bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entwicklung neuer Kollaborationsmöglichkeiten und Geschäftsmodelle
Authors: Frey Michael , Emrich Andreas , Adams Rebekka , Zimmermann Volker
Published: December 2023

Um die im Zeitalter der Digitalisierung in industriellen Unternehmen anfallenden Daten effizient über die gesamte Produktionskette hinweg zu analysieren, bedarf es einer engen Kooperation zwischen den verschiedenen Stakeholdern im Unternehmen, sowie innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zur Integration solcher kollaborativen Ansätze auch unternehmensübergreifend. Auch die Integration von Systemen zur Durchführung von Datenanalysen oder vorgelagerte Systeme zur Erfassung von relevanten Daten sind dabei als Stakeholder zu betrachten und spielen bereits bei der Gestaltung des Geschäftsmodells eine Rolle. Zu diesem Zweck wurde im Forschungsprojekt AKKORD ein Rahmenwerk für kollaborative Geschäftsmodelle entwickelt, welches die notwendigen Schritte von der Datenzugriffsebene über die Datenverarbeitungs- und Analysemodule hin zur Visualisierung einbezieht und Kollaborationsmöglichkeiten für Data-Science-Projekte aufzeigt. Das Konzept wurde exemplarisch bei der prototypischen Entwicklung einer Data-Science Anwendung im Kontext von Geschäftsmodellentwicklung und -weiterentwicklung angewendet.
Datengetriebene Arbeitsplangestaltung in der Automobilfertigung
Authors: Rese Christine , Krzoska Sven , Klapic Edin , West Nikolai , Schlunder Philipp , Klinkenberg Ralf , Gebler Mathias , Deuse Jochen
Published: December 2023

Methoden und Werkzeuge der industriellen Datenanalyse erweitern das bisherige Methoden- und Kompetenzportfolio des Industrial Engineerings. Der Einsatz von datengetriebenen Entscheidungsunterstützungen in einem Produktionsnetzwerk leistet einen vielversprechenden Beitrag für ein ganzheitliches Produktivitätsmanagement durch das Industrial Engineering. Innovative Assistenzfunktionen zur Gestaltung und Optimierung von Arbeitssystemen steigern die Produktivität in Unternehmensumfeldern mit hoher Produkt- und Prozessvariabilität und schaffen somit einen Mehrwert. Durch die Implementierung entlang des Produktentstehungsprozesses und in der Serienphase wird der Fokus stärker auf Gestaltungsaufgaben und Wissenstransfer gelegt. Die Realisierung der datenbasierten Assistenzfunktionen für das Industrial Engineering erfolgte in verschiedenen Analyseschritten. Diese wurden am Beispiel der Türenvormontage eines Automobilherstellers validiert. Hierfür erfolgte zunächst eine automatische Standardisierung der Prozessbeschreibungen mithilfe von Text-Mining-Verfahren, welche die maschinelle Lesbarkeit der Prozessbeschreibungen sicherstellen. In weiteren Analyseschritten wurden exemplarisch sechs Vergleichskriterien implementiert. Es konnten mehr als 80 % der bauteilbezogenen Montageprozesse automatisch in sieben Arbeitsplänen der Türenvormontage identifiziert und marken- und werkübergreifend verglichen werden. Durch den datengetriebenen Vergleich bauteilbezogener Montageprozesse können dem Arbeitsgestalter insbesondere bewährte Lösungsansätze marken- und werksübergreifend bereitgestellt werden. Die im Referenzbaukasten integrierten Lösungen unterstützen das automatische Auffinden, Wiederverwenden und Vergleichen relevanter Prozessplanungsdaten und tragen einen wichtigen Teil zur konsistenten und an besonders bewährten Lösungen orientierten Prozessgestaltung in Produktionsnetzwerken bei. Die Realisierung der datenbasierten Assistenzfunktionen in eigenständigen Analyseschritten ermöglicht zudem die Verwendung der Teilergebnisse für weitere nachgelagerte Anwendungsfälle wie beispielsweise Taktungsoptimierung oder Simulationserstellung.
Grounded Approach to Women’s Empowerment: Understanding the Complexities
Authors: Naguib Rabia
Published: December 2023

The Middle East has undergone profound social, political, and economic changes over time, leading to reconfiguration of the positions and status of Arab men and women in relation to the state and the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic, the Arab Spring, and the 2008 financial crisis have all had significant impacts, particularly on Arab women, who have become the focus of policies aimed at “empowering” them. Before exploring the relationship between women’s empowerment and public policy, it is crucial to understand the concept of empowerment within its context, through the perspectives and narratives of women themselves. This chapter examines the concept of women’s empowerment in the context of Arab Gulf states, with a specific focus on Qatar, by exploring the meaning and perceptions of working and non-working women and the role of religious beliefs, moral values, and family. A holistic and dialectical approach is used to understand the complex and multidimensional nature of women’s empowerment and to highlight the intersectionality between gender, religion, and identity in the region. A deductive and inductive logic is adopted, drawing on both theoretical literature and practical interviews to offer a conceptual and empirical contribution to the field of women’s empowerment.
Terrestrial detection of hidden vectors produced by solar nuclear reactions
Authors: D’Eramo Francesco , Lucente Giuseppe , Nath Newton , Yun Seokhoon
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Solar nuclear reactions can occasionally produce sub-MeV elusive beyond the Standard Model particles that escape the solar interior without further interactions. This study focuses on massive spin-one particles. We construct the general theoretical framework and identify two crucial mixing sources involving the photon, which facilitate communication between the hidden and visible sectors: kinetic mixing with the photon, and plasma-induced mixing due to thermal electron loops. For both cases, we focus on the second stage of the solar proton-proton chain and evaluate the fluxes of monochromatic 5.49 MeV hidden vectors produced by the p(d,3 He)γ′ nuclear reaction. We then investigate their terrestrial detection via Compton-like scatterings. The incoming fluxes are polarized, and we evaluate the cross sections for Compton-like scatterings for transverse and longitudinal vectors. Finally, we apply this framework to a concrete case by investigating the sensitivity of the forthcoming Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) experiment and identifying parameter space where current terrestrial bounds will be improved.
On the state of the second part of Hilbert’s fifth problem
Authors: Járai Antal
Published: December 2023

In the second part of his fifth problem Hilbert asks for functional equations “In how far are the assertions which we can make in the case of differentiable functions true under proper modifications without this assumption.” In the case of the general functional equation $$\begin{aligned} f(x)=h\Bigl (x,y,\bigl (g_1(x,y)\bigr ),\ldots ,\bigl (g_n(x,y)\bigr )\Bigr ) \end{aligned}$$

f

(
x
)

=
h

(

x
,
y
,

(

g
1

(
x
,
y
)

)

,
…
,

(

g
n

(
x
,
y
)

)

)

for the unknown function f under natural condition for the given functions it is proved on compact manifolds that $$f\in C^{-1}$$

f
∈

C

-
1

implies $$f\in C^{\infty }$$

f
∈

C
∞

and practically the general case can also be treated. The natural conditions imply that the dimension of x cannot be larger than the dimension of y. If we remove this condition, then we have to add another condition. In this survey paper a new problem for this second case is formulated and results are summarised for both cases.
Antifungal Activity of Chitosan Polymeric Nanoparticles and Correlation with Their pH Against Mucor circinelloides Causing Mucormycosis, Along with Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus Species
Authors: Abo El-Ela Fatma I. , Hassan Walid Hamdy , Amer Alaa M. , El-Dek S. I.
Published: December 2023

Mucormycosis is uncommon, yet it is more prevalent among individuals with underlying health conditions and those who are immunocompromised. Chitosan is studied because of its appealing properties and diverse applications. The purpose of this work is to synthesize chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) by ionic gelation method at various pH levels and test them against Mucor and other filamentous fungus. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Zeta sizer, Zeta potential, and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy were used to characterize CSNPs. Hydrodynamic size increased considerably with increasing pH. Our CSNPs were tested against fungal isolates of Aspergillus Flavus RCMB 02783, Aspergillus Fumigatus RCMB 02564, and Aspergillus Niger RCMB 02588, Penicillium Notatum (NCPF 2881) and   (M. circinelloides CNRMA 03.894) causing mucromycosis. Antifungal activity was investigated using Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Minimum Fungicidal concentration (MFC), Disc diffusion assay, and Antifungal inhibitory percentages methods. The best antifungal efficacy results were obtained through CSNPs prepared at pH = 4.4 at very low concentration for MIC (1.03 or 2.75 μg/mL) with 100% M. circinelloides inhibition followed by pH = 4.6 with MIC (73 or 208 μg/mL) and 93%  M. cirecinelloides inhibition %. Future usage of these materials in masks or wound dressing to avoid fungal infections, including mucormycosis following COVID-19, penicillium, and aspergillosis toxicity and infections.

Graphical Abstract
HPCache: memory-efficient OLAP through proportional caching revisited
Authors: Nicholson Hamish , Chrysogelos Periklis , Ailamaki Anastasia
Published: December 2023

Analytical engines rely on in-memory data caching to avoid storage accesses and provide timely responses by keeping the most frequently accessed data in memory. Purely frequency- and time-based caching decisions, however, are a proxy of the expected query execution speedup only when storage accesses are significantly slower than in-memory query processing. On the other hand, fast storage offers loading times that approach fully in-memory query response times, rendering purely frequency-based statistics incapable of capturing the impact of a caching decision on query execution. For example, caching the input of a frequent query that spends most of its time processing joins is less beneficial than caching a page for a slightly less frequent but scan-heavy query. Thus, existing caching policies waste valuable memory space to cache input data that offer little-to-no acceleration for analytics. This paper proposes HPCache, a buffer management policy that enables fast analytics on high-bandwidth storage by efficiently using the available in-memory space. HPCache caches data based on the speedup potential instead of relying on frequency-based statistics. We show that, with fast storage, the benefit of in-memory caching varies significantly across queries; therefore, we quantify the efficiency of caching decisions and formulate an optimization problem. We implement HPCache in Proteus and show that (i) estimating speedup potential improves memory space utilization, and (ii) simple runtime statistics suffice to infer speedup. We show that HPCache achieves up to a 1.75x speed-up over frequency-based caching policies by caching column proportions and automatically tuning them. Overall, HPCache enables efficient use of the in-memory space for input caching in the presence of fast storage, without requiring workload predictions.
Coping with expectation violations in education: the role of optimism bias and need for cognitive closure
Authors: Henss Larissa , Pinquart Martin
Published: December 2023

Although most individuals experience expectation violations in their educational years, individuals’ coping strategies differ depending on situational and dispositional characteristics with potentially decisive influence on educational outcomes. As a situational characteristic, optimism bias indicates that individuals tend to update their expectations after unexpected positive feedback and to maintain their expectations after unexpected negative feedback. As a dispositional characteristic, a higher need for cognitive closure (NCC) indicates that individuals tend to both update (accommodation) and try to confirm expectations (assimilation) after unexpected negative feedback. To better understand mechanisms behind optimism bias and context-dependent effects of NCC in an educational context, we included controllability (attribution of success/failure to internal or external causes) and self-enhancement (amplifying positive self-relevant aspects) in an experimental case vignettes study. Our sample of n = 249 students was divided into four experimental groups (high/low controllability × positive/negative valence) and read four different case vignettes referring to expectation violations in an educational context. MANCOVA revealed that individuals updated their expectations after unexpected positive feedback only with stronger (vs. weaker) self-enhancement and that individuals maintained their expectations after unexpected negative feedback in controllable (vs. uncontrollable) situations. Furthermore, interindividual differences in NCC interacted with controllability in predicting expectation update. We conclude that considering the influences of controllability and self-enhancement, we can better understand and evaluate the adaptivity of the optimism bias and context-dependent effects of NCC in an educational context.
Government spending efficiency in Latin America
Authors: Afonso António , Fraga Gabriela Baquero
Published: December 2023

We assess public spending efficiency of 20 Latin American countries over the period of 2000–2019, computing data envelopment analysis efficiency scores. For the Public Sector Performance composite indicator, we use the annual data of socio-economic indicators, and for the input measure we consider Total Public Spending as a percentage of GDP, by spending category. The results show that public spending during the period under study increased, but that overall governments were not efficient, as on average they could have used 27% less spending to achieve the same levels of performance. On the other hand, governments could have increased their performance by 18% whilst maintaining the same level of spending. The most-efficient countries were Chile, Guatemala, Panama, and Paraguay, with the least efficient being Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Suriname, and Brazil.
The Impact of Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies on Sexual Harassment Prevention in the Workplace
Authors: Blumell Lindsey E. , Mulupi Dinfin
Published: December 2023

Despite increasing pressure to implement anti-sexual harassment policies, the issue remains largely unresolved within organizations in many countries. This mixed-methods study used a survey of 575 news professionals and an analysis of 17 anti-sexual harassment policies in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to understand the effectiveness of anti-sexual harassment policies in preventing and correcting sexual harassment in the workplace. Results show no significant differences of experienced or reported sexual harassment between organizations with or without a policy. Only 30% of participants reported their experiences with organizations responding to 42% of reported cases. The only measured significant impact of policies was found with participants who had been trained on the policy and the likelihood for their organization to act. An analysis of the policies showed they contained unclear definitions, reporting mechanisms, complaint processes, organizational communication, and monitoring. In discussing these results, we highlight how gendered norms must be considered to implement more effective anti-sexual harassment policies.
Higher education and the flipped classroom approach: efficacy for students with a history of learning disabilities
Authors: Kiljunen Juho , Sointu Erkko , Äikäs Aino , Valtonen Teemu , Hirsto Laura
Published: December 2023

Higher education continually seeks new approaches to support students with various learning needs. At present, Finland attempts to provide such support through accessibility and reasonable accommodation efforts, but students with learning disabilities may still encounter many barriers in their studies. One approach suggested to meet the needs of a diverse student population is the flipped classroom. While substantial research exists about its benefits and drawbacks, less is known from the perspective of students who have a history of receiving pedagogical support. Therefore, the present study examined the experience and performance of these students in flipped higher education courses. Results indicated no difference in the academic performance of learners with a history of support compared to those without. Students with a history of support needs reported a lower assessment of self-regulation and self-efficacy for learning, and experienced the flipped courses as more difficult. However, they favored more collaboration in general and in the flipped classroom approach in particular. Additionally, regression models indicated that achievement in flipped courses was explained primarily from the lack of regulation and guidance perspectives. These findings suggest new insights for teaching those with learning disabilities, particularly the support a flipped classroom may provide, but developing a more in-depth understanding is warranted.
Socioecological and Dietary Change from 2001 to 2015 in Rural West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Sekiyama Makiko , Tsuchiya Kazuaki , Roosita Katrin , Matsuda Hirotaka
Published: December 2023

We assessed changes in the sociodemographic structure, land use, diet, and nutritional status of the population of a rural village in West Java, Indonesia between 2000–2001 and 2015–2017, a period of rapid socioeconomic change in the country. Over this period, the village’s population increased by 50%, largely comprised of individuals engaged in non-agricultural employment in the village or in nearby cities, and the village maintained its farming characteristics without major changes in the local land use or ecosystem. In 2000, the diet, nutritional intake, and health status of the villagers were generally uniform. Indicators based on BMI, for example, classified 98% of target children and 70% of target mothers as ‘normal’, regardless of household economic status. However, by 2015, more people worked outside the village and dependence on a market economy had increased. Dependence on food from outside the village, such as processed foods that are cheap and easy to obtain and store, had also increased. Foods such as cassava, taro, and sweet potatoes, which were grown and consumed in 2000, were not consumed in 2015. The quantities of beans, nuts, and vegetables consumed had also decreased. Additionally, the use and sharing of natural resources and the accompanying knowledge transfer had been gradually lost. As a result, variation in diet, nutritional intake, and health conditions within the village significantly increased over time, and overnutrition and undernutrition coexisted by 2015.
Novel alginate-based binders for silicon–graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries: effect of binder chemistry on the electrochemical performance
Authors: Güneren Alper , Nada Ahmed A. , Šišková Alena Opálková , Mosnáčková Katarína , Kleinová Angela , Mosnáček Jaroslav , Lenčéš Zoltán
Published: December 2023

Novel alginate-based binders containing either catechol (d-Alg) or sulfonate (s-Alg) functional groups were developed and characterized to improve the capacity decay performance and better stability of Li-ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of silicon–graphite (Si/Gr) anode with alginate-based binders were compared to the commonly used CMC/SBR binder. The active material in the anodes was the ball-milled Si/Gr (20:80 wt%) powder mixture. A comprehensive electrochemical study was carried out through rate capability test, cycle test, differential capacity analysis (dQ/dV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The functionalized s-Alg binder showed the lowest electrolyte uptake (11.5%) and the highest tensile strength (97 MPa). Anodes with s-Alg exhibited high initial capacity (1250 mAh g−1) and improved decay performance (580 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C), by ~ 65% higher compared to CMC/SBR binder. The influence of pH value of s-Alg binder preparation showed that anodes prepared at pH 3 of s-Alg exhibit better performance, reaching 800 and 750 mAh g−1 at 0.1 and 0.2 C, respectively, due to the stronger bonding formation and compactness of anode layer which providing low charge transfer and solid electrolyte interface resistance.

Graphical abstract
A Phase 1 Open-Label Study to Assess the Tolerability, Safety, and Immunogenicity of Hyaluronidase-Facilitated Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin 20% in Healthy Adults
Authors: Nagy Andras , Duff Kimberly , Bauer Alexander , Okonneh Fred , Rondon Juan Carlos , Yel Leman , Li Zhaoyang
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Hyaluronidase-facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin (fSCIG) 20% will allow reduced infusion volumes and frequency versus existing subcutaneous therapies such as fSCIG 10% and conventional subcutaneous immunoglobulin 20%, respectively. We assessed the tolerability, safety, and immunogenicity of warmed and unwarmed fSCIG 20%.

Methods

This phase 1, single-dose, open-label, three-arm study enrolled healthy adults aged 19–50 years (inclusive) at a single US center (NCT05059977). Post-screening, participants received a single fSCIG 20% dose comprising recombinant human hyaluronidase and varying doses of in-line warmed or unwarmed immunoglobulin G (IgG) during a 4-day treatment period in a sentinel and sequential dosing design (treatment arm 1, warmed IgG 20% 0.4 g/kg; treatment arm 2, warmed IgG 20% 1.0 g/kg; treatment arm 3, unwarmed IgG 20% 1.0 g/kg). Participants were followed for 12 (± 1) weeks post-infusion. The primary endpoint was tolerability (“tolerable” infusions were not interrupted, stopped, or reduced in rate owing to fSCIG 20%-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs)). Secondary endpoints included occurrence of TEAEs.

Results

Overall, 24 participants were included, 8 per treatment arm (mean age 39.0 years, 54.2% men). All participants tolerated the infusions. All TEAEs were mild (107 events, in all participants), and all participants experienced fSCIG 20%-related (105 events) and local (102 events) TEAEs. Infusion site erythema and infusion site swelling were most frequently reported. No serious TEAEs occurred, and no participants discontinued the study owing to TEAEs.

Conclusion

fSCIG 20% was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in healthy adults. Future studies will evaluate fSCIG 20% in primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Trial registration number (ClinicalTrials.gov): NCT05059977 (registered 28 September 2021).
Challenge or Threat? The Effects of the Standard and a Second-Generation Mindfulness Intervention with Buddhist Practices on Cognitive Appraisals of Stress: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Experiment Performed in Switzerland
Authors: Gamaiunova Liudmila , Brandt Pierre-Yves , Kliegel Matthias
Published: December 2023

Contemplative approaches rooted in Buddhist traditions have been linked to the attenuation of response to social stress. Anticipatory cognitive appraisals of social situations potentially represent a mechanism explaining the stress-reducing effects of contemplative practices. The cognitive appraisal of threat is associated with an anticipated loss of social self-esteem. In contrast, the cognitive appraisal of challenge involves recognizing the potential for gain or growth in stressful situations and is associated with a more adaptive cardiovascular response. In this secondary analysis of a randomized controlled experiment performed in Switzerland, we evaluated the effects of two contemplative interventions on cognitive appraisals of challenge and threat and associated physiological profiles. The interventions were a standard Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and a new program (MBSR-B), which included several elements from Buddhist practices. After an eight-week intervention, participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and underwent the assessment of primary cognitive appraisals and cardiovascular response to stress. The results demonstrated greater challenge appraisal in the MBSR (n = 20) and MBSR-B (n = 21) groups compared to Control (n = 24), and MBSR-B participants scored higher on the challenge than threat appraisal. At the physiological level, the groups did not differ on changes in cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. Still, an exploratory analysis demonstrated that the MBSR-B group’s cardiovascular profile best resembled challenge appraisal. The results suggest that contemplative approaches foster challenge appraisal, contributing to a more adaptive response to stress.
Earthquake swarms near the Mór Graben, Pannonian Basin (Hungary): implication for neotectonics
Authors: Czecze Barbara , Kalmár Dániel , Kiszely Márta , Süle Bálint , Fodor László
Published: December 2023

The central part of the Pannonian Basin is characterised by low to medium seismicity. North central Hungary is one of the most dangerous areas of the country in terms of earthquakes, which also includes the area of the Mór Graben where some of the largest earthquakes occurred in Hungary’s history. Recent activity has been observed in the Mór Graben. It has been established that earthquake swarms occur quite frequently in the graben. To further study these events, we deployed a temporary seismic network that operated for 20 months. Using the temporary network stations as well as permanent stations from the Kövesligethy Radó Seismological Observatory and the GeoRisk Ltd. networks we registered 102 events of small magnitudes. In this paper, we demonstrate and compare three different event detection methods based on the registered waveforms by the permanent and temporary stations to find the optimal one to collect a complete swarm list in the Mór Graben. After the hierarchical cluster analysis, we relocated the hypocentres using a multiple-event algorithm. Our results demonstrate that the most successful detector in this case is the “Subspace detector.” We managed to create a complete list of the events. Our results indicate that the Mór Graben is still seismically active.
How to do things with insecure extensions
Authors: Lauer Helen
Published: December 2023

The multi-purpose of publicizing a scientific consensus includes a communicative strategy by which scientific institutions accommodate the weighty social and economic demands to demonstrate they are collaborating and cooperating with non-scientific sectors of society, relying on a wide range of spokespeople and representatives to carry out the delivery of their consensus in formal, institutionally arranged, professional and impersonal public settings. I investigate the conditions and presuppositions that make it possible for a research consortium to contribute indirectly to public discourse beyond the presentation of empirical data and theoretical speculations routinely associated with knowledge-producing collectives. The baptismal action of researchers in selecting a designative name to announce a new discovery of virus species and species variants does not follow the rigorous regulations that standardize all names of taxonomic categories in other biological sciences as well as higher order taxa in virology. It is argued here that the lack of clarity in the denotation of the term ‘Ebola’ (in epidemiological reports from West Africa throughout 2014–2016) serves the purpose of shifting a receptor’s understanding of a statement from its explicit assertive point to an implicit declarative, commissive, directive or expressive, covertly delivered point. Specialists of nomenclature concerned with quality assurance regard this lapse in standardization as a consequence of human fallibility demanding urgent intervention. Here it is proposed instead that the occlusive effect of a technical descriptive name may serve an important communicative function.
Body condition scoring in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and llamas (Lama glama) – a scoping review
Authors: Wagener Matthias Gerhard , Ganter Martin , Leonhard-Marek Sabine
Published: December 2023

Assessment of the body condition score (BCS) is an important tool to check the nutritional status of an animal, and thus can provide important information in herd management, but also in the veterinary examination of individual animals. In dairy farming, BCS has been recognized as an important parameter for a long time already, but over the years body condition scoring has also become more important for other species. Especially in South American camelids (SACs: alpacas and llamas), whose dense coat can hide a poor nutritional status for a long time, regular assessment of the BCS is recommended by different authors and organizations. To date, there are several instructions for the assessment of the BCS in SACs, which, however, differ significantly in some points. For a consistent approach, a total of 35 instructions for the BCS in SACs were compared in a scoping review. The spine, especially the lumbar vertebrae as well as the ribs were identified as the two main body sites recommended for assessing the BCS. Furthermore, the area between the front and rear leg and the pelvis were mentioned frequently; however, these body sites were discussed controversially. The paralumbar fossa, shoulder, and udder were only mentioned sporadically. Among the various scales, the 1–5 scale was mentioned most frequently, with the optimal BCS being 3. Nonetheless, physiological fluctuation due to breed, age, sex, pregnancy, and lactation have to be considered. The BCS should be assessed each time the animals are handled, but at least monthly. In contrast to body weight, the BCS reflects the nutritional status of an animal even after a single examination. The review showed that much of the available information on the assessment of BCS in SACs is based on practical experience rather than scientific evidence. Indeed, some of the assumptions made there might still have to be verified or modified.
Obicetrapib: Reversing the Tide of CETP Inhibitor Disappointments
Authors: Kastelein John J. P. , Hsieh Andrew , Dicklin Mary R. , Ditmarsch Marc , Davidson Michael H.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

To discuss the history of cardiovascular outcomes trials of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors and to describe obicetrapib, a next-generation, oral, once-daily, low-dose CETP inhibitor in late-stage development for dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Recent Findings

Phase 1 and 2 trials have evaluated the safety and lipid/lipoprotein effects of obicetrapib as monotherapy, in conjunction with statins, on top of high-intensity statins (HIS), and with ezetimibe on top of HIS. In ROSE2, 10 mg obicetrapib monotherapy and combined with 10 mg ezetimibe, each on top of HIS, significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), apolipoprotein B, total LDL particles, small LDL particles, small, dense LDL-C, and lipoprotein (a), and increased HDL-C. Phase 3 pivotal registration trials including a cardiovascular outcomes trial are underway.

Obicetrapib has an excellent safety and tolerability profile and robustly lowers atherogenic lipoproteins and raises HDL-C. As such, obicetrapib may be a promising agent for the treatment of ASCVD.
Cybersecurity discussions in Stack Overflow: a developer-centred analysis of engagement and self-disclosure behaviour
Authors: Díaz Ferreyra Nicolás E. , Vidoni Melina , Heisel Maritta , Scandariato Riccardo
Published: December 2023

Stack Overflow (SO) is a popular platform among developers seeking advice on various software-related topics, including privacy and security. As for many knowledge-sharing websites, the value of SO depends largely on users’ engagement, namely their willingness to answer, comment or post technical questions. Still, many of these questions (including cybersecurity-related ones) remain unanswered, putting the site’s relevance and reputation into jeopardy. Hence, it is important to understand users’ participation in privacy and security discussions to promote engagement and foster the exchange of such expertise. Objective: Based on prior findings on online social networks, this work elaborates on the interplay between users’ engagement and their privacy practices in SO. Particularly, it analyses developers’ self-disclosure behaviour regarding profile visibility and their involvement in discussions related to privacy and security. Method: We followed a mixed-methods approach by (i) analysing SO data from 1239 cybersecurity-tagged questions along with 7048 user profiles, and (ii) conducting an anonymous online survey (N=64). Results: About 33% of the questions we retrieved had no answer, whereas more than 50% had no accepted answer. We observed that proactive users tend to disclose significantly less information in their profiles than reactive and unengaged ones. However, no correlations were found between these engagement categories and privacy-related constructs such as perceived control or general privacy concerns. Implications: These findings contribute to (i) a better understanding of developers’ engagement towards privacy and security topics, and (ii) to shape strategies promoting the exchange of cybersecurity expertise in SO.
Enhanced Scaling of Material Removal Rate with High Surface Quality Through Combined Laser Processes
Authors: Buser Matthias , Hofele Markus , Menold Tobias , Riegel Harald , Michalowski Andreas
Published: December 2023

In the field of ultrashort pulse laser processing, the effective utilization of average power provided by todays laser systems presents an almost unsolvable challenge. This study aims to address this challenge in the context of laser volume ablation. We propose a solution for utilization of high average power while producing a high-quality finish, even when starting from arbitrary surfaces. The approach combines closed loop laser volume ablation, laser cleaning and laser polishing in a subsequent process strategy. The closed loop approach enables ablative laser processes to be used to produce precise target geometries and surfaces, even if the initial geometry of the component is very different from the target geometry. One application example is the post-processing of components manufactured using additive processes such as laser powder bed fusion. Therefore, we demonstrate automated removal of support structures and finishing of a sample made of AlSi10Mg material by laser powder bed fusion. The combination of laser ablation and laser polishing made it possible to significantly increase the productivity of the post-processing and achieving a surface roughness of Ra = 0.3 µm.
Pre-operative ultrasound mapping before arteriovenous fistula formation: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chlorogiannis David-Dimitris , Bousi Stelios-Elion , Zachiotis Marinos , Chlorogiannis Anargyros , Kyriakoulis Ioannis , Bellos Ioannis
Published: December 2023

Background

Arteriovenous fistula represents the preferred vascular access for patients with kidney failure requiring hemodialysis. Surgeons have traditionally used physical examination to identify the most suitable vessels. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate whether ultrasound mapping should be routinely performed before arteriovenous fistula creation.

Methods

Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and CENTRAL were systematically searched from inception to November 1, 2022. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing routine ultrasound mapping to physical examination in terms of arteriovenous fistula patency were included. Meta-analysis was performed by fitting random-effects models. The study protocol has been prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023402390).

Results

Overall, 18 studies were included, comprising 3655 participants. Routine pre-operative ultrasound mapping was associated with significantly lower rates of primary arteriovenous fistula failure (Risk Ratio-RR: 0.56, 95% confidence intervals-CI: 0.37–0.84, low certainty). A significant outcome was observed by separately pooling randomized controlled trials (RR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.25–0.54). Routine ultrasound mapping was also associated with significantly higher rates of 1-year primary arteriovenous fistula patency (RR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19–1.47, moderate certainty). This effect remained significant in the analysis of randomized controlled trials (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.56).

Conclusions

Implementing routine pre-operative ultrasound mapping of vessels is associated with significantly better outcomes in terms of early arteriovenous fistula failure and primary patency rates at 12 months. Further research should confirm the long-term benefits of routine ultrasound examination and evaluate its cost-effectiveness in different populations.

Graphical Abstract
“They Were Just Eating to Live”: The Social Archaeology of Ottoman Foodways and Ceramics
Authors: Vroom Joanita
Published: December 2023

The article offers a large-scope assessment of archaeological and ethnoarchaeological research on foodways within the core Mediterranean heartlands of the Ottoman Empire. It integrates evidence from a range of historical and archaeological sources, both terrestrial and underwater. After presenting an overview of 30 years of scholarship on the subject, it introduces the Ottoman manner of eating, cooking, and dining with the help of glazed tablewares and unglazed coarse wares from archaeological contexts. Furthermore, it shows the means of transportation and the trade routes for foodstuffs, as well as the ways in which they were cooked and consumed, from the sultan’s court to country folk in rural villages.
Revisiting Enduring Labour Questions and Social Reproduction Dynamics in Rural Zimbabwe’s Post Land Reform Context: Implications on Citizen Welfare and Wellbeing
Authors: Chipenda Clement
Published: December 2023

Enduring agrarian labour questions and social reproduction dynamics in former settler colonies like Zimbabwe have always been a subject of much scholarly interest. Two decades after Zimbabwe’s controversial fast track land reform programme (FTLRP), the agrarian labour questions and social reproduction dynamics are receiving renewed attention. This is partly attributable to an uneasy political transition, neo-liberal economic trajectories, and the perceived reversals of the policies of the Robert Mugabe administration. With these changes occurring, questions are arising on how this is implicating on agrarian labour and social reproduction in the resettlement areas created by the FTLRP. In a context of trying to understand the outcomes of land and agrarian reform framed within the transformative social policy conceptual framework, this article explores emergent agrarian labour and social reproduction dynamics in the two rural districts of Goromonzi and Zvimba in rural Zimbabwe. Using an interpretive research paradigm and a mixed methods research approach, the study elicited responses from 200 small to medium scale farmers who are beneficiaries of the FTLRP. Arguing from the position that land and agrarian reforms are an overlooked vector of social policy, the article investigated the extent to which the FTLRP has facilitated the creation of employment opportunities, enhanced the productive and reproductive capacities of land reform beneficiaries, enabled wealth distribution and improved rural livelihoods. The article shows that despite the emergent capitalist trajectories and the continued super exploitation of labour reminiscent of the settler colonial era, empirical field-based evidence suggests that redistributive land reform has contributed to socio-economic transformation and enhanced citizens welfare and wellbeing. This is shown as having been evident in the realm of agrarian labour and social reproduction.
Regulating Banks
Authors: Whitworth Andrew
Published: December 2023

Banks have been at the heart of economic activity for centuries, but since the 2008 financial crisis scrutiny of their activities and regulation of their actions has become the focus of fervent academic, policy and political activity. This focus takes for granted the existence and nature of banks.

In Regulating Banks, Andrew Whitworth looks one stage deeper to question what a bank really is, and what the implications of that are. He argues that the institutional form of a bank represents the political compromise of a specific time and place - and can therefore change. This has implications for financial stability. Far from creating stability, he argues, the regulatory impulse of policy-makers inevitably leads to greater financial instability.

Whitworth examines the postwar period of UK banking to show how regulation influences the nature of banks as much as their behaviour. Regulation, by changing the nature of what is regulated, encourages banks and other actors over time to alter their behaviour, which leads to future boom and bust cycles. These cycles then require further regulation to rein in the disruption their new pattern of behaviour inevitably instigates.

Regulating Banks reveals the cyclical nature of banking regulation, the inherent mismatch between political impulses and market reactions, and the price banks, banking and society pay for such instability.
Social Preferences
Authors: Drouvelis Michalis
Published: December 2023

This introduction to one of the key areas of behavioural economics Social Preferences explains in clear, nontechnical language how particular groups of experiments have been used by behavioural economists to shed light on the processes of economic decision making. These include bargaining games, trust games and public good games. The significance of determinants such as punishment, sanctioning, emotion, cooperation, reciprocity, leadership, framing and cross-cultural differences are demonstrated and explained, and students are provided with the understanding and resources needed to replicate the experiments themselves.
Preventing healthcare-associated MRSA bacteremia: getting to the root of the problem
Authors: Borg Michael A. , Suda David , Tartari Ermira , Farrugia Claire , Xuereb Deborah , Borg Inguanez Monique
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Bloodstream infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remain a major challenge in most countries worldwide.

Setting:

We describe a quasi-experimental sequential intervention at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, to reduce hyper-prevalence of healthcare-associated MRSA bacteremia (HA-MRSA-B).

Interventions:

The hospital initiated a hand hygiene (HH) campaign in 2008 to improve alcohol hand rub (AHR) use. In 2011, this was followed by root cause analysis (RCA) of all HA-MRSA-B cases and finally universal MRSA admission screening in 2014. Change-point analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the interventions.

Results:

The effect of the HH campaign became evident when AHR consumption reached 40 L/1000 occupied bed days (BD). RCAs identified intravascular devices as the likely risk factor in 83% of all HA-MRSA-B; specifically non-tunneled double-lumen hemodialysis catheters (36%), peripheral venous cannulas (25%), and central venous catheters (22%). Interventions to improve their management resulted in the greatest reduction of HA-MRSA-B rates. They were informed by the RCA findings and targeted behavior change through education, motivation, and system change. Universal MRSA admission screening provided the final decline in incidence. Each intervention affected HA-MRSA-B rates after a lag period of approximately 18–24 months. Overall, HA-MRSA-B incidence decreased from 1.72 cases/10000BD in 2008 to 0.18/10000BD in 2019; a reduction of almost 90%. Intravenous device interventions were also associated with a reduction of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia rates.

Conclusions:

Significant improvement in HA-MRSA-B is possible, even in highly endemic regions. It requires well-planned behavior change interventions which are compatible with local context and culture.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Access to Cancer Surgery: Analysis of Surgical Wait Times in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Shojaei Delaram , Bakos Brendan , Loree Jonathan , Mah Allison , So Alan , McGahan Colleen , Phang Terry P , Brown Carl James
Published: December 2023

Objective:

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread, efforts were made to preserve resources for the anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients in British Columbia, Canada. However, the relationship between COVID-19 hospitalizations and access to cancer surgery is unclear. In this project, we analyze the impact of COVID-19 patient volumes on wait time for cancer surgery.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study using population-based datasets of regional surgical wait times and COVID-19 patient volumes. Weekly median wait times for urgent, nonurgent, cancer, and noncancer surgeries, and maximum volumes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were studied. The results were qualitatively analyzed.

Results:

A sustained association between weekly median wait time for priority and other cancer surgeries and increase hospital COVID-19 patient volumes was not qualitatively discernable. In response to the first phase of COVID-19 patient volumes, relative to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, wait time were shortened for urgent cancer surgery but increased for nonurgent surgeries. During the second phase, for all diagnostic groups, wait times returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. During the third phase, wait times for all surgeries increased.

Conclusion:

Cancer surgery access may have been influenced by other factors, such as policy directives and local resource issues, independent of hospitalized COVID-19 patient volumes. The initial access limitations gradually improved with provincial and institutional resilience, and vaccine rollout.
Generation of millijoule-level sub-5 fs violet laser pulses
Authors: Xie Xinhua , Hung Yi , Deng Yunpei , Cavalieri Adrian L. , Baltuška Andrius , Johnson Steven L.
Published: December 2023

We demonstrate the generation, spectral broadening and post-compression of second harmonic pulses using a thin beta barium borate (BBO) crystal on a fused-silica substrate as the nonlinear interaction medium. By combining second harmonic generation in the BBO crystal with self-phase modulation in the fused-silica substrate, we efficiently generate millijoule-level broadband violet pulses from a single optical component. The second harmonic spectrum covers a range from long wave ultraviolet (down to 310 nm) to visible (up to 550 nm) with a bandwidth of 65 nm. Subsequently, we compress the second harmonic beam to a duration of 4.8 fs with a pulse energy of 0.64 mJ (5 fs with a pulse energy of 1.05 mJ) using chirped mirrors. The all-solid free-space apparatus is compact, robust and pulse energy scalable, making it highly advantageous for generating intense second harmonic pulses from near-infrared femtosecond lasers in the sub-5 fs regime.
A method to calculate inverse solutions for steady open channel free-surface flow
Authors: Robbins C. , Blyth M.G. , Maclean J. , Binder B.J.
Published: December 2023

The inverse problem of steady two-dimensional open channel free-surface flow is considered, with the focus on determining two types of disturbances: a surface pressure distribution and solid channel bottom topography. A closed-form expression for the inverse surface pressure is derived, and a linear Fredholm equation of the first kind is shown to describe the inverse topography problem, which then needs to be descretised and solved numerically. However, the equation for the channel bottom is prone to instability, so the truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) method is proposed as a way to stabilise the associated discrete solution. The effectiveness of the TSVD method is demonstrated through several numerical examples, and its performance in the presence of error-contaminated input data is also examined. The results show that the TSVD method can recover the topography accurately from the forward free-surface problem, and provide good approximations even with noisy input data.