bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are accelerators akin to breweries or wineries? A Bayesian variance decomposition of accelerator and cohort effects
Authors: Avnimelech Gil , Dushnitsky Gary , Ellsaesser Florian , Fitza Markus
Published: October 2024

Research Summary

The literature on startup accelerators uncovers multiple factors associated with accelerators’ advantages. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the relative magnitude of these factors. We ask: Are accelerators akin to breweries, where quality is mainly a function of the institution of origin (i.e., brewery for beer, accelerator for startups); or are they similar to wineries, where quality varies across cohorts (i.e., for a given winery, some vintages are of higher quality)? We explore this question using data from 1,350 tech‐startups graduating from dozens of accelerators in a global technology hub. A Bayesian hierarchical variance decomposition approach is introduced to account for the highly‐skewed zero‐inflated distribution in startups’ performance. We find that a notable fraction of startup performance is due to vintage; within‐accelerator, cross‐cohort variation.

Managerial Summary

Startup accelerators (i.e., short‐term programs designed to help startups grow) are highly popular, with dozens of accelerators operating around the globe. Our focus is on accelerator programs aimed at catapulting technology ventures towards high growth. We ask: Are accelerators akin to breweries, where quality is mainly a function of the institution of origin (i.e., brewery for beer, accelerator for startups); or are they similar to wineries, where quality also varies across cohorts (i.e., for a given winery, some vintages are of higher quality)? A Bayesian hierarchical variance decomposition approach isused to study data from a global technology hub, detailing the performance of hundreds of startups that graduated across multiple accelerators. We find that a significant portion of startup success is linked to cohort‐specific factors within accelerators, highlighting the role of timing and dynamics of each accelerator cohort.
Enhanced Hydrophilicity of DAAQ‐TFP COFs via Sulfonate Modification for Air Water Harvesting in Arid Environment
Authors: Liu Yueli , Zhu Yuhao , Mao Qingyu , Chen Wen
Published: October 2024

The poor ability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based adsorbents at low relative humidity (RH) conditions limits their applications for air‐water harvesting in arid environments. In the present work, the sulfonated COFs (DAAQ‐TFP‐SO3H@LiCl) composites are prepared through the functionalization of sulfonic acid and LiCl composite to improve its hydrophilicity. TheDAAQ‐TFP‐SO3H@LiCl composites exhibit a good adsorption performance, outperforming many other COF adsorbents developed so far. It can absorb 0.22 ± 0.005 g g−1 and 1.01 ± 0.027 g g−1 of water at room temperature under 20% RH and 90% RH, respectively while demonstrating good cyclic stability. Compared with the isotherm of the DAAQ‐TFP, the introduction of the sulfonic acid group shifts the inflection point of the water isotherm toward low humidity, indicating that the sulfonic acid group effectively expends the working humidity range of the adsorbent and enables the effective water adsorption in an arid environment. Furthermore, the DAAQ‐TFP‐SO3H@LiCl composites display rapid kinetics during both the adsorption and desorption processes, reaching saturation within 60 min in the equilibrium adsorption test and completing desorption within 12 min at 50 °C. This innovative approach provides a new method for designing adsorbent materials with low energy input requirements and high daily water consumption capabilities.
Boosting Acidic Hydrogen Evolution Kinetics Induced by Weak Strain Effect in PdPt Alloy for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Chi Kebin , Qiao Liang , Gao Peng , Li Zhenhao , Guo Xiaoyan , Li Zhong , Cao Dong , Cheng Daojian
Published: October 2024

Strain engineering is an effective strategy for manipulating the electronic structure of active sites and altering the binding strength toward adsorbates during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the effects of weak and strong strain engineering on the HER catalytic activity have not been fully explored. Herein, the core‐shell PdPt alloys with two‐layer Pt shells (PdPt2L) and multi‐layer Pt shells (PdPtML) is constructed, which exhibit distinct lattice strains. Notably, PdPt2L with weak strain effect just requires a low overpotential of 18 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 for the HER and shows the superior long‐term stability for 510 h with negligible activity degradation in 0.5 M H2SO4. The intrinsic activity of PdPt2L is 6.2 and 24.5 times higher than that of PdPtML and commercial Pt/C, respectively. Furthermore, PdPt2L||IrO2 exhibits superior activity over Pt/C||IrO2 in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers and maintains stable operation for 100 h at large current density of 500 mA cm−2. In situ/operando measurements verify that PdPt2L exhibits lower apparent activation energy and accelerated ad‐/desorption kinetics, benefiting from the weak strain effect. Density functional theory calculations also reveal that PdPt2L displays weaker H* adsorption energy compared to PdPtML, favoring for H* desorption and promoting H2 generation.
A Survey on Mobile Digital Forensic: Taxonomy, Tools, and Challenges
Authors: Patel Bhavini , Mann Palvinder Singh
Published: October 2024

Modern time largely rely on mobile gadgets as a means of communication, and entertainment. These gadgets now plays a vital role in forensic analysis and criminal investigations as it store a plethora of private and sensitive data. Investigating feasible digital incidents and preserving mobile device security became crucial as the proliferation of mobile devices continues to influence modern society. In this survey; mobile threats, investigative process models for mobile forensics, evidence sources, forensics tools, and field problems are all covered in‐depth. Further, a comprehensive analysis examining the capabilities, features, and efficiency of available distinct mobile forensic tools namely Belkasoft, MOBILedit, and Magnet AXIOM for retrieving, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence is being presented. The objective of the study is to assist forensic investigators in choosing the best tool for specific investigations. The findings of our study reveals the complexity of mobile operating systems, investigative process supported with sources of evidence, and forensic tools which makes it clear that the area of mobile forensics is dynamic and require modern skill adaptation along and innovative development in future. Finally, the study presents current challenges encountered during mobile forensic investigations as researchers can enhance their procedures and tactics for mobile device examination and evidence extraction by fostering a greater knowledge of the difficulties involved in mobile forensics.
An Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm with Adaptive Fitness‐Distance Balance
Authors: Hou Chunzhi , Lei Zhenyu , Zhang Baohang , Yuan Zijing , Wang Rong‐Long , Gao Shangce
Published: October 2024

Whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is a new bio‐meta‐heuristic algorithm presented to simulate the predatory humpback whales' behavior in the ocean. In previous studies, WOA has been observed to exhibit lower accuracy and slower convergence rates. In this paper, we propose an improved the WOA by innovatively incorporating an adaptive fitness‐distance balance strategy, namely AFWOA. AFWOA can continuously and efficiently identify the maximum potential candidate solutions from the population within the search process, thus improving the accuracy rate and convergence speed of the algorithm. Through various experiments in IEEE CEC2017 and an ill‐conditional problem, AFWOA is proven to be more competitive than the original WOA, several other state‐of‐the‐art WOA variants and other four classic meta‐heuristic algorithms. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Motion Trajectory Based Position Control Scheme for Switched Reluctance Machines
Authors: Liu Cheng , Guo Dingjie , Huang Meiwen , Wang Qing , Cao Lei
Published: October 2024

Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) are widely used in electric drive areas. However, due to the machine structure, the large stride angle makes it hard to achieve accurate position control for SRMs. In this paper, a position control scheme based on motion trajectory is proposed for SRM position control. In the proposed position control scheme, the SRM control is divided into the accelerating process, the steady operating process and the regenerating process. Development of the proposed position control strategy contains two parts. First, a Fuzzy logic controller is designed for rotor speed control in the accelerating process and steady operating process. Then, an aim speed regulator is proposed for the regenerating process, in which the aim speed is regulated according to the difference between aim position and real‐time rotor position. In the end, both simulation and experimental results are given to show the effectiveness of proposed motion trajectory based position control scheme. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Enhancing trauma care in Ukraine amid conflict: A successful implementation of the modified advanced trauma life support course in an active war zone
Authors: Dzhemiliev Ali , Lienau Beck , Melnitchouk Nelya , Schmid Alexis , Loevinsohn Gideon , Lopatniuk Oleksii , Carton‐Rossen Noah , Sydlowski Meaghan , Darnytskyi Anton , Murray Kathleen , Kushner Olha , Strong Jonathan , Martin Lindsey , Ali Javed , Roberts John , Mooney David , Hochman Beth , Owens Mike , Sidhwa Feroze , Rudas Ivan , Hvozd Vladyslav , Aksenkova Susanna , Mazurenko Oleg V. , Kliukach Kyrylo , Kivlehan Sean M. , Anderson Geoffrey A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Following the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine's healthcare system suffered extensive damage, with over 1000 medical facilities destroyed, exacerbating the trauma care crisis. The absence of standardized trauma training left Ukrainian healthcare providers ill‐equipped to manage the surge in trauma cases amid conflict. To bridge this gap, we implemented advanced trauma life support (ATLS) courses in Ukraine amid active warfare, aiming to enhance trauma care expertise among healthcare professionals.

Methods

A consortium, including the International Medical Corps, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, and others, responded to a request from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. The ATLS curriculum, translated into Ukrainian, guided the training, with US‐based instructors sent to Ukraine for teaching. Despite logistical challenges, such as missile attacks and curfews, the courses ran in multiple Ukrainian cities over 3 months. Course effectiveness was evaluated through pre‐ and post‐course knowledge tests, self‐efficacy surveys, and satisfaction assessments.

Results

Ten ATLS courses trained 213 Ukrainian healthcare providers across five deployments. Significant improvements in knowledge scores (p < 0.05) and enhanced self‐reported confidence in trauma management were observed. Notably, no casualties were reported among instructors or students, highlighting program safety despite security challenges.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates successful ATLS course implementation in an active war zone, filling a critical gap in trauma education in Ukraine. Despite challenges, the program significantly enhanced participants' trauma care knowledge and confidence. Collaboration between international and local partners was pivotal. This model can serve as a valuable framework for trauma education globally, improving outcomes in conflict zones and resource‐limited settings.
Functional diversification process of opsin genes for teleost visual and pineal photoreceptions
Authors: Fujiyabu Chihiro , Gyoja Fuki , Sato Keita , Kawano-Yamashita Emi , Ohuchi Hideyo , Kusakabe Takehiro G. , Yamashita Takahiro
Published: October 2024

Most vertebrates have a rhodopsin gene with a five-exon structure for visual photoreception. By contrast, teleost fishes have an intron-less rhodopsin gene for visual photoreception and an intron-containing rhodopsin (exo-rhodopsin) gene for pineal photoreception. Here, our analysis of non-teleost and teleost fishes in various lineages of the Actinopterygii reveals that retroduplication after branching of the Polypteriformes produced the intron-less rhodopsin gene for visual photoreception, which converted the parental intron-containing rhodopsin gene into a pineal opsin in the common ancestor of the Teleostei. Additional analysis of a pineal opsin, pinopsin, shows that the pinopsin gene functions as a green-sensitive opsin together with the intron-containing rhodopsin gene for pineal photoreception in tarpon as an evolutionary intermediate state but is missing in other teleost fishes, probably because of the redundancy with the intron-containing rhodopsin gene. We propose an evolutionary scenario where unique retroduplication caused a “domino effect” on the functional diversification of teleost visual and pineal opsin genes.
Evaluating productivity characteristics of laser engineered net shaping titanium alloy
Authors: Polishetty Ashwin , Bolar Gururaj , Nomani Junior , Littelfair Guy
Published: October 2024

Advances in Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies have made it possible to reduce the design and prototyping costs to a minimum especially for a low-productivity material like titanium. Titanium alloys are commonly and widely used alloys in the aerospace and biomedical sector due to their advantageous material properties. This paper is an evaluation study of factors affecting the productivity characteristics of Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4 V) using face milling. Some of the productivity challenges associated with titanium such as rapid tool wear, poor surface finish, and high-power consumption are explored in this paper. All materials processed using AM face the same critical problem that the manufactured part requires a post machining since AM produces relatively poor surface finish. Machining trials are conducted using the combinations of machining parameters such as spindle speed of 800 and 1600 rev/min; feed rate of 50 and 100 mm/min; and a constant depth of cut of 1 mm, respectively. Titanium being a poor thermal conductivity material, the effect of coolant was investigated using wet/dry machining. Data related to the productivity factors and material behavior under a milling trial was recorded and analyzed. The obtained data from the trials include productivity factors such as Metal Removal Rate (MRR), power consumed, and the surface finish for each plate/trial. The power consumed in dry milling was observed to be lower than that in wet milling which is contrary to the observations from conventional wet milling. The paper concludes the trends observed for LENS titanium are opposed to the trends in conventional machining such as increasing cutting speed will result in lower cutting force and power consumed.
Bearing fault detection in adjustable speed drives via self-organized operational neural networks
Authors: Kilickaya Sertac , Eren Levent
Published: October 2024

Adjustable speed drives (ASDs) are widely used in industry for controlling electric motors in applications such as rolling mills, compressors, fans, and pumps. Condition monitoring of ASD-fed induction machines is very critical for preventing failures. Motor current signature analysis offers a non-invasive approach to assess motor condition. Application of conventional convolutional neural networks provides good results in detecting and classifying fault types for utility line-fed motors, but the accuracy drops considerably in the case of ASD-fed motors. This work introduces the use of self-organized operational neural networks to enhance the accuracy of detecting and classifying bearing faults in ASD-fed induction machines. Our approach leverages the nonlinear neurons and self-organizing capabilities of self-organized operational neural networks to better handle the non-stationary nature of ASD operations, providing more reliable fault detection and classification with minimal preprocessing and low complexity, using raw motor current data.
Cerebrovascular implications of takayasu arteritis: a review
Authors: Samaan Mena , Abramyan Arevik , Sundararajan Srihari , Nourollah-Zadeh Emad , Sun Hai , Nanda Anil , Roychowdhury Sudipta , Gupta Gaurav
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory large-vessel vasculitis that affects the aorta and its main branches, including the cerebrovascular system. This review analyzes current knowledge and patient outcomes concerning the cerebrovascular implications of TA.

Methods

A literature search, with publications from 1994 to 2024, identified pertinent studies through PubMed. An illustrative case report details a 19-year-old female with Type 1 TA, illustrating the complex decision required in the absence of surgical or endovascular options.

Results

Our results offer a demographic analysis of 1,698 TA patients, highlighting a female predominance of 89.99% and a mean symptom onset at 33 years. The clinical spectrum of cerebrovascular involvement presented varied symptoms, most notably dizziness, with significant incidences of ischemic events and bilateral stenosis primarily affecting the carotid and subclavian arteries. The most common type of TA was Type V, affecting 40% of patients studied. Endovascular treatment had a 95% initial success rate, with a 67% restenosis rate. Surgical treatment was successful in 84% of cases, but 21% had notable post-operative complications. Similar to the endovascular population, those treated with stand-alone conservative therapy saw a 93% initial remission rate with 52% having relapsed.

Conclusion

Assessing the disease activity of TA is crucial when planning vascular intervention due to its significant impact on treatment outcomes. Despite its greater initial invasiveness, surgical interventions showed lower restenosis rates compared to either endovascular interventions or standalone conservative management. We emphasize advancements in TA management and the pressing need for continued research into diagnostic and treatment protocols for improved patient outcomes.
Prevalence and characteristics of lumbar ribs: a meta-analysis with anatomical and clinical considerations
Authors: Osiowski Maksymilian , Osiowski Aleksander , Preinl Maciej , Stolarz Kacper , Klepinowski Tomasz , Jasiewicz Barbara , Taterra Dominik
Published: October 2024

Background

Lumbar ribs (LR) are a rare and relatively unknown anatomical abnormality of the lumbar spine. The literature provides better understanding regarding other spinal congenital variations like cervical ribs or lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, which are rather commonly recognised conditions. Thus, this meta-analysis aimed to provide data on prevalence and key characteristics of LR.

Methods

Relevant databases were systematically searched for studies reporting the prevalence, laterality and geographic distribution of LR. No exclusion criteria based on language and date of original articles were employed. The pooled prevalence estimates (PPE) were calculated using a random-effects model. To assess the between-study heterogeneity, the I2 statistic and Chi-square test were utilized. Throughout the investigation, the PRISMA guidelines were adhered to scrupulously. Evaluation of the included studies’ reliability was made with the AQUA tool.

Results

In total, 9 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence estimate (PPE) of LR was 2.1% (95%CI: 1.0-4.6). In studies based on CT imaging, LR were found in 1.6% (95%CI: 0.6–4.3) of patients and in Xray based studies in 2.1% (95%CI: 0.4–11.1) of patients. Lumbar ribs were bilateral in majority of individuals (65.4%, 95%CI: 39.4–84.6) and could be most frequently encountered in Europe with PPE of 2.8% (95%CI: 3.0–20.0), then in East Asia with PPE of 1.5% (95%CI: 1.0-19.2) and Middle East with PPE of 1.1% (95%CI: 0.6–20.0).

Conclusions

The findings of our study indicate that LR are a common anatomical variation of lumbar spine, contrary to previous beliefs. In a clinical practice, when a patient presents with a non-specific low back pain, a possible occurrence of LR should be taken into consideration. The presence of LR may be misleading for surgeons and result in wrong-level spine surgeries.
Advanced breast diffusion-weighted imaging: what are the next steps? A proposal from the EUSOBI International Breast Diffusion-weighted Imaging working group
Authors: Honda Maya , Sigmund Eric E. , Le Bihan Denis , Pinker Katja , Clauser Paola , Karampinos Dimitrios , Partridge Savannah C. , Fallenberg Eva , Martincich Laura , Baltzer Pascal , Mann Ritse M. , Camps-Herrero Julia , Iima Mami ,   on behalf of the EUSOBI International Breast Diffusion-Weighted Imaging working group, Le Bihan Denis
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study by the EUSOBI International Breast Diffusion-weighted Imaging (DWI) working group aimed to evaluate the current and future applications of advanced DWI in breast imaging.

Methods

A literature search and a comprehensive survey of EUSOBI members to explore the clinical use and potential of advanced DWI techniques and a literature search were involved. Advanced DWI approaches such as intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were assessed for their current status and challenges in clinical implementation.

Results

Although a literature search revealed an increasing number of publications and growing academic interest in advanced DWI, the survey revealed limited adoption of advanced DWI techniques among EUSOBI members, with 32% using IVIM models, 17% using non-Gaussian diffusion techniques for kurtosis analysis, and only 8% using DTI. A variety of DWI techniques are used, with IVIM being the most popular, but less than half use it, suggesting that the study identified a gap between the potential benefits of advanced DWI and its actual use in clinical practice.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the need for further research, standardization and simplification to transition advanced DWI from a research tool to regular practice in breast imaging. The study concludes with guidelines and recommendations for future research directions and clinical implementation, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in this field to improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Clinical relevance statement

Advanced DWI in breast imaging, while currently in limited clinical use, offers promising improvements in diagnosis, staging, and treatment monitoring, highlighting the need for standardized protocols, accessible software, and collaborative approaches to promote its broader integration into routine clinical practice.

Key Points

Increasing number of publications on advanced DWI over the last decade indicates growing research interest.

EUSOBI survey shows that advanced DWI is used primarily in research, not extensively in clinical practice.

More research and standardization are needed to integrate advanced DWI into routine breast imaging practice.
A systematic review of robot-assisted simple prostatectomy outcomes by prostate volume
Authors: Morozov Andrey , Bogatova Svetlana , Bezrukov Evgeny , Singla Nirmish , Teoh Jeremy Yuen-Chun , Spivak Leonid , Rivas Juan Gomes , Lusuardi Lukas , Gauhar Vineet , Somani Bhaskar , Lifshitz David , Baniel Jack , Herrmann Thomas R. W. , Enikeev Dmitry
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The aim of our study is to assess the differences in functional outcomes during the perioperative and postoperative period after RASP depending on BPH volume.

Methods

We searched 2 databases: MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar using the following search query: robot* AND “simple prostatectomy”. The search strategy and review protocol are available at Prospero (CRD42024508071).

Results

We included 25 articles published between 2008 and 2023. Preoperatively, patients with prostate size < 100 cm3 had more severe symptoms while postoperatively all of them had only mild lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In larger BPH, two authors reported moderate LUTS after RASP: Fuschi [1] (mean IPSS 8.09 ± 2.41) and Stolzenburg [2] (mean IPSS 8 ± 2.7). Postoperative Qmax was also noticeably higher in smaller BPH (mean value range 28.5–55.5 ml/s) compared to larger BPH (mean Qmax 18–29.6 ml/s), although in both groups it was within the normal range. Postoperative post-void residual (PVR) was normal as well except in one study by Stolzenburg et al. [2]. Blood loss was comparable between the groups. The complications rate in general was low.

Conclusion

RASP is effective in terms of subjective and objective urination indicators, and a safe procedure for BPH. In the lack of data on implementation of RASP in small prostate volumes, this procedure can be seen as an upper size «limitless» treatment alternative. Currently, comparative data regarding prostate volume is lacking, and future trials with subgroups analysis related to BPH volume might help to address this issue.
Nutritional intervention during a teleprehabilitation pilot study in high-risk patients with colorectal cancer: adherence, motivators, and barriers
Authors: Beukers K. , Franssen R. F. W. , Beijaard K. , van de Wouw A. J. , Havermans R. C. , Janssen-Heijnen M. L. G.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The preoperative period provides a window of opportunity to improve modifiable risk factors for treatment complications such as malnutrition, the so-called prehabilitation. Identifying factors related to adherence to nutritional interventions is essential for optimizing prehabilitation programs. The aim of this study is to evaluate a nutritional support module as part of a teleprehabilitation program in high-risk patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

A secondary analysis with a mixed method design of the nutritional support module of a pre-post teleprehabilitation pilot study was performed. Change in weight, complaints with intake, motivation, and subjective and objective adherence were evaluated.

Results

Eleven patients were included. Subjectively, six patients (55%) were able to adhere to the nutritional advice. Despite that, nine of eleven (82%) patients experienced difficulties with the amount of food that was advised by the dietician. Six of eleven (55%) patients gained weight during the prehabilitation program. After prehabilitation, nine of eleven (82%) were able to reach 100% of their energy requirement and six of eleven (55%) were able to reach 100% of their protein requirement. Differences between patients in motivation and/or having complaints did not seem to be associated with protein and energy intake.

Conclusion

This secondary analysis of a pilot study provides insights into understanding patients’ experiences with a nutritional support module as part of a teleprehabilitation program. With 82% of patients who were able to reach 100% of their energy requirement, teleprehabilitation seems to be feasible, while there is still room for improvement with respect to protein intake as only 55% of patients reached a sufficient intake.
Analysis of in-store crowdshipping in a stochastic dynamic pickup-and-delivery system
Authors: De Maio Annarita , Ohlmann Jeffrey W. , Stoia Sara , Vocaturo Francesca
Published: October 2024

To meet the increasing demands of home delivery resulting from the proliferation of internet shopping and compounded by the rising expectation of fast fulfillment (often within hours of request), companies seek new delivery methods supported by information and communication technologies. In this study, we consider a dispatching platform with delivery capacity consisting of a dedicated fleet of vehicles complemented by crowdsourced couriers. We consider the crowdsourced couriers to be in-store customers who, upon checking out of the store, declare themselves available to deliver one or more requests from e-shoppers. The role of the collaborative platform is to aggregate e-shopper orders from the participating businesses and then manage the routing for the pickup of the corresponding products at the physical stores and the subsequent deliveries to the e-shoppers’ locations. We model this dynamic stochastic pickup-and-delivery problem as a Markov decision process to represent the uncertainty in the e-shopper requests and in-store crowdshipper appearances. We adapt a real-time insertion method enhanced with a cost function approximation to account for differences in the temporal availability of the dedicated vehicles and in-store crowdshippers. We conduct computational experiments to demonstrate the conditions under which in-store crowdshippers provide a cost benefit.
Catastrophic risk: indication, quantitative assessment and management of rare extreme events using a non-expected utility framework
Authors: Geiger Gebhard
Published: October 2024

The paper develops a conceptual framework for the analysis and management of catastrophic risk. The framework serves to assess rare extreme events in systematic, quantitative and consistent ways. It dispenses with probabilistic extreme value theory, concentrating on descriptive statistics and simple probability distributions. Risk assessment is based on a recently developed axiomatic approach to non-expected utility preferences defined on the set of risky alternative courses of action available to an agent. The utility values of catastrophic risks are given an explicit algebraic representation, which shows them to be highly unstable (“elastic”) in the sense that they respond disproportionately to small perturbations of the decision outcomes and their probabilities. Various elasticity coefficients are defined for the outcome variables and utility preferences attached to them. They indicate whether a variable possibly takes on large negative values. The coefficients can also be defined as sample statistics and, thus, computed from observed data. The approach admits various applications to practical problems of disaster risk management. The applications include estimations of the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of risk management, the specification of limits of acceptance of catastrophic risk for regulatory purposes, and safety and security systems design and dimensioning.
Unveiling Environmental Crime Trends and Intensity in the EU Countries Through a Sustainability Lens
Authors: Rabbi Mohammad Fazle
Published: October 2024

Environmental crime poses a significant threat to global ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being, encompassing activities such as pollution, illegal waste disposal, trade in protected species, and natural resource degradation. Understanding the dynamics of these crimes is essential for devising effective mitigation strategies and promoting sustainability at micro, meso, and macro level. The aim of the study is to examine environmental crimes in the EU, focusing on their current trends, patterns, and Intensity, as well as the impact on sustainability across its three dimensions. Fourteen EU countries environmental crime data from 2016 to 2021were analysed to reveal variations and trends. Geographic information systems (GIS) utilized to identify countries with elevated environmental crime rates, emphasizing the need for interventions in pollution control, waste management, and resource conservation. Results indicate high environmental pollution intensity in Italy, Sweden, and Denmark. Moreover, Italy emerges as the epicentre of illegal waste dumping, with notable cases also present in Belgium and France. Additionally, France, Slovakia, and Italy show alarming levels of illegal wildlife trade. Furthermore, France and Sweden exhibit the highest density of natural resource degradation cases. In addition, the study unveiled a positive correlation ($$\:b>0$$) between environmental pollution, trade in protected species, and natural resource degradation with population growth, while waste disposal exhibited a negative correlation ($$\:b<0$$). Moreover, trade in protected species and resource degradation correlated negatively ($$\:b<0$$) with the poverty ratio. Addressing environmental crimes aligns with the pursuit of green justice, recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic factors. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, environmentalists, and communities, guiding interventions towards a sustainable and resilient future.
Evaluating the Dynamics of Learning Approaches: A Systematic Review Investigating the Nexus Between Teaching Methods and Academic Performance in Medical and Dental Education
Authors: Roehe Marlen A. , Trost Carmen , Grundnig Julia S. , Anvari-Pirsch Anahit , Holzinger Anita
Published: October 2024

In recent decades, a noticeable trend has emerged in medical and dental schools to adjust their curricula to promote learning strategies and habits geared towards long-term knowledge retention. This systematic review therefore sought to examine whether different teaching methods influence students’ preferred learning approaches (deep, strategic, and surface approach) and indirectly affect their academic performance. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of the inconsistencies evident in previous literature regarding the relationship between learning approaches and academic performance of medical and dental students. A thorough search across eight databases yielded 49 relevant studies published between the years 2000 and 2023. The majority of studies revealed that whilst deep and strategic learners tend to excel at medical or dental school, surface learners appear to struggle under intense workload and pressure. Hence, a common consensus emerged amongst the existing literature that there is a relative benefit in attempting to guide students towards deep and strategic learning habits and to minimise surface-related learning strategies. However, results also conveyed that merely modifying the teaching methods used in medical and dental schools has limited merit. As such, the results emphasised the lack of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ teaching method. Common factors influencing learning approaches were subsequently identified, and based on these findings, an outlook was put forth to integrate a cognitive neuroscience approach into higher education. These directions for future investigations aim to help students reach their full potential by understanding the processes underlying efficient learning and by being mindful of respective encouraging and discouraging factors.
Homogenocene: Defining the Age of Bio-cultural Devastation (1493–Present)
Authors: Conversi Daniele , Posocco Lorenzo
Published: October 2024

The entrance into the Anthropocene Epoch has pushed historians and social scientists to reconsider human history through new lenses and along an entirely different timeline. For historians, the notion of the Anthropocene can be seen as an overarching category superimposed on the usual chronological divisions into ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary history. In social sciences in general, the notion of the Anthropocene has been embraced, often critically, by enlarging its semantic field through a series of neologisms, which this article aims to analyze and contribute to. Originating from within stratigraphy and geology, the new coining for a (not yet official) epoch acts as a tectonic shift by bringing geology into history, as well as into humanities and social sciences. Paradoxically, it could be said that humans are being “ejected from history” just as geology enriches itself with a human-centered eponym, Anthropocene, that is, when specific actions carried out by a single biological species, homo sapiens, have spawned consequences so deep and everlasting that an imprint upon the Earth’s stratigraphy has been impressed forever. These specific actions can be encapsulated in a single term: overconsumption, possibly accompanied by its twin dimension, overexploitation (of resources). This article sets out to identify the period and sequence of events leading to the shift from consumption to overconsumption and from exploitation to overexploitation. Identifying the moment these transitions occurred is essential, as the double excess of “over” patterns has characterized what is commonly understood as the Anthropocene Epoch.
Towards the Integration of Ethico-Socio-Scientific Issues in Science Teaching in South Africa: A Conceptual Analysis
Authors: Mamutse Kudakwashe
Published: October 2024

Science teaching and learning is facing a new dilemma. It has to move from its old perception of science as a purely positivistic and value-free enterprise into regarding it as what it really is: a value-laden human endeavour characterised by historical, cultural, social and political parameters. Science teachers now have to deal with ethical, and social issues encountered in their teaching of science. In essence school science has moved from its conventional form of being a pure science to more of a social subject that has to talk about day to day social and ethical issues. This conceptual paper explores the problems that science teachers face in their teaching. The paper goes further to suggest radical approaches that teachers may use to teach these issues successfully. The incorporation of radical approaches is relevant in order to address this issue which has the potential to adversely affect the teaching and learning of science. Relevant examples from the South African context are cited throughout the paper.
Creativity in textile printing design: An integrative framework in design education
Authors: Mandour Basant Awad
Published: October 2024

Creators, creation, and audience are the main pillars of the creative process. This study offers an integrative vision that includes the three main components of the creative process by proposing a seven-stage creativity framework in design education. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the proposed framework was applied in a major textile design course at Damietta University in Egypt. The paper includes two questionnaire models for the recipients to evaluate the creative outputs and for the students to evaluate the applied framework in general. The study involves an analysis of the experiences and challenges encountered throughout the field application of the proposed framework. The results revealed new dimensions for evaluating creativity and fresh perspectives on the dynamics of the communication process between creators and recipients through their creations/designs. The study's findings could contribute to promoting creativity across the three pillars and advancing design thinking and design education.
Motor Fault Detection and Isolation for Multi-Rotor UAVs Based on External Wrench Estimation and Recurrent Deep Neural Network
Authors: Cacace Jonathan , Scognamiglio Vincenzo , Ruggiero Fabio , Lippiello Vincenzo
Published: October 2024

Fast detection of motor failures is crucial for multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) safety. It is well established in the literature that UAVs can adopt fault-tolerant control strategies to fly even when losing one or more rotors. We present a motor fault detection and isolation (FDI) method for multi-rotor UAVs based on an external wrench estimator and a recurrent neural network composed of long short-term memory nodes. The proposed approach considers the partial or total motor fault as an external disturbance acting on the UAV. Hence, the devised external wrench estimator trains the network to promptly understand whether the estimated wrench comes from a motor fault (also identifying the motor) or from unmodelled dynamics or external effects (i.e., wind, contacts, etc.). Training and testing have been performed in a simulation environment endowed with a physic engine, considering different UAV models operating under unknown external disturbances and unexpected motor faults. To further assess this approach’s effectiveness, we compare our method’s performance with a classical model-based technique. The collected results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed FDI approach.
Wearable devices as part of postoperative early warning score systems: a scoping review
Authors: Bignami E. G. , Panizzi M. , Bezzi F. , Mion M. , Bagnoli M. , Bellini V.
Published: October 2024

Postoperative deterioration is often preceded by abnormalities in vital parameters, but limited resources prevent their continuous monitoring in patients with no indication to ICU admission. The development of new technologies allowed the introduction of wearable devices (WDs), enabling the possibility of postoperative monitoring in surgical wards. We performed a Scoping Review to determine the current use of wearable devices as part of Continuous Remote Early Warning Score (CREWS) systems and their efficiency during postoperative period. This Scoping Review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PICO framework was used before the search to define the review protocol. Systematic literature research has been performed on PubMed, MeSH, MEDLINE and Embase, considering a period between 2018 and February 2024. Prospective and retrospective studies involving patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgery are included. A total of 10 articles were included in the review. 11 different CE/FDA approved wearable devices were used in the studies analyzed. In all studies the WDs were applied the day of the surgery. The use of WDs as part of CREWS systems is feasible and safe. Furthermore, with the aid of other technologies (LoRa and Artificial Intelligence), they shorten Length of Stay (LOS) and reduce the number of ICU admissions with a reduction in healthcare costs. Continuous monitoring in surgical departments can facilitate the correct and timely identification of postoperative complications. This article is a starting point for the development of new protocols and for the application of these monitoring systems in clinical practice.
Computing optimal drug dosing regarding efficacy and safety: the enhanced OptiDose method in NONMEM
Authors: Bachmann Freya , Koch Gilbert , Bauer Robert J. , Steffens Britta , Szinnai Gabor , Pfister Marc , Schropp Johannes
Published: October 2024

Recently, an optimal dosing algorithm (OptiDose) was developed to compute the optimal drug doses for any pharmacometrics model for a given dosing scenario. In the present work, we enhance the OptiDose concept to compute optimal drug dosing with respect to both efficacy and safety targets. Usually, these are not of equal importance, but one is a top priority, that needs to be satisfied, whereas the other is a secondary target and should be achieved as good as possible without failing the top priority target. Mathematically, this leads to state-constrained optimal control problems. In this paper, we elaborate how to set up such problems and transform them into classical unconstrained optimal control problems which can be solved in NONMEM. Three different optimal dosing tasks illustrate the impact of the proposed enhanced OptiDose method.
Exploring the Transformative Aftereffects of Religious Experiences on Pilgrims Along the Camino de Santiago in Spain
Authors: Brumec Snežana , Roszak Piotr
Published: October 2024

This study examines religious experiences (REs) and their transformative aftereffects (TAs) among pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Analyzing 32 travelogue testimonies and survey data from 501 participants, it identifies three key dimensions of post-RE transformations: heightened Unity and Love, a strong commitment to the Apostolic Mission, and expanded Spirituality, Wisdom, and Detachment. Pilgrims report a shift toward greater love, unity with nature, and sharing insights, as well as increased spirituality and reduced materialism. The study finds significant correlations between TAs and individuals prioritizing their relationship with God and regular religious practices, highlighting REs’ impact on societal values and beliefs.
Comprehensive analysis of thermo-mechanical responses in collapsible soil under varied water content conditions
Authors: Ali Nehal , Metwally Mohamed , Elsawwaf Mostafa , Nazir Ashraf
Published: October 2024

In this research, the effect of both temperature gradients and varied water content on heat transfer in collapsible soil is investigated. The study based on one-dimensional laboratory setup, soil temperature distribution in proximity to a heat source, was examined across four distinct temperatures (ranging from 50 to 200 °C) under varying water content (0%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). Through steady-state conditions and extended measurements over days, data were collected to compare soil thermal conductivity at 10% water content using two different methods. The first method required some of soil characteristics, such as dry density and optimum water content, while the second method relied on heating parameters and supplied heating content. A robust agreement between thermal conductivity values obtained through these two methods was observed. Correlations from experimental data were analyzed to enrich understanding, and multivariate linear regression was employed to predict the thermal conductivity and resistivity of collapsible soils. Results indicated that the higher soil density, the increasing the thermal conductivity, whereas greater soil porosity exhibited the opposite trend. Elevated temperatures were found to enhance soil density, influencing the spatiotemporal distribution of heat within the soil. This research contributes valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of heat transfer in collapsible soil, emphasizing the complex interaction of temperature gradients and water content variations. The findings of this study can advance the development of efficient and sustainable geothermal systems in regions with collapsible soils, potentially enhancing the design and management of structures built on such soils, especially in arid and semi-arid areas.
Best practices for studies using digital data donation
Authors: Carrière Thijs C. , Boeschoten Laura , Struminskaya Bella , Janssen Heleen L. , de Schipper Niek C. , Araujo Theo
Published: October 2024

Digital trace data form a rich, growing source of data for social sciences and humanities. Data donation offers an innovative and ethical approach to collect these digital trace data. In data donation studies, participants request a copy of the digital trace data a data controller (e.g., large digital social media or video platforms) collected about them. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation obliges platforms to provide such a copy. Next, the participant can choose to share (part of) this data copy with the researcher. This way, the researcher can obtain the digital trace data of interest with active consent of the participant. Setting up a data donation study involves several steps and considerations. If executed poorly, these steps might threaten a study’s quality. In this paper, we introduce a workflow for setting up a robust data donation study. This workflow is based on error sources identified in the Total Error Framework for data donation by Boeschoten et al. (2022a) as well as on experiences in earlier data donation studies by the authors. The workflow is discussed in detail and linked to challenges and considerations for each step. We aim to provide a starting point with guidelines for researchers seeking to set up and conduct a data donation study.