bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The incidence and outcome of acute kidney injury during pediatric kidney tumor treatment—a national cohort study
Authors: Raymakers-Janssen Paulien A. M. A. , van den Berg Gerrit , Lilien Marc R. , van Kessel Inge A. , van der Steeg Alida F. W. , Wijnen Marc H. W. A. , Triest Mieke I. , van Peer Sophie E. , Jongmans Marjolijn C. J. , van Tinteren Harm , Janssens Geert O. , Fiocco Marta , Wösten-van Asperen Roelie M. , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M.
Published: February 2025

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of pediatric cancer treatment that is suggested to increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Children with a kidney tumor may be at particular risk. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of AKI and its association with CKD during pediatric kidney tumor treatment.

Methods

We analyzed data from a prospective national cohort of patients ≤ 18 years old diagnosed with a kidney tumor between 2015 and 2021 in the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands. AKI was defined according to KDIGO criteria. CKD was assessed 1 year post-treatment based on proteinuria and/or decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Results

Of 147 patients, we observed AKI in 104 patients (71%) during therapy. AKI occurred most often within 48 h after tumor nephrectomy (88/104), while the rest had non-nephrectomy-related AKI from multifactorial causes. Sixteen patients experienced more than one AKI episode, and 92/104 episodes were reversible. Patients who developed AKI had a higher eGFR prior to surgery compared to those who did not develop AKI. CKD was observed in 16/120 patients (13%). Risk factors for developing CKD included the occurrence of at least 1 AKI event, the use of a > 3-drug regimen, and a lower eGFR at the start of treatment.

Conclusion

The high incidence of AKI and its association with early CKD highlights the need for early detection, prevention, and intervention strategies during pediatric kidney tumor treatment.

Graphical abstract
Quantification of smearing risk for tapered roller bearings in wind turbine gearboxes during grid faults
Authors: Yazici Emircan , Jacobs Georg , Röder Julian , Mogk Julian , Wingertszahn Patrick , Koch Oliver
Published: February 2025

Wind turbine (WT) gearbox damage negatively impact the levelized cost of energy due to the costs for maintenance and repair. In 70% of the cases, rolling bearing damage are the cause of WT gearbox failures. Rolling bearings often fail far before their designed service life. Especially the bearings on the high-speed-shaft (HSS) of the WT gearbox are prone to failure. One driver for bearing damage are critical loads that are not sufficiently included in the design process yet, e.g. loads resulting from grid faults. Grid faults induce significant generator torque excitations in doubly-fed induction generator wind turbines which lead to transient changes in the loading and rotational speed of the gearbox bearings. Typically, cylindrical roller bearings (CRB) and tapered roller bearings (TRB) are used on the HSS. For CRBs, it was already shown in previous publications that the smearing risk is significantly increased in the event of grid faults. For TRBs, there is no such investigation yet. TRBs are often used as the fixed bearing in an adjusted bearing arrangement on the HSS. The preloading of the arrangement significantly influences the bearing kinematics and the risk of damage. Thus, this paper investigates the smearing risk for TRBs in WT gearboxes during grid faults, considering different preloads of the bearings. It is shown that the smearing risk for the TRBs on the HSS of a research nacelle during grid faults is 72% higher than during rated operation for the reference preload distance of 0 µm. Increasing the preload distance to 370 µm leads to a significant decrease in the smearing risk by 55% for the rated operation and by 86% during the grid fault compared to the reference. However, increasing the preload also increases the fatigue loads and thus decreases the fatigue lifetime. Consequently, there has to be a multifactorial design optimization of the TRB arrangement and the different damage criteria to derive the optimal preload.
Regional labor market integration of women and the share of women in management: are family firms different?
Authors: Welch Natalie , Ahrens Jan-Philipp , Block Joern
Published: February 2025

The underrepresentation of women in management positions remains a significant barrier to achieving gender equality. While previous research has examined how national institutional contexts influence women’s career choices, the role of regional contexts has been largely overlooked. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how regional institutions affect the share of women in management roles within mid-sized firms. We argue that stronger regional labor market integration for women facilitates their progression into management positions, thereby increasing their representation in firms’ leadership. Furthermore, we differentiate between family and non-family firms, suggesting that regional institutional effects are less influential in family firms. To assess the regional labor market integration of women, we develop an indicator comprising three key components: the female employment ratio, the childcare participation rate, and the proportion of fathers receiving parental allowance. Analyzing a large sample of mid-sized German firms (50 to 500 employees) across 400 regions, our regression results show that regional labor market integration significantly affects women’s representation in management. However, this effect is weaker in family firms compared to non-family firms. These findings suggest that research on women in management and their influence on firm outcomes should account for the role of regional institutions.
A survey on Swedish maritime pilots’ trust, training, understanding, and use of the portable pilot unit’s predictor automation
Authors: Westin Carl , Lundberg Jonas
Published: February 2025

Technological advances such as electronic charts and course prediction systems provide invaluable support to navigation officers and maritime pilots in navigating confined waters. However, recent maritime accidents have been attributed to operators lacking a clear understanding of how the automation works and how to use it, leading to both misuse and disuse. Two concerns emerge: inadequate training and poor automation design, making it difficult and complex to use. To investigate challenges related to understanding, use, and trust in automation, we surveyed Swedish maritime pilots to investigate their experiences with the course predictor automation tool on their portable pilot units. This technology predicts ship trajectories and is commonly used in modern bridge systems. This paper contributes empirical evidence on how maritime pilots trust the predictor currently used, providing insight into their perceptions and experiences of training, level of understanding, and patterns of usage. The results of 69 respondents revealed limited formal training in the predictor, with knowledge acquired primarily from self-learning and practical experience. Although pilots value the predictor and use it frequently, they struggle with sensor error detection and understanding how it works. The trust in the predictor was inversely correlated with age and experience, with lower age and experience associated with higher trust, more frequent use, greater perceived importance, better understanding, and fewer unexplained behaviours encountered. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed to improve predictor training and improve its transparency through design.
On a Cross-Diffusion Model in Ecohydrology: Theory and Numerics
Authors: Moreno-Villamil Iván , Rueda-Gómez Diego A. , Villamizar-Roa Élder J.
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we consider a version of the mathematical model introduced in (Wang et al. in Commun. Nonlinear Sci. Numer. Simul. 42:571–584, 2017) to describe the interaction between vegetation and soil water in arid environments. The model corresponds to a nonlinear parabolic coupled system of partial differential equations, with non-flux boundary conditions, which incorporates, in addition to the natural diffusion of water and plants, a cross-diffusion term given by the hydraulic diffusivity due to the suction of water by the roots. The model also considers a monotonously decreasing vegetation death rate capturing the infiltration feedback between plants and ground water. We first prove the existence and uniqueness of global solutions in a large class of initial data, allowing non-regular ones. These solutions are in a mild setting and under additional regularity assumptions on the initial data and the domain, they are classical. Second, we propose a fully discrete numerical scheme, based on a semi-implicit Euler discretization in time and finite element discretization (with “mass-lumping”) in space, for approximating the solutions of the continuous model. We prove the well-posedness of the numerical scheme and some qualitative properties of the discrete solutions including, positivity, uniform weak and strong estimates, convergence towards strong solutions and optimal error estimates. Finally, we present some numerical experiments in order to showcase the good behavior of the numerical scheme including the formation of Turing patterns, as well as to validate the convergence order in the error estimates obtained in the theoretical analysis.
Seismic fragility curves with unconventional ground motion intensity measures from physics-based simulations
Authors: Franco I. E. Monsalvo , Smerzini C. , Rosti A. , Rota M. , Paolucci R. , Penna A.
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the performance of different ground motion intensity measures in observational fragility studies, using damage data from the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake and leveraging physics-based numerical simulations (PBS) to calibrate fragility functions. The dataset included masonry and reinforced concrete (RC) buildings representative of the Italian building stock. The optimality (efficiency, proficiency and practicality) of a wide set of ground motion intensity measures was assessed with two methodologies introduced specifically in this work for such purpose. Results from both methodologies are consistent, highlighting the superior performance of average spectral acceleration, particularly for RC buildings. On the other hand, peak ground acceleration was found to perform well especially for masonry buildings. Among integral intensity measures, Housner intensity emerged as the most effective, while Arias intensity and cumulative absolute velocity displayed weaker correlations with damage. Although based on a single case study, these findings offer initial insights into the optimality of different intensity measures for observational seismic fragility studies and underscore the potential of PBS in enhancing region- and site-specific seismic risk assessments.
Predicting outcomes in persistent atrial fibrillation: the impact of surface ECG f-wave amplitude following pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Baskaralingam Aruran , Marchetti Matteo , Solana-Munoz Jorge , Teres Cheryl , Le Bloa Mathieu , Porretta Alessandra Pia , Domenichini Giulia , Ascione Ciro , Roten Laurent , Knecht Sven , Kühne Michael , Sticherling Christian , Pascale Patrizio , Pruvot Etienne , Luca Adrian
Published: February 2025

Background

Fibrillatory wave amplitude (fWA) on 12-lead ECG predicts the outcome of ablation in atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that changes in fWA following wide circumferential isolation of pulmonary veins (WPVI) in persistent AF (peAF) is a better predictor of ablation outcome compared to baseline fWA.

Methods

Eighty-nine patients (sustained peAF 7 ± 7 months) underwent a first-time WPVI. Sixty-second ECG signals devoid of QRST waves were recorded at baseline and at the end of the WPVI (endWPVI). fWA for each ECG lead and mean fWA (meanfWA) across the 12-lead ECG were computed. Patients with recurrence after the index WPVI underwent a redo to ensure complete PVI. The primary endpoint was long-term AF freedom OFF antiarrhythmics drugs (AADs) after one or two WPVI (SUCCESS group). The FAILURE group was defined as AF recurrence post-redo.

Results

Over a mean follow-up of 35 ± 10 months, freedom from AF OFF AADs was achieved in 61% (SUCCESS group), while 29% had AF recurrence after redo WPVI (FAILURE group). The SUCCESS group showed significantly higher fWA values in ECG leads V1, V4, and V5 at baseline (p < 0.05), as well as in leads III, aVL, aVF, and V4, and in meanfWA at endWPVI (p < 0.05) compared to the FAILURE group. A baseline mean fWA ≥ 0.044 mV or a decrease in mean fWA ≤ 11% following WPVI predicted long-term sinus rhythm restoration with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 69% (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Low fWA values and a significant reduction in fWA following WPVI are associated with a high risk of AF recurrence in patients with peAF.

Graphical Abstract

Fibrillatory wave amplitude changes after WPVI can predict long-term sinus rhythm maintenance.
Exploring the synergy of human-robot teaming, digital twins, and machine learning in Industry 5.0: a step towards sustainable manufacturing
Authors: Langås Even Falkenberg , Zafar Muhammad Hamza , Sanfilippo Filippo
Published: February 2025

Sustainable manufacturing remains a central objective of Industry 5.0. By successfully implementing harmonic human-robot teams in intelligent industrial systems, the efficiency and well-being of human workers can be increased. Achieving this requires a gradual approach from caged robots to advanced, seamless collaboration between humans and robots. Initially, that means transitioning to human-robot interaction (HRI) where there is an exchange of commands between the human and the robot. Further advancements within safety considerations, including collision avoidance through advanced machine vision, enable the exchange of workspace that defines human-robot collaboration (HRC). The next stage is physical HRC (pHRC) which requires safe and controlled exchange of forces through impedance and admittance control. Finally, this paper describes human-robot teaming (HRT), which is defined by the exchange of solutions as teammates. This is enabled by combining cutting-edge technologies such as digital twin (DT), advanced vision sensors, machine learning (ML) algorithms and mixed reality (MR) human–machine interfaces for operators. A key contribution of this work is reviewing the integration of HRT with DT and ML, highlighting how these technologies enable seamless perception, prediction, and decision-making in human-centric industrial systems. By reviewing these technologies, the paper highlights current challenges, limitations and research gaps within the field of HRT and suggests potential future possibilities for HRT, such as advanced disassembly of used goods for a more sustainable manufacturing industry.
Affected Other Prevalence and Profiles: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Australian Population-Representative Gambling Study
Authors: Dowling Nicki A. , Spence Kimberley , Browne Matthew , Rockloff Matthew , Merkouris Stephanie S.
Published: February 2025

Gambling-related harm can extend to family members and friends but few population-representative studies have investigated affected other (AO) prevalence estimates and profiles in the general population. Using data from the 5000 adult respondents in the Fourth Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania, this study aimed to: (1) identify prevalence estimates of AO status and professional help-seeking; (2) establish the socio-demographic and gambling profiles of AOs; (3) extend the growing literature examining negative mental health characteristics experienced by AOs, after accounting for socio-demographic characteristics and other potential sources of harm; and (4) explore the degree to which gender moderates these relationships. Results found that 1 in 20 adults (5.11%, 95% CI: 4.33, 6.01) reported past-year AO status but only 1 in 7 AOs (14.15%, 95% CI: 9.01, 21.52) had ever sought help in relation to another person’s gambling (i.e., < 1% of all adults). AOs were significantly more likely than non-AOs to be younger, Australian-born, employed, and living in households with children. They were significantly more likely than non-AOs to report depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, binge drinking, tobacco use, and drug use, even after controlling for socio-demographics and other potential sources of harm. Finally, they were more likely to report their own gambling participation, problems, and harm but only 2.20% (95% CI: 0.69, 6.78) had ever sought help for their own gambling. These findings suggest that a considerable proportion of AOs in the general population may benefit from support to improve their own mental health and address their own gambling harm.
Bio-Polyethylene Furanoate Production in Latin America as a Response to the Current Needs for Sustainable Food Packaging
Authors: Martínez Bello Lory Ireri , Vázquez Cuevas Vimanely Yaneth , González-Contreras Moisés , Gomez-Maldonado Diego , Hernández-Guerrero Maribel
Published: February 2025

Plastic materials have long been essential in the production of food packaging, due to their advantageous properties, cost-efficiency, and durability. Nevertheless, alarming reports from the United Nations indicate that Latin America generates 17,000 tons of plastic waste daily, with 30% of it being released into the environment. As a reaction, major companies in the food industry have committed to introduce more environmentally friendly packaging solutions. This research aimed to gather the reported packaging needs of some major Latin American food industries and propose a suitable bioplastic or natural polymer alternative to traditional plastics. Polyethylene Furanoate (Bio-PEF), derived from biomass, is highlighted as the most promising bioplastic. The study outlines a detailed production process for Bio-PEF from sucrose and ethylene, including four stages: obtention of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, oxidation to furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), production of ethylene glycol (EG), and polymerization of FDCA and EG. Braskem (Brazil), a pioneering and leading producer of bio-polyethylene (bio-PE), was identified as one of the most potential companies in Latin America to manufacture Bio-PEF. Although, the technology can be applied to any bioethanol company operating under a biorefinery scheme. In the Bio-PE process, Braskem uses sucrose from sugar cane to produce ethylene which could be subsequently used to synthesize Bio-PEF. Braskem is equipped with the necessary technology and scale for Bio-PEF production. Material balances using 10% of the sucrose and ethylene as inputs in a four stages production demonstrated a potential yield of 35.49 kg/h of Bio-PEF, producing 0.31 kg of Bio-PEF/Kg of sucrose.
Nutrientscape ecology: a whole-system framework to support the understanding and management of coastal nutrient connectivity
Authors: Palola Pirta , Pittman Simon J. , Collin Antoine , Benkwitt Cassandra E. , Thomson Eleanor , Malhi Yadvinder , Graham Nicholas A. J. , Wedding Lisa M.
Published: February 2025

Context

Nutrient connectivity across landscapes and seascapes plays a fundamental role in shaping the structure and function of coastal ecosystems. A whole-system understanding of the spatial–temporal dynamics and ecological significance of nutrient connectivity is essential for developing more effective coastal management strategies.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to summarize the recent state-of-science in coastal nutrient connectivity research and identify future research needs. We then propose an integrated and solution-oriented scientific framework to advance a landscape ecology approach to address the research needs.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review of 77 studies on nutrient flows in tropical and subtropical coastal marine environments (coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses) that have been conducted over the past decade.

Results

Few studies considered interlinkages between multiple coastal habitats. Most (73%) studies that examined ecological impacts of nutrient connectivity focused on anthropogenic terrestrial runoff and indicated negative ecological responses to nutrients. Few studies adopted landscape ecology concepts and methods. We identified 15 research needs for advancing coastal nutrient connectivity research. Urgent research needs include the impacts of climate change on nutrient connectivity, the interactions between multiple nutrient pathways across habitats, and the social-economic drivers and impacts of change. An integrated framework that we term nutrientscape ecology is presented as a way forward.

Conclusions

The nutrientscape ecology framework emphasizes the spatially explicit study of pattern-process relationships across multiple scales and leverages concepts and methods from landscape ecology and systems thinking. We seek to inspire interdisciplinary research collaborations and the development of a predictive science of nutrient connectivity that informs coastal management.
A dualist theory of experience
Authors: Saad Bradford
Published: February 2025

Dualism holds that experiences somehow arise from physical states, despite being neither identical with nor grounded in such states. This paper motivates a stringent set of constraints on constructing a dualist theory of experience. To meet the constraints, a dualist theory must: (1) construe experiences as causes of physical effects, (2) ensure that experiences do not cause observable violations of the causal closure of the physical domain, (3) avoid overdetermination, (4) specify a set of psychophysical laws that yield experiences as a function of physical states, and (5) ensure that functional duplication preserves phenomenology. After motivating these constraints and explaining why existing dualist theories satisfy only some of them, I construct a dualist theory that satisfies all of them. On the resulting theory—which I call delegatory dualism—experiences uphold causal responsibilities “delegated” to them by physical states.
How to ground (higher-order) identities
Authors: Lo Tien-Chun
Published: February 2025

The purity principle requires that identity truths such as “Hesperus is identical to Phosphorus” are grounded. This argument from purity for the groundedness of identity truths for first-order entities can be naturally generalized to higher-order identities like “to be a vixen is to be a female fox.” In this paper, I will examine various accounts of the grounds of identity truths by taking the cases of higher-order identities into consideration. Drawing on some essentialist insights, I will propose a novel account and argue that it offers an attractive explanation of how identities, including both first-order and higher-order cases, are grounded.
Old wine in a postmodern bottle: Aleksandr Dugin’s “Fourth political theory” and Aurel Kolnai’s War against the West
Authors: Sharpe Matthew
Published: February 2025

The first section reconstructs Dugin’s claims to have charted a “fourth political theory” (4PT), which would have broken from “fascism” and “Nazism”, the “third political theory” (as well liberalism and communism, the first and second “PTs” respectively). The second section of the paper critically unpacks four Duginian claims to defend this position, despite his avowed recourse to intellectuals who became Nazi Party Members and public advocates of the Third Reich, led by Martin Heidegger and Carl Schmitt. In the third section, we assess whether Dugin’s substantive claims hold up about “Nazism” and “fascism”, which enable him to present his 4PT as “anti-Nazi/fascist/racist”, by recourse to Aurel Kolnai’s monumental 1938 work The War on the West: the most extensive anglophone examination of the intellectual sources, texts, and parameters of “the Nazi creed, … its fundamental principles and its details” (Kolnai 1938: 18). Our argument is that Dugin’s “4PT” involves a more or less clever ideological repackaging of the “3PT” in the face of continuing horror at the Nazi’s crimes, rather than a novel political theory, based on a “retreat[ing] from the “sub-standard” Hitler to the “eminent” Spengler, Heidegger or Nietzsche” (Lukács 1980: p. 8).
Intact embodiment during perspective-taking in older adults is not affected by focal tDCS
Authors: Roheger Mandy , Mäder Anna , Riemann Steffen , Niemann Filip , Kessler Klaus , Martin Andrew K. , Meinzer Marcus
Published: February 2025

Embodied processing is crucial for visual perspective taking (VPT), with evidence from non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) suggesting a causal role of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ). However, it is not known whether such embodied factors are maintained in older adults or whether rTPJ-tDCS has comparable effects in advanced age. We employed a balanced and sham-tDCS controlled, double-blinded, cross-over design, including two randomized experimental groups of healthy older adults, receiving focal tDCS over either the rTPJ (n = 30), or a control region in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC, n = 30). A healthy young control group (n = 30, not receiving tDCS) was included to investigate potential changes in embodied processing in older adults. All groups completed neuropsychological baseline testing and an experimental VPT paradigm, in which perspective-taking (requiring embodied rotation) and perspective-tracking (line-of-sight judgements) were assessed. Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired to conduct individualized current flow simulations, aimed at identifying potential changes in neurophysiological effects of tDCS in older adults. Older adults responded slower across perspective tracking and perspective taking tasks but showed comparable embodied effects of body posture and angle of rotation during perspective taking. Contrary to previous results in younger adults that demonstrated regionally and task-specific effects of focal rTPJ-tDCS, no stimulation effects on embodied processing were found in older adults. Electrical field simulations suggested focal current delivery in both age-groups but also significantly reduced current strength in the target regions for tDCS in older adults. Older adults are as embodied as young adults during perspective taking. However, tDCS administered to the rTPJ or dmPFC had no effect, which may be explained by reduced current delivery to the target regions due to age-associated changes in skull and brain anatomy and/or functional brain reorganization. Our results are in line with previous studies suggesting that tDCS effects obtained in young participants may not translate directly to advanced age. Future studies could address this by using individualized modelling approaches aimed at adjusting current dose for (older) study participants and pre-stimulation functional imaging involving VPT tasks-of-interest, to identify optimized target regions for tDCS.

Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04633499.
Prevention of cancer-therapy related cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Haj-Yehia Elias , Michel Lars , Mincu Raluca I. , Rassaf Tienush , Totzeck Matthias
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

Introduction of modern cancer therapies has led to increased survival of affected patients. With this advantage, the incidence of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) has increased and reasonable prevention strategies become necessary. This review outlines the major approaches to limit development and progression of CTRCD.

Recent Findings

A broad range of cancer therapies can provoke CTRCD ranging from mild asymptomatic forms to severe heart failure. Profound cardiological assessment of cardiovascular comorbidities before initiation of cancer therapy allows identification of cancer patients at higher risk developing CTRCD which may also require closer surveillance. Cardioprotective adjustment of cancer therapy and initiation of cardioprotective medication and lifestyle optimization prior to anti-cancer treatment additionally limit the risk of CTRCD. During therapy, regular examination of cancer patients using high-sensitive cardiological diagnostic tools as three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and global longitudinal strain (GLS) enables early detection of mild forms of CTRCD. This allows appropriate adjustment of cancer therapy and initiation of CTRCD treatment to prevent further progression to severe forms.

Cardiological risk stratification before treatment initiation, cardioprotective interventions before and during cancer therapy, along with regular monitoring of treated cancer patients, can help prevent the development of CTRCD. This maintains the antitumor effects of cancer therapy while limiting cardiotoxic side effects resulting in improved quality of life and mortality of affected cancer patients.
Queer Liturgy for Active Coping: Jewish Prayers for LGBTQ+ Treatments and Medical Tests
Authors: Ben-Lulu Elazar
Published: February 2025

In recent years, the field of medicine has increasingly embraced inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community, marking a new era focused on addressing diverse health needs associated with varied identities. This qualitative study illustrates this progressive trend by textual analyzing specific six Jewish prayers that address LGBTQ+ concerns, including support for medical care and treatments related to sexual and gender identity, such as HIV/AIDS care. These contemporary liturgical texts for LGBTQ+ health procedures, often authored by LGBTQ+ rabbis, introduce new perspectives on body, gender, sexuality and divinity. They express both reverence for God's creation, acknowledging His role in healing and the efficacy of medicine, and respect for the body's ability to renew identity or fulfill its purpose. Concurrently, there is also a contemplative stance regarding the body and God, sometimes accompanied by a desire for reconciliation. This distinct queer liturgy exemplifies what I term a Jewish liturgy for active coping. I show how the liturgical texts can aid in addressing life experiences, including physical experiences that LGBTQ+ individuals frequently encounter, often accompanied by feelings of concealment, shame, and alienation. Thus, I argue that ignoring these issues or confining coping mechanisms solely to the medical arena does not necessarily resolve medical problems. Therefore, integrating physical experiences and medical interventions into Jewish textuality and liturgy highlights the intersection of LGBTQ+ health and renewal traditions, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing these practices for meaningful support.
Drought assessment in the northeastern Aras Basin using multi-parameter aggregate drought index and innovative polygon trend analysis
Authors: Topçu Emre , Karaçor Fatih , Çırağ Burak , Taşkolu İlteriş , Acar Reşat
Published: February 2025

Drought is a climate phenomenon that can have serious consequences for all living things. The widespread occurrence of extreme drought and extreme precipitation conditions in recent years has increased the importance of drought studies. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive drought analysis using 11 meteorological parameters for the period 1970–2023 at Ardahan, Iğdır, and Kars meteorological stations in the region of Türkiye, which is located in the Northeast of the Aras Basin and known for its harsh winter conditions. Drought analysis was carried out with the Aggregate Drought Index (ADI) method and the effects of climate change on parameters such as temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent (SWE), and streamflow in the region were analyzed. As a result of the study, with the use of ADI and IPTA methods, drought trends in Aras Basin, especially in the winter and summer seasons, were clearly seen. It can be said that near-normal conditions are experienced the most with a frequency of approximately 20%. In addition to the ADI analysis, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Streamflow Drought Index (SDI), and Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) methods were also applied; however, it was observed that these indexes do not always show full agreement with the ADI and exhibit similar trends in some drought periods. These results show that choosing the right indexes is of great importance for drought analysis and that indexes suitable for regional climate characteristics will give more reliable results.
Evaluating the Effect of Speed and Acceleration on Human Factors during an Assembly Task in Human–Robot Interaction (HRI)
Authors: Apraiz Ainhoa , Lasa Ganix , Mazmela Maitane , Arana-Arexolaleiba Nestor , Serrano Muñoz Antonio , Elguea Íñigo , Etxabe Amaia
Published: February 2025

In the new industrial contexts, the workers’ well-being is the central pillar. Therefore, research on methods and technics to improve the workers’ user experience in a human–robot collaborative environment is necessary. While the effects of kinematic variables, such as speed and acceleration, on human safety have been extensively studied, their impact on human perception has not been fully explored. This study investigates the effects of the robot’s speed and acceleration on humans. An experimental research approach was used, where 20 participants (10 women and 10 men) performed an assembly task collaborating with a robot. An experiment was defined with two procedures, and the participants were evenly distributed: in the first experiment, the participants started by performing the task at a slow robot speed and then performed the same task at a faster speed. In the second experiment, the other half followed the opposite procedure. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), physiological values (via EEG and EDA), and perceptual values (using the standardised UEQ-S questionnaire) were collected. The results showed that the robot’s speed and acceleration impact the task’s completion time and participants’ emotional responses. Our results lead to a new concept, “HRI speed bell”, which indicates that it is necessary to investigate the optimal speed and acceleration to ensure good trust and perceived safety. Furthermore, the task sequence also influences participants’ expectations and performance. Finally, the results are examined according to gender perspective.
A cross-cultural study translating and validating the COMPAT-SF pain questionnaire in Telugu, Bengali and Hindi
Authors: Unnisa M. , Agarwal A. , Peddapulla C. , Sharma V. , Midha S. , Jagannath S. , Talukdar R. , Phillips A. E. , Faghih M. , Windsor J. , Olesen S. S. , Garg P. , Drewes A. M. , Kuhlmann L. ,   On behalf of the International Pancreatic Pain Consortium
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a fibroinflammatory disease causing functional injury. Abdominal pain is the predominant symptom negatively impacting the quality of life. The Comprehensive Pain Assessment Tool (COMPAT-SF) questionnaire, designed and validated to assess pain in CP, was previously only available in English and Danish. Given the high prevalence of CP in India, translating and validating COMPAT-SF into different languages becomes crucial.

Methods

The COMPAT-SF underwent translation into three Indian languages (Hindi, Telugu and Bengali) and was back-translated to English to ensure cross-cultural equivalence. Validation was conducted at two tertiary care centers in India. As Hindi is the most widespread language, bilingual CP patients answered the COMPAT-SF in Hindi and English at a three-week interval. All sub-group answers were compared with patient data from the US. Structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis were employed for validation.

Results

Total 64 patients (19 Hindi-speaking,15 Telugu and 30 Bengali) were included and compared with 91 English-speaking patients. Translation adequacy was confirmed with > 85% concordance. Despite modest Cronbach alpha values in reliability analysis, structural equation modeling demonstrated high consistency with the original COMPAT-SF study. Some cultural differences in responses were observed, but the responses were comparable overall. Confirmatory factor analysis on the pooled data indicated an acceptable model fit and the Hindi version showed good accordance with the English version.

Conclusion

The translated COMPAT-SF versions proved to be valid and reliable pain assessment tools for CP patients. The study underscores the importance of addressing pain comprehensively.

Graphical Abstract
Prolonged survival in HIV-associated Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy treated with Pembrolizumab: a case series on treatment and long-term follow-up
Authors: Chiuchiarelli Marta , Micheli Giulia , Segala Francesco Vladimiro , Giuliano Gabriele , Del Giacomo Paola , Dusina Alex , Matteini Elena , Frondizi Federico , Gaudino Simona , Lisi Francesca , Cimini Eleonora , Santangelo Rosaria , Agrati Chiara , Torti Carlo , Cingolani Antonella
Published: February 2025

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare opportunistic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by human polyomavirus JC virus, with high mortality rate in people living with HIV (PLWH), without an effective specific treatment beside combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). The use of Pembrolizumab, an inhibitor of the Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, has been associated with decreased viral clearance. Aim of this study is to evaluate clinical course of PLWH affected by PML treated with pembrolizumab. We report four consecutive PLWH with clinical and radiological evidence of PML and JCV-DNA detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Pembrolizumab was administered to all four PLWH alongside cART. Radiological and laboratory follow-up were performed at the end of the medical protocol. Clinically, 3 out of 4 PLWH showed an improvement in neurological deficits, partially reacquiring the lost functions, and they are alive at 3.5 years, 14 months, and 9 months, respectively; the fourth patient died shortly after treatment due to worsening respiratory conditions. In all the PLWH completing treatment, a decrease of about 80–90% of the specific PD-1 activity was observed. Prolonged survival and stabilization of radiological findings have been observed, along with clinical improvement and partial recovery of acquired deficits in 3 out of 4 PLWH. In addition, a decrease in anti-PD-1 expression has also been observed, suggesting a link between the therapy and the success achieved. Given the small sample and conflicting evidence in the existing literature, further investigation is needed to assess its effectiveness.
Review of Nano-clay Polymer Composites for Controlled Nitrogen Release: Prospects and Limitations
Authors: Nayak Bitish Kumar , Chatterjee Dibyendu , Paul Ranjan , Das Saikat Ranjan , Adak Totan , Mandal Nintu , Drewer Julia , Pradhan Abhijit , Kundu Manik Chandra , Pal Asit Kumar , Santra Gour Hari , Sahoo Suryakanta , Datta Samar Chandra , Sutton Mark A. , Nayak Amaresh Kumar , Pathak Himanshu
Published: February 2025

This review paper discusses the potential and limitations of polymer composites for smart nitrogen (N) supply to meet the needs of agricultural crops. Unlike most conventional fertilizers, nano-clay polymer composites (NCPCs) offer a slow-release mechanism that enhances nitrogen use efficiency and reduces its loss to the environment. NCPCs are normally synthesized using solution blending, melt blending and in situ polymerization. Solution blending offers a better clay dispersion in the polymer matrix than melt blending owing to its low viscosity and strong stirring force. NCPCs have been characterized by several techniques, including equilibrium water absorbency, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and nutrient release kinetics. The potential benefits of using these composites are highlighted, including improved nitrogen use efficiency and reduced environmental impacts, as are their prospects for widespread use in agriculture and mitigation of the adverse environmental effects from conventional fertilizers. In addition, the limitations of NCPC technology, such as cost, scalability and potential negative environmental effects, are also investigated. The paper provides a wide perspective on the NCPC technology, including the regulatory environment and policy, industry trends and commercialization potential. NCPCs offer many benefits to increase nitrogen use efficiency and reduce pollution affecting water quality, air quality and climate. The main current barrier to overcome is to reduce production costs, so that farmers may also benefit financially from the higher nitrogen use efficiency and associated reduced amounts of nitrogen wasted to the environment.
Statistically validated network for analysing textual data
Authors: Simonetti Andrea , Albano Alessandro , Tumminello Michele , Di Matteo T.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a novel methodology, called Word Co-occurrence SVN topic model (WCSVNtm), for document clustering and topic modeling in textual datasets. This method represents the corpus as a bipartite network of words and documents to rigorously assess the statistical significance of word co-occurrences within documents and document overlap based on shared vocabulary. By employing the Leiden community detection algorithm to the SVN, distinct communities of words can be identified and interpreted as topics. Similarly, documents can be sorted into groups based on their thematic similarities. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by analyzing three datasets: a set of 120 Wikipedia articles, the arXiv10 dataset, which consists of 100,000 abstracts from scientific papers, and a sampled subset of 10,000 documents from the original arXiv10. To benchmark our results, we compare our approach with several well-established models in the field of topic modeling and document clustering, including the hierarchical Stochastic Block Model (hSBM), BERTopic, and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). The results show that WCSVNtm achieves competitive performance across all datasets, automatically selecting the number of topics and document clusters, whereas state-of-the-art methods require prior knowledge or additional tuning for optimization. Finally, any advancements in community detection algorithms could further improve our method.
Simulating non-ideal AB5 metal hydride pressure–concentration–temperature isotherms in MATLAB
Authors: Faurie Douw Gerbrand , Premlall Kasturie
Published: February 2025

Hydride-forming metal isotherms are complex due to the inherent multi-dimensional pressure–concentration–temperature dependencies. Hydrogen adsorbs to the surface of the hydride forming metal, then dissociating and diffusing into the metal. So doing boding with the metal, a further increase in pressure causes the hydride to undergo a change from low-pressure hydrides to high-pressure hydrides. Naturally, desorption is considered a reverse of the mechanism. These unique phenomena combined pose a challenge to modelling non-ideal gas-metal isotherms with hydrogen concentration as a function of pressure and temperature. This article reports the simulation of non-ideal hydride-forming metals, focusing on AB5-type hydride-forming metals. This was done as a numerical simulation in MATLAB, using a non-ideal gas-metal isotherm model, specifically Lototskyy’s model published in 2016, after which the simulations were experimentally validated. The semi-empirical non-ideal model requires numerical methods to solve, making a simulation key for the widespread use of the model. The numerical simulation produced can predict pressure–concentration–temperature isotherms with high accuracy. This study delivers a high-resolution, high-accuracy data set in the form of a simulation. This can then be used in further studies to accurately model metal hydride reactors for a variety of applications.
Zum Einfluss von Vermittlungsmethode, professionellem Wissen und Überzeugungen von Lehrkräften auf die Lese- und Rechtschreibleistung im schriftsprachlichen Anfangsunterricht
Authors: Mühle Janine , Weyers Jonas , König Johannes , Hanke Petra , Becker-Mrotzek Michael , Glutsch Nina , Knips Chantal , Pohl Thorsten , Schabmann Alfred , Träuble Birgit , Waschewski Tina
Published: February 2025

Die Frage, wie Grundschüler*innen am besten Lesen und Schreiben lernen, wird seit Jahrzehnten diskutiert. Im Vordergrund steht die Suche nach einer Vermittlungsmethode, die sich besonders förderlich auf den Schriftspracherwerb auswirkt. In bisherigen Forschungsarbeiten konnte mit Blick auf den Lernzuwachs der Schüler*innen bislang keine Vermittlungsmethode als eindeutig überlegen identifiziert werden. Untersuchungsergebnisse aus verschiedenen fachdidaktischen Disziplinen belegen unterdessen die Bedeutsamkeit der professionellen Lehrkräftekompetenz für erfolgreiche schulische Lernprozesse. Vor diesem Hintergrund geht der Beitrag zwei Fragestellungen nach: 1) Inwieweit bestehen Zusammenhänge zwischen Facetten der Lehrkräftekompetenz (professionelles Wissen und Überzeugungen) und der Vermittlungsmethode? 2) Inwieweit bestehen Zusammenhänge zwischen der Lehrkräftekompetenz und dem Lernfortschritt der Schüler*innen und inwiefern werden diese über die Vermittlungsmethode mediiert? Zu diesem Zweck wurden 26 Lehrkräfte in zweiten Klassen hinsichtlich ihrer Vermittlungsmethode, ihren Überzeugungen und ihrem professionellen Wissen befragt. Die Vermittlungsmethode wurde in Bezug auf die schriftsprachliche Orientierung und das zugrunde liegende Lehr-Lern-Konzept spezifiziert. Ferner wurden das Leseverständnis und die Rechtschreibkompetenz von insgesamt 522 Schüler*innen zu zwei Messzeitpunkten erhoben. Die Korrelationsanalysen deuten darauf hin, dass die gewählte Vermittlungsmethode insbesondere mit dem Ausprägungsgrad der konstruktivistischen Überzeugungen, nicht aber mit transmissiven Überzeugungen oder dem professionellen Wissen zusammenhängt. Mehrebenenanalysen zeigen, dass die Rechtschreibkompetenz nur von einer spezifischen Vermittlungsmethode (Lautorientierung) positiv beeinflusst wird. Alle anderen Vermittlungsmethoden haben keinen Einfluss auf die Rechtschreibkompetenz und ebenso nicht auf die Lesekompetenz. In Mediationsanalysen konnte ein partiell mediierender Effekt der Vermittlungsmethode zwischen den Überzeugungen und dem rechtschriftlichen Lernzuwachs identifiziert werden. Implikationen für den schriftsprachlichen Anfangsunterricht, die Lehrkräfteausbildung und künftige Forschung werden diskutiert.
The ethics of national artificial intelligence plans: an empirical lens
Authors: Dua Manpriya , Singh J. P. , Shehu Amarda
Published: February 2025

Over fifty countries have published national infrastructure and strategy plans on Artificial Intelligence (AI), outlining their values and priorities regarding AI research, development, and deployment. This paper utilizes a deliberation and capabilities-based ethics framework rooted in providing freedom of agency and choice to human beings– to investigate how different countries approach AI ethics within their national plans. We explore the commonalities and variations in national priorities and their implications for a deliberation and capabilities-based ethics approach. Combining established and novel methodologies such as content analysis, graph structuring, and generative AI, we uncover a complex landscape where traditional geostrategic formations intersect with new alliances, thereby revealing how various groups and associated values are prioritized. For instance, the Ibero-American AI strategy highlights strong connections among Latin American nations, particularly with Spain, emphasizing gender diversity but pragmatically and predominantly as a workforce issue. In contrast, a US-led coalition of “science and tech first movers" is more focused on advancing foundational AI and diverse applications. The European Union AI strategy showcases leading states like France and Germany while addressing regional divides, with more focus and detail on social mobility, sustainability, standardization, and democratic governance of AI. These findings offer an empirical lens into the current global landscape of AI development and ethics, revealing distinct national trajectories in the pursuit of ethical AI.