case of HPV16-caused cervical cancer required follow-up of 147 HPV16–positive women (number needed to follow-up, NNF). The NNS and NNF were up to 40 to 500 times higher for HPV types commonly screened for with lower oncogenic potential (HPV35,39,51,56,59,66,68). For women below 30 years of age, NNS and NNF for HPV16 were 4,747 and 289, respectively, but >220,000 and >16,000 for HPV35,39,51,56,59,66,68. All estimates were either age-standarized or age-stratified. The primary limitation of our study is that NNS is dependent on the HPV prevalence that can differ between populations and over time. However, it can readily be recalculated in other settings and monitored when HPV type-specific prevalence changes. Other limitations include that in some age groups, there was little data and extrapolations had to be made. Finally, there were very few cervical cancer cases associated with certain HPV types in young age group.

Conclusions

In this study, we observed that the impact of cervical cancer screening varies depending on the HPV type screened for. Estimating and monitoring the impact of screening by HPV type can facilitate the design of effective and efficient HPV-based cervical screening programs.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov with numbers NCT00479375, NCT01511328.
L-CPPA: Lattice-based conditional privacy-preserving authentication scheme for fog computing with 5G-enabled vehicular system
Authors: Almazroi Abdulwahab Ali , Alqarni Mohammed A. , Al-Shareeda Mahmood A. , Manickam Selvakumar
Published: October 2023

The role that vehicular fog computing based on the Fifth Generation (5G) can play in improving traffic management and motorist safety is growing quickly. The use of wireless technology within a vehicle raises issues of confidentiality and safety. Such concerns are optimal targets for conditional privacy-preserving authentication (CPPA) methods. However, current CPPA-based systems face a challenge when subjected to attacks from quantum computers. Because of the need for security and anti-piracy features in fog computing when using a 5G-enabled vehicle system, the L-CPPA scheme is proposed in this article. Using a fog server, secret keys are generated and transmitted to each registered car via a 5G-Base Station (5G-BS) in the proposed L-CPPA system. In the proposed L-CPPA method, the trusted authority, rather than the vehicle’s Onboard Unit (OBU), stores the vehicle’s master secret data to each fog server. Finally, the computation cost of the suggested L-CPPA system regards message signing, single verification and batch verification is 694.161 ms, 60.118 ms, and 1348.218 ms, respectively. Meanwhile, the communication cost is 7757 bytes.
The role of muscle degeneration and spinal balance in the pathophysiology of lumbar spinal stenosis: Study protocol of a translational approach combining in vivo biomechanical experiments with clinical and radiological parameters
Authors: Koch David , Nüesch Corina , Ignasiak Dominika , Aghlmandi Soheila , Caimi Alice , Perrot Guido , Prüfer Friederike , Harder Dorothee , Santini Francesco , Schären Stefan , Ferguson Stephen , Mündermann Annegret , Netzer Cordula
Published: October 2023

Objective

To describe a study protocol for investigating the functional association between posture, spinal balance, ambulatory biomechanics, paraspinal muscle fatigue, paraspinal muscle quality and symptoms in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (sLSS) before and 1-year after elective surgical intervention.

Design

Single-centre prospective, experimental, multimodal (clinical, biomechanical, radiological) study with three instances of data collection: baseline (study visit 1), 6-month follow-up (remote) and 1-year follow-up (study visit 2). Both study visits include an in vivo experiment aiming to elicit paraspinal muscle fatigue for postural assessment in a non-fatigued and fatigued state.

Experimental protocol

At baseline and 1-year follow-up, 122 patients with sLSS will be assessed clinically, perform the back-performance scale assessment and complete several patient-reported outcome measure (PROMs) questionnaires regarding overall health, disease-related symptoms and kinesiophobia. Posture and biomechanical parameters (joint kinematics, kinetics, surface electromyography, back curvature) will be recorded using an optoelectronic system and retroreflective markers during different tasks including overground walking and movement assessments before and after a modified Biering-Sørensen test, used to elicit paraspinal muscle fatigue. Measurements of muscle size and quality and the severity of spinal stenosis will be obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and sagittal postural alignment data from EOS radiographies. After each study visit, physical activity level will be assessed during 9 days using a wrist-worn activity monitor. In addition, physical activity level and PROMs will be assessed remotely at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion

The multimodal set of data obtained using the study protocol described in this paper will help to expand our current knowledge on the pathophysiology, biomechanics, and treatment outcome of degenerative sLSS. The results of this study may contribute to defining and/or altering patient treatment norms, surgery indication criteria and post-surgery rehabilitation schedules.

Trial registration

The protocol was approved by the regional ethics committee and has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05523388).
The normative role of logic for reasoning
Authors: Massolo Alba
Published: October 2023

This paper advocates for the normative role of logic in reasoning. I offer a response, anchored in an externalist perspective, to two fronts of attack against the normativity thesis, namely Harman’s sceptical challenge and the accusation of naturalistic fallacy. On the one hand, I rework dialogical bridge principles and show that such principles satisfy adequacy criteria to deal with Harman’s challenge. On the other hand, I argue that it is possible to derive normative consequences from logical facts. This is because argumentative interactions among agents involve the acceptance of constitutive rules that entail obligations. Hence, since logical rules can be seen as constitutive of the social practice of reasoning, they create prescriptions for reasoning. Bridge principles make those obligations and prohibitions explicit.
Every view is a view from somewhere: Pragmatist laws and possibility
Authors: Andersen H. K.
Published: October 2023

Humean accounts of laws are often contrasted with governing accounts, and recent developments have added pragmatic versions of Humeanism. This paper offers Mitchell’s pragmatist, perspectival account of laws as a third option. The differences between these accounts come down to the role of modality. Mitchell’s bottom-up account allows for subtle gradations of modal content to be conveyed by laws. The perspectival character of laws is not an accident or something to be eventually eliminated – it is part of how this modal content is conveyed. I conclude with a discussion of the metaphysical commitments in Humeanism as requiring a perspectiveless view of the manifold from outside, and how Mitchell’s situated account is better able to account for the substantive notion of possibility involved in scientific laws.
A digitalizáció hatása a kulturális részvételre
Authors: Pavluska Valéria
Published: October 2023

Ma már közhely, hogy a digitalizáció átszövi egész életünket, ami
egyes területeken az átlagosnál is erőteljesebben érvényesül. Ilyen a
kulturális szféra is, ahol az értékláncok minden fázisában szinte totális a
digitális technológia jelenléte. Így természetes, hogy a kulturális
részvételben is a digitalizáció a legfőbb trendformáló tényező. Első
ránézésre ennek csupa pozitív következményét látjuk, amit megerősít a
Covid-járvány ideje alatti tapasztalatunk is. A lezárások és a kijárási
tilalmak idején ugyanis éppen a digitalizáció tette lehetővé, hogy sokféle,
akár „élő” kulturális produkciót is fogyaszthattunk otthonunkban. Érdemes
azonban árnyaltabban is értékelni a digitalizáció kulturális részvételre
gyakorolt hatását, hogy elkerüljük az egyoldalúságot és a gyakori
sztereotípiákat. Elég csak például arra gondolni, hogy rendelkezik-e
mindenki a szükséges eszközökkel és képességekkel a digitális
fogyasztáshoz, vagy, hogy a virtualitással változik-e a kulturális élmény,
csökken-e a nemfogyasztók aránya, vagy hogy mi lesz a sorsa a hagyományos
kulturális intézményhálózatnak stb. A válaszok kialakításához azonban azt
is át kell gondolnunk, hogy megfelelő-e az eddig alkalmazott
kutatásmódszertan. A tanulmány elsősorban közös gondolkodásra invitál a
fenti kérdéskörök részletesebb kibontásával és nem válaszokat kínál, azokat
ugyanis új, releváns és átfogó kutatások tudják megalapozni.
Intermediate Goods–Skill Complementarity
Authors: Kiyota Kozo , Kurokawa Yoshinori
Published: October 2023

Recent research has begun to imply intermediate goods–skill complementarity; however, this possible complementarity has been hypothesized but not statistically tested, despite the increasing importance of intermediate goods in production. This study provides statistical evidence regarding whether intermediate goods are more complementary with skilled labor than with unskilled labor. Using panel data from 40 countries over the period 1995–2009, we estimate a two-level constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function. Our major findings are fivefold. First, at the aggregated one-sector level, the elasticity of substitution between intermediate goods and unskilled labor is 1.22, which is significantly greater than that between intermediate goods and skilled labor of 1.05, indicating intermediate goods–skill complementarity. Second, at the disaggregated level, such complementarity is primarily observed in heavy manufacturing industries and the service sector, whereas complementarity is observed between intermediate goods and unskilled labor in the primary sector and light manufacturing industries. Third, the normalization of the data and the cumulant estimators exhibit stronger results. Fourth, our baseline results are confirmed applying several robustness checks, such as switching skilled and unskilled labor or considering capital–skill complementarity. Finally, intermediate goods–skill complementarity tends to be higher for industries that use more imported intermediate goods.
Ambulatory human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) testing: a verification of two hCG point of care devices
Authors: Kyriacou Christopher , Yang Wei , Kapur Shikha , Maheetharan Shanuja , Pikovsky Margaret , Parker Nina , Barcroft Jennifer , Bobdiwala Shabnam , Sur Shyamaly , Stalder Catriona , Gould Deborah , Ofili-Yebovi Dede , Day Andrea , Unsworth Nick , Wilkes Edmund H. , Tan Tricia , Bourne Tom
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measurements are used to manage women classified with a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL). Two point of care testing (POCT) devices that quantify hCG are commercially available. We verified the i-STAT 1 (Abbott) and the AQT 90 FLEX (Radiometer) prior to use in PUL triage.

Methods

Tests for precision, external quality assurance (EQA), correlation, hook effect and recovery were undertaken alongside a POCT usability assessment during this prospective multi-center verification.

Results

Coefficients of variation ranged between 4.0 and 5.1 % for the three i-STAT 1 internal quality control (IQC) solutions and between 6.8 and 7.3 % for the two AQT IQC solutions. Symmetric differences in POCT EQA results when compared with laboratory and EQA stock values ranged between 3.2 and 24.5 % for the i-STAT 1 and between 3.3 and 36.9 % for the AQT. Correlation coefficients (i-STAT 1: 0.96, AQT: 0.99) and goodness of fit curves (i-STAT 1: 0.92, AQT: 0.99) were excellent when using suitable whole blood samples. An hCG hook effect was noted with the i-STAT 1 between 572,194 and 799,089 IU/L, lower than the hook effect noted with the AQT, which was between 799,089 and 1,619,309 IU/L. When hematocrit concentration was considered in sample types validated for use with each device, hCG recovery was 108 % with the i-STAT 1 and 98 % with the AQT. The i-STAT 1 scored lower on usability overall (90/130) than the AQT (121/130, p<0.001, Mann-Whitney).

Conclusions

Both hCG POCT devices were verified for use in clinical practice. Practical factors must also be considered when choosing which device to use in each unit.
Green synthesis, chemical characterization, and antioxidant and anti-colorectal cancer effects of vanadium nanoparticles
Authors: Nie Yang , Chen Huifang , Zhu Junfang , Li Bo , Huang Haichao , Yi Jianhua , Moradi Rohallah
Published: October 2023

In this research, we have used a green approach to vanadium nanoparticle (NP) synthesis by the Salvia leriifolia watery extract. The NP characterization was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The NPs materialized in spherical morphology with an average size of 26.26 nm. The antioxidant activity was assessed using 2-2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) assay, while the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to measure anti-colorectal cancer (against HCT-15‎, COLO 320, Caco-2, DLD-1‎, HT-29, and HCT-116 cell lines) and cytotoxicity (against HUVEC cell line) activity of vanadium NPs. Cancer cell line viability decreased dose dependently in the presence of V NPs. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of V NPs were 149, 125, 173, 83, 131, and 105 µg/mL against Caco-2, COLO 320, DLD-1‎, HCT-15‎, HCT-116‎, and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. In radical scavenging activity, V NPs scavenged DPPH with the IC50 value of 33 µg/mL.
Advances in triple tube heat exchangers regarding heat transfer characteristics of single and two-phase flows in comparison to double tube heat exchangers part 2
Authors: Akgul Dogan , Mercan Hatice , Acikgoz Ozgen , Dalkilic Ahmet Selim
Published: October 2023

Triple concentric-tube heat exchangers are often used in a variety of industries, including HVAC, food and beverage manufacturing, and chemical processing. They may also be utilized in applications requiring thermal homogeneity, such as food and pharmaceutical production. They are appropriate for a number of applications since they may be constructed to withstand a range of temperatures and pressures. The purpose of this study is to examine the most current papers, covering single- and two-phase flows having pure and nanofluids with a particular emphasis on the heat transfer and hydrodynamic properties. The use of advanced surfaces improves heat transfer with respect to smooth surfaces, and the use of nanofluids has a positive influence on heat transfer characteristics with the increase in nanoparticle volume concentration since nanoparticles rise thermal conductivity, heat transfer area, and Brownian motion. The practical calculation methodologies, proposed correlations for calculating the Nusselt number and friction factor in triple ones are shown. There are insufficient studies to comment on pressure drop features, and correlations for Nusselt numbers and friction factors that are only known for single-phase flows. The research indicates that the heat transfer characteristics of triple concentric-tube heat exchangers surpass those of double tube heat exchangers. Important progress is supposed to occur for the design and utilization of triple ones as a substitute for double ones soon. Finally, there are a limited number of experimental two-phase flow studies in triple ones. It is essential to work on this topic to meet the important lack in open sources.
Dynamic propagation of an Airy beam in metasurface-enabled gradiently-aligned liquid crystals
Authors: Gao Meini , Wang Jiawei , Cai Wenfeng , Cheng Ming , Hao Xichen , Wang Yuhan , Liu Ying , Kong Delai , Liu Jianxun , Dai Haitao , Liu Yan Jun
Published: October 2023

Due to the unique self-acceleration, self-healing, and non-diffraction properties, Airy beams have been explored extensively and found applications in various fields. It has been proven as an essential aspect to tune the trajectory of Airy beams for extensive applications. In this paper, we propose a method based on liquid crystal (LC) alignment with metasurfaces, which enables dynamic tuning of the trajectory of Airy beams. Benefiting from both the tunable property of LCs and the compact alignment of metasurfaces, we achieve a sizeable linear potential in a short distance, which leads to the effective tuning of the trajectory of Airy beams dynamically. The introduction of metasurfaces into the alignment of LCs provides a promising method to manipulate the planar optical field.
Delta-shock for the Chaplygin gas Euler equations with source terms
Authors: Li Shiwei
Published: October 2023

This article discusses the Riemann problem for the Chaplygin gas Euler equations that include the presence of two source terms. By means of variable substitution, two kinds of non-self-similar Riemann solutions involving delta-shock are constructed explicitly. For the delta-shock, the generalized Rankine–Hugoniot relations and the over-compressive entropy condition are clarified. Moreover, the position, propagation speed and strength of the delta-shock are given explicitly. It is discovered that the position of the delta-shock is a combination of an exponential function and a linear function, and the weight of the delta-shock is an exponential function of the time. Interestingly, even when the delta-shock is a straight line, the weight of the delta-shock is no longer a linear function of the time t. In addition, it is proved that the Riemann solutions converge to the corresponding ones of Chaplygin gas Euler equations with friction as k drops to zero, and the Riemann solutions converge to the corresponding ones of Chaplygin gas Euler equations as k and β tend to zero simultaneously. Furthermore, it is also shown that the limits of Riemann solutions are just the Riemann solutions to the transport equations with same source terms as the Chaplygin gas pressure falls to zero.
Koltai Dénes szakmai életművéhez
Authors: Kleisz Teréz
Published: October 2023

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Assessment of Soil Salinity on Grand Bahama Post-Hurricane Dorian
Authors: Stubbs Danica , Adderley Aaliyah , Bowen-O’Connor Clare , Watson Carlton , Gustave Williamson
Published: October 2023

Saltwater intrusion into land is becoming more of a problem as sea levels rise across the globe. The Bahamas is highly susceptible to extreme weather events and climate change because the islands are low-lying and located in the Atlantic hurricane belt. Hurricane Dorian (2019) had a devastating impact on Grand Bahama Island: producing heavy rains of up to 30-40 cm and storm surges of about 8 m. The objective of this study was to analyse the soil salinity status in Wellfields 1 and 6 on the island of Grand Bahama to determine if the salinity had decreased in the three years following Hurricane Dorian. As expected, the study found that by 2022, soil salinity in the wellfields had decreased compared to levels recorded in the year after Hurricane Dorian. Soil analysis completed in October 2022 illustrated that soil salinity averaged 475.5 mg/kg for both Wellfield 1 and Wellfield 6 on the island of Grand Bahama.
An analysis on the approximate controllability results for Caputo fractional hemivariational inequalities of order 1 < r < 2 using sectorial operators
Authors: Mohan Raja Marimuthu , Vijayakumar Velusamy , Nieto Juan J. , Panda Sumati Kumari , Shukla Anurag , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we investigate the effect of hemivariational inequalities on the approximate controllability of Caputo fractional differential systems. The main results of this study are tested by using multivalued maps, sectorial operators of type (P, η, r, γ ), fractional calculus, and the fixed point theorem. Initially, we introduce the idea of mild solution for fractional hemivariational inequalities. Next, the approximate controllability results of semilinear control problems were then established. Moreover, we will move on to the system involving nonlocal conditions. Finally, an example is provided in support of the main results we acquired.
Impoliteness strategies applied in political debates in Lithuania and USA
Authors: Žurauskaitė Eglė
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study is to reveal which impoliteness strategies politicians use during electoral TV debates in Lithuania and the USA. To achieve this aim, four debates were analyzed using a quantitative analysis method. The total duration of the debates analyzed was 360 minutes. The study revealed that politicians in Lithuania and the USA primarily use indirect impoliteness strategies, directed towards positive or negative faces of their opponents. Analysis also revealed that politicians in the USA use direct impoliteness strategies 2.4 times more often than politicians in Lithuanian TV debates. The strategy of off-record impoliteness was used the least during debates in each country. Analysis of how impoliteness strategies are expressed revealed that politicians in the USA mostly express impoliteness as statements, while Lithuanian politicians express it using various language resources: presenting it as their opinion, doubt, etc.
The Conceptual Model of the BIM4NZEB-DS System for Selecting Technological Variants of Rational Passive Energy Efficiency Measures for a Sustainable Building
Authors: Kiaulakis Arvydas , Vilutienė Tatjana , Šarka Vaidotas , Šarkienė Edita , Rogoža Artur
Published: October 2023

Implementing sustainable solutions in building design is one of the significant elements in achieving the transition to sustainability. The diversity of structural elements, construction materials, and the various preferences of interested parties complicate the decision-making process. Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a wide range of available technological solutions and methods for automated decision support and can make decision-making more efficient. This study presents the conceptual model for BIM4NZEB-DS system for the automated selection of rational variants of passive energy efficiency measures. The algorithm of this system will integrate the solutions for data transfer from the BIM model and multi-criteria methods for the analysis of variants. The assessment of variants is based on economic and environmental criteria. The purpose of the system is to increase the reliability of the assessment, optimise the technological and human resources required, and minimise the time of decision-making. The developed system will be validated using the BIM model of real-case building
Proteolitic Activity of Marine Strain Bacillus sp. 051
Authors: Gudzenko O.V. , Ivanytsia V.O. , Varbanets L.D.
Published: October 2023

The main interest in the study of marine microorganisms is due to their ability to produce a wide range of unique enzymes, including peptidases with different specificities. In recent years, interest has increased in peptidases that are able to cleave elastin as a specific substrate. Streptomyces fradiae and Bacillus thermoproteolyticus elastases are among the most potent elastolytic proteinases discovered to date because they are 4-8-fold more effective than pancreatic elastases. The disadvantages of these producers include the fact that most of them are pathogenic for humans, and the elastase enzyme secreted from them is directly involved in the initiation of the pathogenetic process. All this significantly limits the scope of their practical application. Therefore, the search for new, more effective, safe for humans’ producers continues to be an urgent question, taking into account the fact that there are no highly active elastase producers in Ukraine. Previously we found elastase activity in only 4 of the 10 studied isolates of bacteria from the Black Sea. Since among them, the elastase activity of the Bacillus sp. 051 was the highest, the aim of this work was to study the physicochemical properties and substrate specificity of the enzyme. Methods. We used methods of determining proteolytic (caseinolytic, elastolytic, fibrinolytic, fibrinogenolytic) activity. Protein concentration was determined by the Lowry method. The study of the effect of temperature on the enzymatic activity was carried out in the range from 4 to 70 °C and pH values from 2.0 to 12.0, created using 0.01 M phosphate-citrate buffer. Results. It has been shown that the growing temperature of 12°C is the most optimal for biosynthesis of enzyme by the culture of Bacillus sp. 051. The complex enzyme preparation capable of hydrolyzing elastin, casein and fibrinogen. The enzyme showed maximum activity in relation to elastin (3.65 U/mg). The optimum pH of the enzyme action is 8.0, the thermal optimum is 40°C. The rate of casein hydrolysis compared to elastin was 2.7 times lower and amounted to 1.35 U/mg. The complex enzyme preparation also hydrolyzed fibrinogen (1.16 U/mg). Conclusions. According to its physicochemical and catalytic properties, the representative of the Black Sea, Bacillus sp. 051 is promising for further research as an enzyme producer with elastolytic activity.