bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Waterfowl and Wetland Birds
Authors: Vest Josh L. , Haukos David A. , Niemuth Neal D. , Setash Casey M. , Gammonley James H. , Devries James H. , Dahlgren David K.
Published: September 2023

The future of wetland bird habitat and populations is intrinsically connected with the conservation of rangelands in North America. Many rangeland watersheds are source drainage for some of the highest functioning extant wetlands. The Central and Pacific Flyways have significant overlap with available rangelands in western North America. Within these flyways, the importance of rangeland management has become increasingly recognized by those involved in wetland bird conservation. Within the array of wetland bird species, seasonal habitat needs are highly variable. During the breeding period, nest survival is one of the most important drivers of population growth for many wetland bird species and rangelands often provide quality nesting cover. Throughout spring and fall, rangeland wetlands provide key forage resources that support energetic demands needed for migration. In some areas, stock ponds developed for livestock water provide migration stopover and wintering habitat, especially in times of water scarcity. In the Intermountain West, drought combined with water demands from agriculture and human population growth are likely headed to an ecological tipping point for wetland birds and their habitat in the region. In the Prairie Pothole Region, conversion of rangeland and draining of wetlands for increased crop production remains a significant conservation issue for wetland birds and other wildlife. In landscapes dominated by agricultural production, rangelands provide some of the highest value ecosystem services, including water quality and wetland function. Recent research has shown livestock grazing, if managed properly, is compatible and at times beneficial to wetland bird habitat needs. Either directly, or indirectly, wetland bird populations and their habitat needs are supported by healthy rangelands. In the future, rangeland and wetland bird managers will benefit from increased collaboration to aid in meeting ultimate conservation objectives.
White-Tailed Deer
Authors: Fulbright Timothy E.
Published: September 2023

White-tailed deer are geographically widespread and occupy a variety of ecosystems from semi-desert shrubland and grasslands to forests. They have a relatively high reproductive potential but recruitment may be limited in semiarid rangelands where annual variation in precipitation is high. They eat browse and forbs but mast may seasonally comprise most of the diet. White-tailed deer select areas with a mixture of woody vegetation and areas dominated by herbaceous vegetation. They use woody vegetation for cover and often forage in adjacent herbaceous-dominated areas. They are highly adaptable and can adjust to changes in vegetation resulting from rangeland management practices; however, excessive grazing reduces habitat quality. Brush management minimally affects white-tailed deer and their habitat when adequate resources such as thermal cover, hiding cover, and browse-and-mast-producing vegetation remain on the landscape. Empirical evidence that creating mosaics of herbaceous-dominated foraging patches and woody cover improves demographics or productivity is equivocal; however, managing for increased spatial heterogeneity in vegetation may increase fawn survival. Chronic wasting disease is a major threat to white-tailed deer populations. White-tailed deer use behavioral adaptations to reduce excessive heat loads resulting from climate change in the southern part of their range. Paradoxically, populations are expanding in the northern part of their range in part because of milder winters. Hunting is the primary tool to manage white-tailed deer populations. Combining recreational hunting with livestock production increases revenue for ranchers. Ironically, white-tailed deer are often a nuisance in eastern forests, but they can be an economically important asset on rangelands.
Feral Equids
Authors: Petersen Steven L. , Scasta J. Derek , Schoenecker Kathryn A. , Hennig Jacob D.
Published: September 2023

Feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) and burros (E. asinus) in North America, often referred to as free-roaming, free-ranging, or wild horses and burros, are introduced species that are currently increasing in arid and semi-arid rangelands. They differ from all other North American mammals by being the only feral species protected by federal law. These equids inhabit areas featuring rough topography, limited net primary productivity, and extreme weather conditions, and have potential to cause long-term ecosystem impacts. In this chapter, we review the historical and modern context of feral equids on North American rangelands including their evolutionary past and introduction to the continent, their relationships to the environment, and challenges associated with their management. The management of feral equids is perhaps more scrutinized than any other species because their legal status, body size, physiology, foraging patterns, and local abundance directly interacts and competes with rangeland resource quality, impacts native wildlife populations, and conflicts with the multiple-uses of the land that they inhabit.
Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats
Authors: Whiting Jericho C. , Bleich Vernon C. , Bowyer R. Terry , Manlove Kezia , White Kevin
Published: September 2023

Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and to a lesser extent mountain goats (Oreamanos americanus), historically occupied much of the mountainous rangelands of western North America. Both ungulates inhabit rugged terrain and feed on grasses, forbs, and browse. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats are widely recognized for their consumptive and non-consumptive value. Indigenous peoples valued these species for cultural and subsistence purposes. Populations of these ungulates have declined since the latter part of the nineteenth century—for mountain goats, this decline has occurred particularly in the southern portion of their distribution. Historical declines have been attributed to unregulated harvest, habitat loss, competition with non-native ungulates, and disease contracted from domestic livestock. Regulated hunting has played an important role in the conservation of bighorn sheep, and recent reintroductions of these ungulates have bolstered current populations in rangelands of western North America. Although competition for habitat is minimal for bighorn sheep and mountain goats with domestic livestock (compared with other wild ruminants or feral equids), diseases of domestic sheep and domestic or exotic goats have long posed challenges to the conservation of bighorn sheep. In parts of their distributions, mountain goats and bighorn sheep are sympatric, and both species may encounter domestic livestock on grazing allotments on public or private rangelands. If management of bighorn sheep and mountain goats is the goal, spatial and temporal separation is recommended between these species and domestic sheep and goats; doing so will improve the conservation of populations of bighorn sheep and mountain goats and their habitat on rangelands of western North America.
Wildlife, Rural Communities, and the Rangeland Livelihoods They Share: Opportunities in a Diverse Economies Approach
Authors: Haggerty Julia Hobson , Epstein Kathleen , Bennett Drew E. , Milton Bill , Nowlin Laura , Martin Brian
Published: September 2023

Because rangeland ecosystems and the wildlife they support are integral to rural economies, understanding economic trends in rangeland regions is a valuable contribution to wildlife management. This chapter reflects on and synthesizes the experiences of a group of academic and practitioner collaborators working to balance the needs of wildlife and rural ranching communities in a priority conservation region, the central Montana portion of the Northern Great Plains. The chapter summarizes both the challenges facing ranching economies and policy and market strategies available to encourage conservation by private landowners. Its main emphasis, however, is to invite readers into a different kind of conversation about wildlife conservation’s role in rangeland economies and livelihoods. The chapter introduces the concept of diverse economies, a way of understanding the economy through social relationships as opposed to merely the exchange of money, with a brief summary of its origins and perspective. It then draws on the theory and practice of diverse economies to map relationships and activities at the intersection of rangeland conservation and community development in central Montana. In emphasizing the diversity of practices that make up “the economy” and the intimate intertwining of the economy with ecologies, diverse economies thinking opens up space to approach the complex ways that the livelihoods of rural residents and rangeland wildlife overlap and the search for adaptive solutions to conservation challenges.
Choose Your Colour: Tree Interpolation for Quantified Formulas in SMT
Authors: Henkel Elisabeth , Hoenicke Jochen , Schindler Tanja
Published: September 2023

We present a generic tree-interpolation algorithm in the SMT context with quantifiers. The algorithm takes a proof of unsatisfiability using resolution and quantifier instantiation and computes interpolants (which may contain quantifiers). Arbitrary SMT theories are supported, as long as each theory itself supports tree interpolation for its lemmas. In particular, we show this for the theory combination of equality with uninterpreted functions and linear arithmetic. The interpolants can be tweaked by virtually assigning each literal in the proof to interpolation partitions (colouring the literals) in arbitrary ways. The algorithm is implemented in SMTInterpol.
Program Synthesis in Saturation
Authors: Hozzová Petra , Kovács Laura , Norman Chase , Voronkov Andrei
Published: September 2023

We present an automated reasoning framework for synthesizing recursion-free programs using saturation-based theorem proving. Given a functional specification encoded as a first-order logical formula, we use a first-order theorem prover to both establish validity of this formula and discover program fragments satisfying the specification. As a result, when deriving a proof of program correctness, we also synthesize a program that is correct with respect to the given specification. We describe properties of the calculus that a saturation-based prover capable of synthesis should employ, and extend the superposition calculus in a corresponding way. We implemented our work in the first-order prover Vampire, extending the successful applicability of first-order proving to program synthesis.
An Experimental Pipeline for Automated Reasoning in Natural Language (Short Paper)
Authors: Tammet Tanel , Järv Priit , Verrev Martin , Draheim Dirk
Published: September 2023

We describe an experimental implementation of a logic-based end-to-end pipeline of performing inference and giving explained answers to questions posed in natural language. The main components of the pipeline are semantic parsing, integration with large knowledge bases, automated reasoning using extended first order logic, and finally the translation of proofs back to natural language. While able to answer relatively simple questions on its own, the implementation is targeting research into building hybrid neurosymbolic systems for gaining trustworthiness and explainability. The end goal is to combine machine learning and large language models with the components of the implementation and to use the automated reasoner as an interface between natural language and external tools like database systems and scientific calculations.
An Isabelle/HOL Formalization of the SCL(FOL) Calculus
Authors: Bromberger Martin , Desharnais Martin , Weidenbach Christoph
Published: September 2023

We present an Isabelle/HOL formalization of Simple Clause Learning for first-order logic without equality: SCL(FOL). The main results are formal proofs of soundness, non-redundancy of learned clauses, termination, and refutational completeness. Compared to the unformalized version, the formalized calculus is simpler and more general, some results such as non-redundancy are stronger and some results such as non-subsumption are new. We found one bug in a previously published version of the SCL Backtrack rule. Compared to related formalizations, we introduce a new technique for showing termination based on non-redundant clause learning.
Formal Reasoning About Influence in Natural Sciences Experiments
Authors: Bruse Florian , Lange Martin , Möller Sören
Published: September 2023

We present a simple calculus for deriving statements about the local behaviour of partial, continuous functions over the reals, within a collection of such functions associated with the elements of a finite partial order. We show that the calculus is sound in general and complete for particular partial orders and statements. The motivation for this work is drawn from an attempt to foster digitalisation in secondary-eduction classrooms, in particular in experimental lessons in natural science classes. This provides a way to formally model experiments and to automatically derive the truth of hypotheses made about certain phenomena in such experiments.
Performance Evaluation of Patch Repairs on Historic Concrete Structures (PEPS): Preliminary Results from Two English Case Studies
Authors: Wilkie Simeon , Farrell David , Lauder Nicola , Goncalves Ana Paula Arato
Published: September 2023

The development of reinforced concrete through the 20th century has resulted in a wealth of historically and culturally significant concrete structures around the world. However, the durability and deterioration mechanisms of this new material were not well understood and, as a result, many historic reinforced concrete structures require ongoing maintenance and repair. Patch repairs are common during repair campaigns. However, balancing traditional conservation principles, such as minimal intervention and retreatability, with the best practices of contemporary concrete repair and the need to provide repairs which do not affect the historic aesthetic of the structure can be challenging. Three institutions, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), Historic England (HE) and Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques (LRMH) are collaborating on the research project, ‘the Performance Evaluation of Patch Repairs on Historic Concrete Structures (PEPS)’, which aims to provide guidance on this issue. Over the course of the project, historic structures in the USA, France and England, which have been repaired previously have been assessed. This paper presents a comparison of the preliminary results from two case studies from England and discusses the different repair approaches that were implemented.
Individuelle gesundheitsrelevante Umweltexpositionen im Rad- und Fußverkehr – Trends, Auswirkungen und eine Fallstudie zu Resilienz gegenüber Umweltstressoren
Authors: Helbig Carolin , Becker Anna Maria , Haufer Anna-Lena , Masson Torsten , Mohamdeen Abdelrhman , Schlink Uwe
Published: September 2023

Urbane Räume sind Hotspots für Umweltbelastungen wie Lärm, Luftverschmutzung und Hitze, welche die Gesundheit der Menschen in der Stadt beeinträchtigen und räumlich und zeitlich stark kontextabhängig verteilt sind. Intelligente und von Bewohner*innen nutzbare Methoden zur Anpassung und Vermeidung gesundheitsschädlicher Expositionen verbessern die Resilienz einer Stadt und werden im vorliegenden Beitrag vorgestellt und bewertet. Mobile, personengetragene Sensoren ermöglichen die Messung der genannten Stressoren für Einzelpersonen. Diese Umweltdaten eröffnen Wege für eine flexible persönliche Anpassung an ein sich veränderndes Stadtklima, für die Identifizierung von Hotspots urbaner Schadstoffe und für die Verbesserung urbaner Strukturen.
Die Wärmewende kommunal gestalten. Potenziale und Probleme des Quartiersansatzes am Beispiel Leipzigs
Authors: Büttner Leonie , Rink Dieter
Published: September 2023

Die kommunale Wärmewende ist ein entscheidender Baustein für das Gelingen der Energiewende und die Steigerung der Resilienz von Städten. Sie erfordert eine drastische Reduzierung des Wärmebedarfs der Gebäude und die Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien für den verbleibenden Wärmebedarf. Die hier untersuchte Stadt Leipzig versucht die Wärmewende über energetische Sanierungsquartiere anzugehen. Beispielhaft, anhand von zwei Bestandsquartieren, werden Potenziale und Probleme des Quartiersansatzes diskutiert.
Wenn die Existenz auf dem Spiel steht – Zum Umgang mit Krisen auf Quartiersebene am Beispiel von Großwohnsiedlungen
Authors: Kabisch Sigrun , Pößneck Janine
Published: September 2023

Quartiere in ihrer Resilienz zu stärken bedeutet, sie in ihrer Robustheit und Anpassungsfähigkeit für das Überwinden von Krisen und Katastrophen zu ertüchtigen. Die Erfassung von Veränderungen und ihrer Ursachen im zeitlichen Verlauf und im räumlichen Kontext ist eine wichtige Voraussetzung, um Stresssituationen früh zu erkennen und eine entsprechende Gegensteuerung einzuleiten. In diesem Beitrag wird die Frage diskutiert, ob Krisen wie extreme Schrumpfung die quartiersbezogene Resilienz so beeinträchtigen können, dass die weitere Existenz von Quartieren oder deren Teilräumen auf dem Spiel steht („Quartiere auf Zeit“). Besondere Beachtung erfahren Großwohnsiedlungen mit Schrumpfungserfahrungen, darunter Leipzig-Grünau.
A novel unbinned model-independent method to measure the CKM angle γ in B± → DK± decays with optimised precision
Authors: Lane Jake , Gersabeck Evelina , Rademacker Jonas
Published: September 2023

Abstract

We present a novel unbinned method to combine B± → DK± and charm threshold data for the amplitude-model unbiased measurement of the CKM angle γ in cases where the D meson decays to a three-body final state. The new unbinned approach avoids any kind of integration over the D Dalitz plot, to make optimal use the available information. We verify the method with simulated signal data where the D decays to KSπ+π−. Using realistic sample sizes, we find that the new method reaches the statistical precision on γ of an unbinned model-dependent fit, i.e. as good as possible and better than the widely used model-independent binned approach, without suffering from biases induced by a mis-modeled D decay amplitude.
Magnetite trace element characteristics and their use as a proximity indicator to the Avoca Tank Cu-Au prospect, Girilambone copper province, New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Simpson Brenainn , Fitzherbert Joel , Moltzen Jake , Baillie Ian , Cox Brad , Huang Huiqing
Published: September 2023

The Avoca Tank orebody is one of a series of copper-rich orebodies occurring within the Girilambone Cu province of central New South Wales. Mineralisation at Avoca Tank is hosted within several narrow, chloritic, greenschist-facies shear zones which developed ~430 Ma (U-Pb titanite) within metasedimentary rocks around the margins of an Ordovician (ca. 470 Ma) mafic sill complex. Mineralisation at Avoca Tank preserves an early oxide phase (sulfide barren) as magnetite-rich shears that are overprinted by a pyrite-chalcopyrite-rich sulfide phase. The mineralogical and chemical footprint surrounding sulfide mineralisation is narrow (<50 m) offering limited ore vectoring using mineralogical and chemical change. However, magnetite-rich shears occur external to and within sulfide mineralised intervals, and magnetite within these shears displays distinctive trace element variation depending on proximity to Cu mineralisation. Changing magnetite trace element chemistry with increasing Cu abundance at Avoca Tank is best represented by two ternary systems. A ternary plot of Ni-V-Ti effectively separates magnetite from unmineralised zones via Ni abundance, while the ratio of Ti to V effectively separates magnetite from low-, moderate- and high-grade Cu zones. A ternary plot of Sn (100*Sn)-Zn-Ni effectively discriminates between unmineralised, low-grade and combined moderate- to high-grade zones. The greatest control here is the ratio of Zn to Sn, but the inclusion of Ni abundance provides a greater separation between low- versus combined high- and moderate-grade ore. Many of the trace element trends recorded in magnetite are mirrored in the overprinting sulfides. We propose a two-phase mineralising system, with initial development of chemically uniform, sulfide barren magnetite-chlorite-rich shear zones in proximity to the margins of older mafic sills. A subsequent, and potentially hotter (+60 °C), fluid harvested the early oxide for Fe, with the partial replacement, recrystallisation and re-equilibration magnetite within a sulfide-rich hydrothermal fluid under greenschist facies metamorphic conditions. As many known orebodies in the Girilambone Cu province are associated with magnetite-rich gangue, magnetic surveys are an effective exploration technique. Based on this pilot study, mapping trace element variation in magnetite within these bodies is an additional ore-vectoring technique in the search for economic Cu mineralisation in this province.
High-pitch CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with ultra-low contrast medium volume for the detection of pulmonary embolism: a comparison with standard CTPA
Authors: Schönfeld Tobias , Seitz Patrick , Krieghoff Christian , Ponorac Slavica , Wötzel Alexander , Olthoff Stefan , Schaudt Sebastian , Steglich Jonas , Gutberlet Matthias , Gohmann Robin F.
Published: September 2023

Objective

To investigate the feasibility and image quality of high-pitch CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with reduced iodine volume in normal weight patients.

Methods

In total, 81 normal weight patients undergoing CTPA for suspected pulmonary arterial embolism were retrospectively included: 41 in high-pitch mode with 20 mL of contrast medium (CM); and 40 with normal pitch and 50 mL of CM. Subjective image quality was assessed and rated on a 3-point scale. For objective image quality, attenuation and noise values were measured in all pulmonary arteries from the trunk to segmental level. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated. Radiation dose estimations were recorded.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in patient and scan demographics between high-pitch and standard CTPA. Subjective image quality was rated good to excellent in over 90% of all exams with no significant group differences (p = 0.32). Median contrast opacification was lower in high-pitch CTPA (283.18 [216.06–368.67] HU, 386.81 [320.57–526.12] HU; p = 0.0001). CNR reached a minimum of eight in all segmented arteries, but was lower in high-pitch CTPA (8.79 [5.82–12.42], 11.01 [9.19–17.90]; p = 0.005). Median effective dose of high-pitch CTPA was lower (1.04 [0.72–1.27] mSv/mGy·cm; 1.49 [1.07–2.05] mSv/mGy·cm; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

High-pitch CTPA using ultra-low contrast volume (20 mL) rendered diagnostic images for the detection of pulmonary arterial embolism in most instances. Compared to standard CTPA, the high-pitch CTPA exams with drastically reduced contrast medium volume had also concomitantly reduced radiation exposure. However, objective image quality of high-pitch CTPA was worse, though likely still within acceptable limits for confident diagnosis.

Clinical relevance

This study provides valuable insights on the performance of a high-pitch dual-source CTPA protocol, offering potential benefits in reducing contrast medium and radiation dose while maintaining sufficient image quality for accurate diagnosis in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism.

Key Points

• High-pitch CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with ultra-low volume of contrast medium and reduced radiation dose renders diagnostic examinations with comparable subjective image quality to standard CTPA in most patients.

• Objective image quality of high-pitch CTPA is reduced compared to standard CTPA, but contrast opacification and contrast-to-noise ratio remain above diagnostic thresholds.

• Challenges of high-pitch CTPA may potentially be encountered in patients with severe heart failure or when performing a Valsalva maneuver during the examination.
Myeloperoxidase is a critical mediator of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy
Authors: Nettersheim Felix Sebastian , Schlüter Johannes David , Kreuzberg Wiebke , Mehrkens Dennis , Grimm Simon , Nemade Harshal , Braumann Simon , Hof Alexander , Guthoff Henning , Peters Vera , Hoyer Friedrich Felix , Kargapolova Yulia , Lackmann Jan-Wilm , Müller Stefan , Pallasch Christian P. , Hallek Michael , Sachinidis Agapios , Adam Matti , Winkels Holger , Baldus Stephan , Geißen Simon , Mollenhauer Martin
Published: September 2023

Cardiotoxicity is a major complication of anthracycline therapy that negatively impacts prognosis. Effective pharmacotherapies for prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy (AICM) are currently lacking. Increased plasma levels of the neutrophil-derived enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) predict occurrence of AICM in humans. We hypothesized that MPO release causally contributes to AICM. Mice intravenously injected with the anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) exhibited higher neutrophil counts and MPO levels in the circulation and cardiac tissue compared to saline (NaCl)-treated controls. Neutrophil-like HL-60 cells exhibited increased MPO release upon exposition to DOX. DOX induced extensive nitrosative stress in cardiac tissue alongside with increased carbonylation of sarcomeric proteins in wildtype but not in Mpo−/− mice. Accordingly, co-treatment of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) with DOX and MPO aggravated loss of hiPSC-CM-contractility compared to DOX treatment alone. DOX-treated animals exhibited pronounced cardiac apoptosis and inflammation, which was attenuated in MPO-deficient animals. Finally, genetic MPO deficiency and pharmacological MPO inhibition protected mice from the development of AICM. The anticancer efficacy of DOX was unaffected by MPO deficiency. Herein we identify MPO as a critical mediator of AICM. We demonstrate that DOX induces cardiac neutrophil infiltration and release of MPO, which directly impairs cardiac contractility through promoting oxidation of sarcomeric proteins, cardiac inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MPO thus emerges as a promising pharmacological target for prevention of AICM.
Prevalence and severity of pediatric emergencies in a German helicopter emergency service: implications for training and service configuration
Authors: Mockler Stefan , Metelmann Camilla , Metelmann Bibiana , Thies Karl Christian
Published: September 2023

This study primarily aims to determine the frequency of life-threatening conditions among pediatric patients served by the DRF, a German helicopter emergency service (HEMS) provider. It also seeks to explore the necessity of invasive procedures in this population, discussing the implications for HEMS crew training and service configuration based on current literature. We analyzed the mission registry from 31 DRF helicopter bases in Germany, focusing on 7954 children aged 10 or younger over a 5-year period (2014–2018). Out of 7954 identified children (6.2% of all primary missions), 2081 (26.2%) had critical conditions. Endotracheal intubation was needed in 6.5% of cases, while alternative airway management methods were rare (n = 14). Half of the children required intravenous access, and 3.6% needed intraosseous access. Thoracostomy thoracentesis and sonography were only performed in isolated cases.

  Conclusions: Critically ill or injured children are infrequent in German HEMS operations. Our findings suggest that the likelihood of HEMS teams encountering such cases is remarkably low. Besides endotracheal intubation, life-saving invasive procedures are seldom necessary. Consequently, we conclude that on-the-job training and mission experience alone are insufficient for acquiring and maintaining the competencies needed to care for critically ill or injured children.

What is Known:• Pediatric emergencies are relatively rare in the prehospital setting, but their incidence is higher in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) compared to ground-based emergency services.

What is New:• On average, HEMS doctors in Germany encounter a critically ill or injured child approximately every 1.5 years in their practice, establish an IV or IO access in infants or toddlers every 2 years, and intubate an infant every 46 years.• This low frequency highlights the insufficiency of on-the-job training alone to develop and maintain pediatric skills among HEMS crews. Specific interdisciplinary training for HEMS crews is needed to ensure effective care for critically unwell pediatric patients.
Incidence, survival, and prognostic factors for patients with gastrointestinal mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms: a SEER population-based study
Authors: Xu Boqi , Zhang Fan , Wu Runda , Peng Yao , Mao Zhongqi , Tong Shan
Published: September 2023

Background

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) are a group of rare tumors with limited research currently available. This study aimed to analyze the incidence, survival, and prognostic factors of gastrointestinal MiNENs.

Methods

We included data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2000 and 2019. We compared the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival rates between MiNENs and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and calculated the incidence of MiNENs. We utilized univariate and multivariate Cox analysis to assess independent factors of prognosis and established a nomogram to predict 1-, 2-, and 3-year cancer-specific survival (CSS). Calibration and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to validate the accuracy and reliability of the model. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical utility of the model.

Results

Patients with gastrointestinal MiNENs had a poorer prognosis than those with NETs. The overall incidence of gastrointestinal MiNENs has been increasing annually. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and surgery were independent risk factors for CSS in MiNENs patients. Based on these risk factors, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year CSS nomogram model for MiNENs patients was established. Calibration, ROC, and DCA curves of the training and validation sets demonstrated that this model had good accuracy and clinical utility.

Conclusion

Gastrointestinal MiNENs are rare tumors with an increasing incidence rate. The nomogram model is expected to be an effective tool for personalized prognosis prediction in MiNENs patients, which may benefit clinical decision-making.
Wood anatomical spectrum of co-occurring species in early and late-successional tropical dry forest communities
Authors: Romero Eunice , Terrazas Teresa , González Edgar J. , Meave Jorge A.
Published: September 2023

Key message

Analysis of wood anatomical traits revealed that drought tolerance predominates in early-successional communities, and vessel variability is relevant for species’ ecological success in seasonally dry tropical environments.

Successional tropical dry forests harbor a diverse array of species subjected to a strong seasonal precipitation regime. Considering that wood encompasses diverse functional properties related to stem hydraulics and mechanical support, in this study, we asked which quantitative anatomical traits are exhibited by co-occurring species in early (EC)- and late (LC)-successional communities. We used generalized linear mixed-effects models to estimate and compare means and standard deviations of wood traits (vessel area, vessel density, vessel grouping, and fiber dimensions) between eight EC and between 13 LC co-occurring species. Wood traits were highly heterogeneous. High vessel redundancy, a property associated with water safety involved in the prevention of hydraulic failure, prevails among species coexisting in EC but is maintained through succession by the same species in LC. Highly variable fiber dimensions indicate that species coexisting in LC possess different characteristics associated with mechanical resistance. Low wood density species typical of LC, which are absent from EC, displayed wood anatomical features associated with drought-evasion mechanisms. This result implies that deforestation not only reduces taxonomic but also functional diversity. Future research should adopt a standard deviation analysis approach, as this will allow confirming the high variability in vessel diameter, even in diffuse porous species, as a key feature for the ecological success of plants facing succession-driven changes in seasonally dry environments.
A techno-economic study on the co-production of syngas and activated carbon from waste tyre gasification process
Authors: Fajimi L. I. , Oboirien B. O.
Published: September 2023

Waste tyre gasification offers a variety of benefits amongst which include the production of syngas—an alternate source of energy generation and activated carbon (AC)—a very good adsorbent used in industrial purification processes. In this study, a conceptual design of an industrial production plant design process and economic analysis of waste tyre gasification process for the co-production of syngas and AC were evaluated. Three reactor configurations namely: fluidized bed, fixed bed, and rotary kiln gasifiers were investigated in the design process. The design process put into consideration the total plant cost (TPC), total capital investment (TCI), the cost of raw materials, waste disposal cost, amongst other vital economic parameters. The fixed bed reactor has the highest syngas and AC production with 10,130 kg/h and 214.61 kg/h, respectively when compared to the other gasifiers. The minimum selling price (MSP) of syngas was set as 1$/kg and AC was set at $2/kg. The result obtained shows that the fixed bed production route was the most economical amongst the three reactor configurations considered. The fixed bed route has a net present value (NPV) of 435 M$, return on investment (ROI) of 56%, internal rate of return (IRR) of 54%, and a payback period (PBP) of 4.86 years. Finally, a sensitivity analysis considering a $$\pm $$
±
20% variation in key economic parameters such as the syngas MSP, inflation rate, interest rate, tax rate, operating expenditure (OPEX), and capital expenditure (CAPEX) amongst others was investigated. The analysis shows that the syngas MSP, OPEX, inflation rate, and CAPEX have the most effect on the NPV of the waste tyre gasification process.
Vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes: a state-of-the-art review
Authors: Ding Hu , Ji J. C.
Published: September 2023

Fluid-conveying pipes are widely used to transfer bulk fluids from one point to another in many engineering applications. They are subject to various excitations from the conveying fluids, the supporting structures, and the working environment, and thus are prone to vibrations such as flow-induced vibrations and acoustic-induced vibrations. Vibrations can generate variable dynamic stress and large deformation on fluid-conveying pipes, leading to vibration-induced fatigue and damage on the pipes, or even leading to failure of the entire piping system and catastrophic accidents. Therefore, the vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes is essential to ensure the integrity and safety of pipeline systems, and has attracted considerable attention from both researchers and engineers. The present paper aims to provide an extensive review of the state-of-the-art research on the vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes. The vibration analysis of fluid-conveying pipes is briefly discussed to show some key issues involved in the vibration analysis. Then, the research progress on the vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes is reviewed from four aspects in terms of passive control, active vibration control, semi-active vibration control, and structural optimization design for vibration reduction. Furthermore, the main results of existing research on the vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes are summarized, and future promising research directions are recommended to address the current research gaps. This paper contributes to the understanding of vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes, and will help the research work on the vibration control of fluid-conveying pipes attract more attention.
Novel Insights into Somatic Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents Across Psychiatric Diagnoses: An Explorative Study
Authors: Muskens Jet B. , Ester Wietske A. , Klip Helen , Zinkstok Janneke , van Dongen-Boomsma Martine , Staal Wouter G.
Published: September 2023

Many children with psychiatric disorders display somatic symptoms, although these are frequently overlooked. As somatic morbidity early in life negatively influences long-term outcomes, it is relevant to assess comorbidity. However, studies of simultaneous psychiatric and somatic assessment in children are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of somatic comorbidities in a clinical sample of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders in a naturalistic design. Data were assessed from 276 children with various psychiatric disorders (neurodevelopmental disorders, affective disorders, eating disorders and psychosis) aged 6–18 years. These data were collected as part of routine clinical assessment, including physical examination and retrospectively analyzed. For a subsample (n = 97), blood testing on vitamin D3, lipid spectrum, glucose and prolactin was available. Results of this cross-sectional study revealed that food intake problems (43%) and insomnia (66%) were common. On physical examination, 20% of the children were overweight, 12% displayed obesity and 38% had minor physical anomalies. Blood testing (n = 97) highlighted vitamin D3 deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) in 73% of the children. None of the predefined variables (gender, age, medication and socioeconomic factors) contributed significantly to the prevalence of somatic comorbidities. The main somatic comorbidities in this broad child- and adolescent psychiatric population consisted of (1) problems associated with food intake, including obesity and vitamin D3 deficiency and (2) sleeping problems, mainly insomnia. Child and adolescent psychiatrists need to be aware of potential somatic comorbidities and may promote a healthy lifestyle.
Normal Approximation of Kabanov–Skorohod Integrals on Poisson Spaces
Authors: Last G. , Molchanov I. , Schulte M.
Published: September 2023

We consider the normal approximation of Kabanov–Skorohod integrals on a general Poisson space. Our bounds are for the Wasserstein and the Kolmogorov distance and involve only difference operators of the integrand of the Kabanov–Skorohod integral. The proofs rely on the Malliavin–Stein method and, in particular, on multiple applications of integration by parts formulae. As examples, we study some linear statistics of point processes that can be constructed by Poisson embeddings and functionals related to Pareto optimal points of a Poisson process.
A Stochastic Model of an Early Warning System for Detecting Anomalous Incidence Values of COVID-19
Authors: Duarte Ana Filipa , Soares Amílcar , Pereira Maria João , Peralta-Santos André , Leite Pedro Pinto , Azevedo Leonardo
Published: September 2023

The ability to identify and predict outbreaks during epidemic and pandemic events is critical to the development and implementation of effective mitigation measures by the relevant health and political authorities. However, the spatiotemporal prediction of such diseases is not straightforward due to the highly non-linear behaviour of its evolution in both space and time. The methodology proposed herein is the basis of an early warning system to predict short-term anomalous values (i.e., high and low values) of the incidence of COVID-19 at the municipality level for mainland Portugal. The proposed modelling tool combines stochastic sequential simulation and machine learning, namely symbolic regression, to model the spatiotemporal evolution of the disease. The machine learning component is used to model the 14-day incidence rate curves of COVID-19, as provided by the Portuguese Directorate-General for Health, while the geostatistical simulation component models the spatial distribution of these predictions, for a simulation grid comprising the metropolitan area of Lisbon, following a pre-defined spatial continuity pattern. The method is illustrated for a period of 5 months during 2021, and considering the entire set of 19 municipalities belonging to the metropolitan area of Lisbon, Portugal. The results show the ability of the early warning system to predict and detect anomalous high and low incidence rate values for different periods of the pandemic event during this period.
Optimal safe driving dynamics for autonomous interacting vehicles
Authors: Cohen Nathan , Chopard Bastien , Leone Pierre
Published: September 2023

We consider the car following problem for a set of autonomous vehicles following each other on either an infinite or circular road. The behavior of each car is specified by its "speed regulator", a device that decides to increase or decrease the speed of the car as a function of the head-tail distance to its predecessor and the speed of both cars. A collective behavior emerges that corresponds to previously proposed cellular automata traffic models. We further analyze the traffic patterns of the system in the long term, as governed by the speed regulator and we study under which conditions traffic patterns of maximum flow can or cannot be reach. We show the existence of suboptimal flow conditions that require external coordination mechanisms (that we do not consider in this paper) in order to reach the optimal flow achievable with the given density. In contrast with other approaches, we do not try to reproduce observed or measured traffic patterns. We analyze a deterministic speed regulator in order to decipher the emergent dynamics, and to ponder what maneuvers can be safely performed. Here, we restrict our attention to the car following problem. By comparing our speed regulator with classical models, auch as the Nagel–Schreckenberg and KKW models, we observe that although our regulator is formulated in simple terms, its dynamics share similarities with these models. In particular, the KKW model is designed to reproduce the observed behavior that a trailing car in the synchronization range of the leading car tends to regulate its speed to maintain a constant distance. this same behavior is adopted by our speed regulator, showing that this is a safe way of driving.
Characterizing human health damage from ionizing radiation in life cycle assessment
Authors: Paulillo Andrea , McKone Thomas E , Fantke Peter
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Although a wide number of industrial processes routinely release radionuclides into the environment, the resulting potential impacts on human health have been largely overlooked in life cycle assessment (LCA). As part of the Life Cycle Initiative project on Global Guidance for Life Cycle Impact Assessment Indicators and Methods (GLAM), we aim to develop a consensus-based source-to-damage framework and factors for characterizing human health damage from ionizing radiation in LCA.

Methods

Our framework comprises four modules. The fate and exposure modules are based on UCrad, an earlier developed compartment-based environmental model for radionuclides. The focus of the present work is on the dose response and severity modules, which are based on most recent data from the International Committee on Radiological Protection and the Global Burden of Disease project series. The characterization factors are expressed in terms of DALY per kBq released.

Results and discussions

We obtain characterization factors for 115 radionuclides and 8 environmental compartments. To evaluate our approach, we compare both effect factors (combining dose response and severity) and characterization factors with those proposed in earlier studies. Our analysis demonstrates that differences are explicable by the different approaches used in the fate and exposure modelling. We also test the sensitivity of our factors to different approaches for filling data gaps, suggesting that our factors are robust. Finally, we apply our factors in an illustrative case study on rice production and consumption under various scenarios to identify dominant radionuclides and how these differ when other approaches are used.

Conclusions

Our framework is aligned with widely adopted methodologies for human health impact assessment, thus enabling robust comparisons, and covers nearly all radionuclides released by anthropogenic activities, including those that may arise from disposal of nuclear waste. Our factors are readily applicable for assessing radionuclide emissions in LCA. As next step we recommend (i) incorporating decay products into the fate model and (ii) integrating a model for indoor emissions of radon and indoor exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides (NORM).
Flesh Without Blood: The Public Health Benefits of Lab‐Grown Meat
Authors: Anomaly Jonny , Browning Heather , Fleischman Diana , Veit Walter
Published: September 2023

Synthetic meat made from animal cells will transform how we eat. It will reduce suffering by eliminating the need to raise and slaughter animals. But it will also have big public health benefits if it becomes widely consumed. In this paper, we discuss how “clean meat” can reduce the risks associated with intensive animal farming, including antibiotic resistance, environmental pollution, and zoonotic viral diseases like influenza and coronavirus. Since the most common objection to clean meat is that some people find it “disgusting” or “unnatural,” we explore the psychology of disgust to find possible counter-measures. We argue that the public health benefits of clean meat give us strong moral reasons to promote its development and consumption in a way that the public is likely to support. We end by depicting the change from farmed animals to clean meat as a collective action problem and suggest that social norms rather than coercive laws should be employed to solve the problem.
Increased Knowledge Mediates the Effect of Game Changers for Cervical Cancer Prevention on Diffusion of Cervical Cancer Screening Advocacy Among Social Network Members in a Pilot Trial
Authors: Ghai Ishita , Wagner Glenn J. , Matovu Joseph K. B. , Juncker Margrethe , Namisango Eve , Bouskill Kathryn , Nakami Sylvia , Beyeza-Kashesya Jolly , Luyirika Emmanuel , Wanyenze Rhoda K.
Published: September 2023

Background

Game Changers for Cervical Cancer Prevention (GC-CCP), a peer-led, group advocacy training intervention, increased cervical cancer (CC) prevention advocacy not only among intervention recipients, but also their social network members (referred to as “alters”) who were targeted with advocacy in a pilot randomized controlled trial. We examined mediators and moderators of this effect on alter advocacy, to understand how and for whom the intervention had such an effect.

Method

Forty women (index participants) who had recently screened for CC enrolled and were randomly assigned to receive the GC-CCP intervention (n = 20) or the wait-list control (n = 20). Up to three alters from each participant (n = 103) were surveyed at baseline and month 6. Measures of CC-related cognitive constructs (knowledge, enacted stigma, and risk management self-efficacy), as well as extent of advocacy received from index participants, were assessed as mediators of the intervention effect on alter advocacy using multivariate regression analyses. Alter characteristics were examined as moderators.

Results

Increased CC-related knowledge partially mediated the intervention effect on increased alter engagement in CC prevention advocacy; those with greater gains in knowledge reported greater engagement in advocacy. No moderators of the intervention effect were identified.

Conclusion

The effect of GC-CCP on alter CC prevention advocacy is enhanced by increased alter knowledge pertaining to CC prevention, causes, and treatment and suggests this may be key for diffusion of intervention effects on increased CC prevention advocacy throughout a social network.

Trial Registration

NCT04960748 (registered on clinicaltrials.gov, 7/14/2021).