bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Governance drivers hinder and support a paradigm shift in wildfire risk management in Italy
Authors: Kirschner Judith A. , Ascoli Davide , Moore Peter , Clark Julian , Calvani Silvia , Boustras Georgios
Published: January 2024

Fire is a fundamental social-ecological process, but a combination of changing climate, land use and values at risk is increasing the incidence of large wildfires with high societal and biodiversity impacts. Academic and practitioner understanding is now converging around the need to manage fire risk as an outcome of intersecting governance regimes, comprising geohistorically defined institutions and decision-making pathways shaped by earlier wildfires. We investigate this proposition through a case study of Italy, a country greatly affected by wildfire and characterised by strong organisational, socio-cultural and geographical variation nationally. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study collecting and analysing qualitative data on how different national and sub-national governance procedures interrelate to promote particular risk management strategies, and support or impede adaptive change. Participants in key agencies were consulted across seven nationally representative regions. Findings show a highly fragmented institutional structure, where wildfire policy responsibilities are increasingly allocated to disparate organisations at a variety of scales. Local stakeholder participation has been displaced by this shift to extra-local actors and networks. While institutions are formally committed to adopting a precautionary approach to wildfire risk, in practice, emergency response remains the default choice, as a result of patchy and uncoordinated legislation. Notably, the wider national and international (EU) regulatory context plays a muted role in governing wildfires. We present our results as a novel action research agenda for Italy and southern Europe more generally, emphasising the urgent need to develop new anticipatory systems of wildfire incidence through closer integration of cross-scale governance arrangements.
Multiscale mechanical characterisation of the craniofacial system under external forces
Authors: Didziokas Marius , Jones Dominic , Alazmani Ali , Steacy Miranda , Pauws Erwin , Moazen Mehran
Published: January 2024

Premature fusion of craniofacial joints, i.e. sutures, is a major clinical condition. This condition affects children and often requires numerous invasive surgeries to correct. Minimally invasive external loading of the skull has shown some success in achieving therapeutic effects in a mouse model of this condition, promising a new non-invasive treatment approach. However, our fundamental understanding of the level of deformation that such loading has induced across the sutures, leading to the effects observed is severely limited, yet crucial for its scalability. We carried out a series of multiscale characterisations of the loading effects on normal and craniosynostotic mice, in a series of in vivo and ex vivo studies. This involved developing a custom loading setup as well as software for its control and a novel in situ CT strain estimation approach following the principles of digital volume correlation. Our findings highlight that this treatment may disrupt bone formation across the sutures through plastic deformation of the treated suture. The level of permanent deformations observed across the coronal suture after loading corresponded well with the apparent strain that was estimated. This work provides invaluable insight into the level of mechanical forces that may prevent early fusion of cranial joints during the minimally invasive treatment cycle and will help the clinical translation of the treatment approach to humans.
Nested Benders’s decomposition of capacity-planning problems for electricity systems with hydroelectric and renewable generation
Authors: Yagi Kenjiro , Sioshansi Ramteen
Published: January 2024

Nested Benders’s decomposition is an efficient means to solve large-scale optimization problems with a natural time sequence of decisions. This paper examines the use of the technique to decompose and solve efficiently capacity-expansion problems for electricity systems with hydroelectric and renewable generators. To this end we develop an archetypal planning model that captures key features of hydroelectric and renewable generators and apply it to a case study that is based on the Columbia River system in the northwestern United States of America. We apply standard network and within-year temporal simplifications to reduce the problem’s size. Nevertheless, the remaining problem is large-scale and we demonstrate the use of nested Benders’s decomposition to solve it. We explore refinements of the decomposition method which yield further performance improvements. Overall, we show that nested Benders’s decomposition yields good computational performance with minimal loss of model fidelity.
Radial increment dynamics of Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) in pure and mixed stands with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) under changing environmental conditions
Authors: Askarieh Ali , del Río Miren , Aldea Jorge , Riofrío José , Bravo Felipe
Published: January 2024

Forest dynamics are undergoing profound alteration due to the fact that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of abiotic and biotic forest disturbances. Because of the unpredictable nature of the drought periods and the variation in their severity, Mediterranean forests are typically more vulnerable. Mediterranean Pinus pinaster forests are showing decay symptoms linked to climate change. There is clear evidence that promoting mixtures can serve as an effective forest adaptation strategy. In this regard, we sought to better understand the responses of P. pinaster radial growth dynamics to various factors, in both mixed and pure forest stands, and provide valuable insights into P. pinaster dynamics when mixed with P. sylvestris. In this study, we examined the variation of intra-annual cumulative radial increment patterns in response to the climate of P. pinaster between pure and mixed stands with P. sylvestris. Using data from band dendrometers collected over five consecutive climatically distinct years (2016–2020), a nonlinear mixed-effect model approach was used to analyze the differences in intra-annual cumulative radial increment patterns for P. pinaster between years in mixed and pure stands. The intra-annual radial increment pattern of P. pinaster showed significant year-to-year variation and varied with tree size, with greater increment in larger trees. Trees in mixed stands had a higher mean radial increment compared to corresponding ones in pure stands. Increased summer maximum temperatures negatively affected tree cumulative annual increment regardless of composition, but with a lower impact on trees in pure stands. Spring precipitation increased the length of the growing season, while higher spring maximum temperatures triggered an earlier inflection point. Our results highlight the high plasticity of P. pinaster in adapting to varying intra- and inter-annual environmental conditions and competition with other species and suggest that promoting mixtures with P. sylvestris may be an interesting management strategy for adaptation to climate change.
Caregiving intensity and its association with subjective views of ageing among informal caregivers with different sociodemographic background: a longitudinal analysis from Germany
Authors: Zwar Larissa , König Hans-Helmut , Hajek André
Published: January 2024

We analysed whether care time, burden and range of caregiving tasks were associated with informal caregivers’ subjective views of ageing (measured as attitudes towards own age (ATOA), subjective age (SA), and onset of old age (OOA)), and whether these associations differed as a function of the caregivers’ age and gender. Adjusted cluster-robust fixed effects regression analyses were conducted with gender and age as moderators using data of informal caregivers (≥ 40 years) of the population-based German Ageing Survey (2014, 2017). All three aspect of care intensity were associated with changes in subjective views of ageing and this pattern was a function of the caregiver’s age and gender. Care time was significantly associated with higher SA. Care tasks were significantly associated with more positive ATOA and earlier OOA. Age moderated the association between burden and ATOA, with older adults reporting more positive ATOA. Gender moderated the association between care time and ATOA; women reported less positive ATOA than men with increasing care time, but also felt subjectively younger than men with a broader range of care tasks. Age- and gender-stratified analysis indicated further differences. Our findings suggest to reduce care time, especially among older and female caregivers, to prevent a worsening of views of ageing, while being involved in a broad range of care tasks seems to (only) benefit female caregivers.
Multi-population mortality modelling and forecasting with divergence bounds
Authors: Scognamiglio Salvatore
Published: January 2024

Understanding the mortality dynamics and forecasting its future evolution is crucial for insurance companies and governments facing the risk that individuals might live longer than expected (the so-called longevity risk). This paper introduces a neural network model that allows an accurate modelling and forecasting of the mortality rates of many populations. The neural network model we propose is designed to present a fully explainable structure, allowing for understanding how predictions are formulated. Furthermore, the model addresses the problem of measuring and managing the divergence of the long-term forecasts of the mortality rates arising when one decides to model the mortality of two or more populations simultaneously. Indeed, for many models available in the literature, this divergence grows over time, resulting in an ever-increasing trend in the gap in life expectancy among countries that appear unrealistic and biologically unreasonable. The proposed model allows the construction of analytical bounds for this divergence and illustrates that these bounds can be exploited to analyse and measure the dissimilarities between two or more populations and identify opportunities for longevity risk diversification. Numerical experiments performed using all the data from the Human Mortality Database data show that our model produces more accurate mortality forecasts with respect to some well-known stochastic mortality models and allows us to obtain valuable insights about the mortality pattern of the population considered.
Reaching Young People in Urban and Rural Communities with Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Within a Youth Sports Development Program: Integrating In-Person and Remote Modes of Service Delivery
Authors: Waters Allison M. , Sluis Rachel A. , Usher Wayne , Farrell Lara J. , Donovan Caroline L. , Modecki Kathryn L. , Zimmer-Gembeck Melanie J. , Castle Mike , Hinchey James
Published: January 2024

Embedding mental health and wellbeing programs within youth sports development programs can help provide more young people with mental health support. However, delivering such programs in multiple locations across metropolitan, regional, and rural areas requires novel solutions to overcome geographic and logistical barriers. We examined the delivery of an integrated system delivered within an Australian junior rugby league program. The program included online assessment and feedback about youth mental health, as well as connection with evidence-informed resources and referral sources via parent telephone and email support. There were four methods of delivering player workshops during training sessions: (a) In-person Delivery Only, (b) In-person + Remote Real-time (video-conferenced), (c) In-person + Remote Prerecorded (video-recorded), and (d) Remote Delivery Only (video-conferenced and/or video-recorded). In-person delivered player workshops were facilitated by local rugby league personnel. Remote delivered workshops were facilitated by psychologists from the mental health research team. Participants were 671 boys (12–15 years;Mage = 13.35;SD = 0.35) in 21 metropolitan, regional and rural locations. Regardless of delivery condition, players with elevated anxiety, depression and behavioural problems reported significant declines in symptoms from pre- to post-program, and those within healthy ranges did not change from pre- to post-program. Player workshop enjoyment ratings were higher in the In-person + Remote Real-time condition and the Remote Delivery Only condition than the In-person Delivery Only condition. However, non-completion of the post-program assessment across all conditions was higher than in prior studies and a comparison group of players who did not complete the program was not included. Mental health benefits may be observed across in-person and remote modes of delivering mental health workshops within youth sports programs. However, the involvement of mental health personnel, whether in-person or remotely, and mixed delivery modes, may be important for young people’s retention and satisfaction.
Mapping the single cell spatial immune landscapes of the melanoma microenvironment
Authors: Magrill Jamie , Moldoveanu Dan , Gu Jiayao , Lajoie Mathieu , Watson Ian R
Published: January 2024

Melanoma is a highly immunogenic malignancy with an elevated mutational burden, diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, and one of the highest response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, over half of all late-stage patients treated with ICIs will either not respond or develop progressive disease. Spatial imaging technologies are being increasingly used to study the melanoma tumor microenvironment (TME). The goal of such studies is to understand the complex interplay between the stroma, melanoma cells, and immune cell-types as well as their association with treatment response. Investigators seeking a better understanding of the role of cell location within the TME and the importance of spatial expression of biomarkers are increasingly turning to highly multiplexed imaging approaches to more accurately measure immune infiltration as well as to quantify receptor-ligand interactions (such as PD-1 and PD-L1) and cell-cell contacts. CyTOF-IMC (Cytometry by Time of Flight - Imaging Mass Cytometry) has enabled high-dimensional profiling of melanomas, allowing researchers to identify complex cellular subpopulations and immune cell interactions with unprecedented resolution. Other spatial imaging technologies, such as multiplexed immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics, have revealed distinct patterns of immune cell infiltration, highlighting the importance of spatial relationships, and their impact in modulating immunotherapy responses. Overall, spatial imaging technologies are just beginning to transform our understanding of melanoma biology, providing new avenues for biomarker discovery and therapeutic development. These technologies hold great promise for advancing personalized medicine to improve patient outcomes in melanoma and other solid malignancies.
A Daytime Smoke Detection Method Based on Variances of Optical Flow and Characteristics of HSV Color on Footage from Outdoor Camera in Urban City
Authors: Kikuta Kazutaka , Murata Ken T. , Murakami Yuki
Published: January 2024

In order for detection of a fire in fields, it is effective to detect smoke since it often behaves as a precursor of the fire. One preferable way for early detection is to use visual information from outdoor cameras that widely monitor the filed. There have been many attempts to detect smokes via optical sensors on digital cameras using optical flow methods, but not fully successful from practical-use aspects. It is because the area of smokes occupying on the footage by outdoor cameras is not necessarily large enough. Moreover, in case of urban cities, discrimination of the smokes from other moving objects such as cars, trees and turbines is not easy. Herein we propose a novel method to detect daytime smokes based on variance of optical flow and characteristics of HSV (hue-saturation-value) color. We apply the method to a set of footage of three days obtained in an industrial zone in Japan. Successful results are obtained as over 90% of smokes are detected. Notable is that this method is independent of solar radiation conditions on sunny and cloudy days.
Towards Autonomous Firefighting UAVs: Online Planners for Obstacle Avoidance and Payload Delivery
Authors: Mugnai Michael , Teppati Losè Massimo , Satler Massimo , Avizzano Carlo Alberto
Published: January 2024

Drone technology is advancing rapidly and represents significant benefits during firefighting operations. This paper presents a novel approach for autonomous firefighting missions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The proposed UAV framework consists of a local planner module that finds an obstacle-free path to guide the vehicle toward a target zone. After detecting the target point, the UAV plans an optimal trajectory to perform a precision ballistic launch of an extinguishing ball, exploiting its kinematics. The generated trajectory minimises the overall traversal time and the final state error while respecting UAV dynamic limits. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated both in simulations and real tests with randomly positioned obstacles and target locations. The proposed framework has been employed in the 2022 UAV Competition of the International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), where it successfully completed the mission in several runs of increasing difficulty, both in simulation and in real scenarios, achieving third place overall. A video attachment to this paper is available on the website https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hdxX2xXkVQ.
Selective Separation of Cobalt Ions from Some Fission Products Using Synthesized Inorganic Sorbent
Authors: Abass M. R. , Abou-Lilah R. A. , Abou-Mesalam M. M.
Published: January 2024

In this work, the separation of Co(II) ions from some fission products using zirconium molybdo silicate (ZrMoSi) sorbent was studied. ZrMoSi sorbent was prepared by the co-precipitation method and characterized using different analytical tools such as FT-IR, SEM, XRF, XRD, TGA, and DTA. ZrMoSi sorbent was found to have the molecular formula ZrO2.MoO3(0.1).SiO2(10.2).4.3 H2O. The sorption behavior of Co(II) involves the effect of shaking time, pH, initial Co(II) concentrations, desorption, and recycling. The sorption data is dependent on pH and ZrMoSi has high separation factors for Co(II) from Cs(I) and Sr(II). Reaction kinetics follow the pseudo-2nd-order model with an equilibrium time of 60 min and sorption isotherms are more applicable to a Langmuir isotherm. Desorption of Co(II) from the loaded sorbent was studied using different eluents and the best eluant is HCl (93.39%). The recycling results of Co(II) from aqueous solutions are excellent and revealed that ZrMoSi sorbent can be used as a promising sorbent to remove Co(II) from liquid waste.
SGS: SqueezeNet-guided Gaussian-kernel SVM for COVID-19 Diagnosis
Authors: Shi Fanfeng , Wang Jiaji , Govindaraj Vishnuvarthanan
Published: January 2024

The ongoing global pandemic has underscored the importance of rapid and reliable identification of COVID-19 cases to enable effective disease management and control. Traditional diagnostic methods, while valuable, often have limitations in terms of time, resources, and accuracy. The approach involved combining the SqueezeNet deep neural network with the Gaussian kernel in support vector machines (SVMs). The model was trained and evaluated on a dataset of CT images, leveraging SqueezeNet for feature extraction and the Gaussian kernel for non-linear classification. The SN-guided Gaussian-Kernel SVM (SGS) model achieved high accuracy and sensitivity in diagnosing COVID-19. It outperformed other models with an impressive accuracy of 96.15% and exhibited robust diagnostic capabilities. The SGS model presents a promising approach for accurate COVID-19 diagnosis. Integrating SqueezeNet and the Gaussian kernel enhances its ability to capture complex relationships and classify COVID-19 cases effectively.
COVID-19 associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: Impact of Antifungal Prophylaxis
Authors: Frost Jonas , Gornicec Maximilian , Reisinger Alexander C. , Eller Philipp , Hoenigl Martin , Prattes Juergen
Published: January 2024

Early after the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-pandemic, it was observed that critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) were susceptible to developing secondary fungal infections, particularly COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). Here we report our local experience on the impact of mold active antifungal prophylaxis on CAPA occurrence in critically ill COVID-19 patients. This is a monocentric, prospective cohort study including all consecutive patients with COVID-19 associated acute respiratory failure who were admitted to our local medical ICU. Based on the treating physician’s discretion, patients may have received antifungal prophylaxis or not. All patients were retrospectively characterized as having CAPA according to the 2020 ECMM/ISHAM consensus definitions. Seventy-seven patients were admitted to our medical ICU during April 2020 and May 2021 and included in the study. The majority of patients received invasive-mechanical ventilation (61%). Fifty-three patients (68.8%) received posaconazole prophylaxis. Six cases of probable CAPA were diagnosed within clinical routine management. All six cases were diagnosed in the non-prophylaxis group. The incidence of CAPA in the overall study cohort was 0.57 events per 100 ICU days and 2.20 events per 100 ICU days in the non-prophylaxis group. No difference of cumulative 84-days survival could be observed between the two groups (p = 0.115). In this monocentric cohort, application of posaconazole prophylaxis in patients with COVID-19 associated respiratory failure did significantly reduce the rate of CAPA.
Dynamic Competition, Price Frictions and Institution Building: the CMA in 2022–2023
Authors: Bon Julie , Love Alistair , McNaboe Alan , Njegovan Nenad , Schneebacher Jakob , Walker Mike
Published: January 2024

This article discusses three projects of economic significance that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) completed in the last year: First, we discuss the dynamic competition concerns that were at the heart of the CMA’s analysis of the Meta/GIPHY merger; this was the first case of a competition authority’s blocking an acquisition by one of the ‘Big Tech’ firms. Second, our work on the road fuels market study examined pricing behaviour in an important consumer-facing market and found that competition had weakened because historic price leaders have been taking a less aggressive approach to pricing, Third, we established a new research centre—the Microeconomics Unit—to bring economic expertise on competition, innovation, and productivity closer to regulatory and policy decisions.
Accumulation of copper and lead in ruminants grazing on a contaminated shooting range in Nordland County, Norway
Authors: Johnsen Ida Vaa , Aaneby Jorunn
Published: January 2024

Shooting ranges contain copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) contamination, which can be a risk for grazing ruminants. This study examines the accumulation of lead and copper in blood of lambs and calves, as well as in the liver of lambs. It compares these results with those of a previous study, which calculated the ingested dose of copper and lead based on soil ingestion and concentration in soil and plants. Blood samples were collected both before and after the grazing period that lasted from late May to mid-September. Liver samples were obtained during the slaughter of the lambs in the fall. Out of 61 liver samples, only one (3.7 mg Pb/kg dw) exceeding the presumed normal level in lamb liver of 3 mg/kg (dw). Copper concentrations exceeding the normal (300 mg/kg dw) concentration was found in 14 of the liver samples (341–1877 mg Cu/kg dw). Among these, two liver samples (1069 and 1877 mg Cu/kg dw) exceeded the level at which sheep are poisoned (1000 mg/kg dw). There was no statistically significant difference in the copper and lead concentration in liver of lambs that did and did not have the shooting range as part of their pasture. The average concentration of copper (lamb: 1.1 ± 0.37 µg Cu/g, calves: 0.6 ± 0.16 µg Cu/g) and lead (lamb: 0.010 ± 0.008 µg Pb/g calves: 0.01 ± 0.014 µg Pb/g) in the blood samples collected from the lambs and calves did not exceed the upper limit of what is considered normal (sheep: 1.35 mg Cu/kg and 0.3 mg Pb/kg, cattle: 1.7 mg Cu/kg and 0.35 mg Pb/kg). Copper concentration in the blood was notably higher in samples collected from the sheep before (1.3 ± 0.35 µg Cu/g) compared to after (0.8 ± 0.22 µg Cu/g) the grazing period. No statistically significant difference was found in lead and copper concentrations in the blood of lambs and calves grazing inside (lamb: 0.7 ± 0.21 µg Cu/g and 0.01 ± 0.008 µg Pb/g, calves: 0.6 ± 0.16 µg Cu/g and 0.02 ± 0.020 µg Pb/g) and outside (lamb: 0.9 ± 0.21 µg Cu/g and 0.13 ± 0.008 µg Pb/g, calves: 0.6 ± 0.17 µg Cu/g and 0.009 µg Pb/g) the shooting range. Grazing on areas contaminated by shooting activity did not appear to have any major implications for the accumulation of copper and lead in blood of cattle and sheep, as well as in the liver of sheep. The findings from this study indicate that employing site specific risk assessments for ruminants incorporating soil ingestion represents a viable approach.
Foreign investments and load capacity factor in BRICS: the moderating role of environmental policy stringency
Authors: Yıldırım Metin , Destek Mehmet Akif , Manga Müge
Published: January 2024

This research examines whether environmental regulations have a moderating effect on the link between foreign direct investment and the environment, as well as the effect of foreign capital investments on environmental quality for BRICS nations. In this approach, using second-generation panel data methodologies for the period 1992–2020, the impacts of foreign direct investments, real national income, consumption of renewable energy, and environmental stringency index on the load capacity factor are explored in the base empirical model. In order to test if there is any evidence of a potential parabolic link between economic growth and environmental quality, the model also includes the square of real national income. In addition, in the robustness model, the moderating role of environmental policy on foreign investment and environmental quality is checked. Empirical results show a U-shaped association between environmental quality and economic development. The usage of renewable energy and the environmental stringency index is also shown to improve environmental quality, although foreign direct investments decrease it. Finally, it is determined that environmental regulations are effective in undoing the negative impacts of foreign capital investments on environmental quality, demonstrating the validity of their moderating function.
Assessment of hydrological, geological, and biological parameters of a river basin impacted by old Hg mining in NW Spain
Authors: Escudero Lucía , Ojanguren Alfredo F. , Álvarez Rodrigo , García Carmen , Pañeda Jose , Alberquilla Fernando , Ordóñez Almudena
Published: January 2024

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that can cause adverse effects for the health of ecosystems. The Caudal River is one of the main rivers in the Asturias region (NW Spain), whose basin is highly anthropized, hosting several Hg mines, closed in the last century. Arsenic (As) is also found in the mineral paragenesis of the Hg deposits, posing a greater environmental risk. In the mining sites, remaining old facilities and tailings continue to release these elements into the environment. In this work, samples of fluvial sediments and water were taken, both in areas affected by anthropic activity and in pristine areas, in order to establish the background levels for the critical elements. The mineralogical study of the sediments, combined with EDS microanalysis, is useful to identify mineralogical traps such as Fe oxides or clays to retain the As. The As content in all sampled sediments is above the threshold effect levels (TEL), the possible effect range within which adverse effects occasionally occur, according to the Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. This fact is related to a naturally high geochemical background in the basin, due to the existing mineral deposits. The PEL threshold (the probable effect range within which adverse effects frequently occur) is exceeded by more than an order of magnitude in the sediments downstream of the Hg mines. In these points, the As content in the water, exceeding 700 μg L−1 As, is also above the quality standard established in Spanish legislation. As a result, the Caudal River tributaries in the lower part of the basin do not reach a good ecological state, according to the Hydrological Planning Office, and in some cases their state is deficient, showing low richness and high dominance of macroinvertebrates. Although the concentrations decrease with distance from the source, these findings justify the low ecological quality of the affected watercourses.
Application of electrocoagulation process for the disposal of COD, NH3-N and turbidity from the intermediate sanitary landfill leachate
Authors: Ogedey Aysenur , Oguz Ensar
Published: January 2024

This study aims to determine the COD, NH3-N and turbidity disposal efficiencies from leachate in the Bingöl landfill and highlight the electrocoagulation (EC) process’s performance in removing these pollutants. After establishing that landfill leachate was intermediate aged, its characteristics were identified using physical, chemical and elemental analyses. Six parallel-connected electrode plates with stainless steel as the cathode and aluminium as the anode were used to construct an electrocoagulation cell. After a 40-min treatment interval, the optimal disposal efficiencies for COD and turbidity from the leachate were determined to be 87% and 62%, respectively, at pH 5. Following a 40-min reaction, BOD5 concentration and BOD5/COD ratio were determined to be 85.75 mg O2/L and 0.64, respectively, at pH 5. At a NaCl concentration of 10 mM, the optimum disposal efficiency for NH3-N was determined to be 33%. The reaction kinetics matched pseudo-first-order (PFO) kinetics due to high correlation coefficients (R2 = 0.93–0.99) in removing COD, NH3-N and turbidity under different experimental conditions. The optimal reaction rate constants were determined as 2.93 × 10−2 min−1, 1.92 × 10−2 min−1 and 7.3 × 10−3 min−1 for the disposal of COD, NH3-N and turbidity, respectively. Energy consumption, unit energy consumption and total consumption cost rose in the EC process when the current density was augmented from 15 to 25 mA/cm2.
The Dilemma of Authority
Authors: Fives Allyn
Published: January 2024

What I refer to here as the dilemma of authority arises when one ought to defer to authority; one ought to act as the more weighty reason demands; one can do either; one cannot do both. For those who reject the possibility of legitimate authority, the dilemma does not arise. Among those who accept legitimate authority, some, including Joseph Raz, presume the conflict can be resolved without remainder. In this paper, I argue that, in a moral conflict of this kind, when one of the reasons for action is defeated but not cancelled, it is rational to feel regret for failing to do what one ought to do.
A short-interval longitudinal study of associations between psychological distress and hippocampal grey matter in early adolescence
Authors: Boyes Amanda , Levenstein Jacob M. , McLoughlin Larisa T. , Driver Christina , Mills Lia , Lagopoulos Jim , Hermens Daniel F.
Published: January 2024

This study of Australian adolescents (N = 88, 12-13-years-old) investigated the relationship between hippocampal grey matter volume (GMV) and self-reported psychological distress (K10) at four timepoints, across 12 months. Participants were divided into two groups; those who had K10 scores between 10 and 15 for all four timepoints were categorised as “low distress” (i.e., control group; n = 38), while participants who had K10 scores of 16 or higher at least once over the year were categorised as “moderate-high distress” (n = 50). Associations were tested by GEE fitting of GMV and K10 measures at the same time point, and in the preceding and subsequent timepoints. Analyses revealed smaller preceding left GMV and larger preceding right GMV were associated with higher subsequent K10 scores in the “moderate-high distress” group. This was not observed in the control group. In contrast, the control group showed significant co-occurring associations (i.e., at the same TP) between GMV and K10 scores. The “moderate-high distress” group experienced greater variability in distress. These results suggest that GMV development in early adolescence is differently associated with psychological distress for those who experience “moderate-high distress” at some point over the year, compared to controls. These findings offer a novel way to utilise short-interval, multiple time-point longitudinal data to explore changes in volume and experience of psychological distress in early adolescents. The results suggest hippocampal volume in early adolescence may be linked to fluctuations in psychological distress.
Ecomorphology of the Locomotor Apparatus in the Genus Cyrtodactylus (Gekkota, Squamata)
Authors: Riedel Jendrian , Grismer L. Lee , Higham Timothy , Wu Joseph , Do Quyen Hanh , Nguyen Truong Quang , Meneses Camila G. , Brown Rafe M. , Campbell Patrick D. , Ziegler Thomas , Russell Anthony P. , Rödder Dennis
Published: January 2024

Adaptive radiations garner considerable interest from evolutionary biologists. Lizard radiations diversifying along structural niche space often exhibit distinct changes in body and limb proportions. One prediction is that terrestrial species inhabiting open habitats will have relatively longer hindlimbs, associated with faster running speeds, while scansorial species will have relatively shorter limbs to keep the centre of mass closer to the substratum. Alternatively, terrestrial species in densely vegetated habitats could benefit from relatively shorter limbs to prevent entanglement with more frequently encountered obstacles, whereas scansorial species could benefit from longer limbs promoting greater limb spans and static stability. Cyrtodactylus, an ecologically diverse gekkonid genus, includes numerous specialists with narrow structural niches, but the degree of morphological diversification exhibited by these specialists is largely unknown. We investigated associations between locomotor morphology and structural microhabitat use in Cyrtodactylus to test if either of the opposing predictions can be corroborated for this radiation. We measured body length and relative limb dimensions of 87 species, covering multiple independent transitions among structural microhabitat preferences. Using these data, we reconstructed the phylomorphospace and tested for associations between structural microhabitat niche and limb morphology. We found strong separation between structural niche groups in accordance with the second hypothesis, although overlap is evident among functionally related niches such as those of granite and karst specialists.
Robotic-assisted surgery for gynecological indications in children and adolescents: European multicenter report
Authors: Esposito Ciro , Blanc Thomas , Di Mento Claudia , Ballouhey Quentin , Fourcade Laurent , Mendoza-Sagaon Mario , Chiodi Annalisa , Cardone Roberto , Escolino Maria
Published: January 2024

Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is increasingly adopted in the pediatric population. This retrospective multicenter study aimed to report application of RAS for gynecological indications in pediatric patients. The medical records of all girls with gynecological pathology, operated in 4 different institutions over a 3-year period, were retrospectively collected. Robot docking time, total operative time, length of stay (LOS), requirement time of pain medication, complication rate, conversion rate, and pathology were analyzed. Twenty-three girls, with median age of 12.3 years (range 0.6–17.8) and median weight of 47.2 kg (range 9–73), received the following RAS procedures: ovarian cystectomy for ovarian cyst/mass (n = 10), salpingo-oophorectomy for ovarian complex mass (n = 6), bilateral gonadectomy for Turner syndrome SRY + (n = 1), salpingectomy for fallopian tube lesion (n = 1), paratubal cyst excision (n = 1), Gartner cyst excision (n = 1), paravaginal ganglioneuroma resection (n = 1), fistula closure in urogenital sinus (n = 1), and vaginoplasty using ileal flap in cloaca malformation (n = 1). Median operative time was 144.9 min (range 64–360), and median docking time was 17.3 min (range 7–50). Conversion to open or laparoscopy was not necessary in any case. Median LOS was 2.1 days (range 1–7), and median analgesic requirement was 2.2 days (range 1–6). One patient (4.3%) needed redo-surgery for recurrent Gartner cyst (Clavien 3b). This preliminary experience showed that RAS is safe and feasible for surgical treatment of gynecological pathology in pediatric patients, although no conclusive data are available to confirm its superiority over traditional laparoscopy. Randomized, prospective, comparative studies are needed to identify the gold standard approach for such indication.
Belonging to the Ace Spectrum: Correlates of Cognitions, Feelings, and Desires of Ace Individuals
Authors: Carvalho A. Catarina , Rodrigues David L.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Asexuality is typically defined as a lack of sexual attraction, and yet this definition fails to include the multitude of experiences within the ace community. We explored the correlates of different cognitions, feelings, and desires reported by ace individuals.

Methods

Data for a cross-sectional study with 456 individuals from online ace communities (61.8% women; Mage = 24.62, SD = 6.98) were collected in 2019.

Results

Higher scores on the Asexuality Identification Scale (AIS) were associated with fewer experiences with romantic partners, more experiences with intimate affective relationships, and higher avoidant attachment. In contrast, sexual and romantic attractions were associated with more experiences with romantic partners. However, sexual attraction was associated with fewer experiences with non-sexual romantic relationships and lower AIS scores, whereas romantic attraction was associated with lower avoidant attachment and higher anxious attachment. The desire to have physically intimate romantic relationships was associated with more experiences with romantic partners, lower avoidant attachment, higher anxious attachment, and lower AIS scores. Lastly, the desire to have intimate affective relationships was associated with more experiences with solely affective relationships and higher anxiety attachment.

Conclusions

These findings show the importance of past experiences and individual differences in shaping the way ace individuals construe their identity, and experience feelings and desires.

Policy Implications

By highlighting the need to acknowledge diversity within the ace community, this study offers insights into how to increase awareness and develop more inclusive social policies.
In situ measurement of hydrogen concentration in steel using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
Authors: Quackatz L. , Griesche A. , Nietzke J. , Kannengiesser T.
Published: January 2024

The ISO 3690 standard “Determination of hydrogen content in arc weld metal” requires a thermal activation of the diffusible hydrogen in a piece of weld metal for the subsequent ex situ concentration measurement by carrier gas hot extraction CGHE or thermal desorption spectroscopy (TCD). Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) offers a time and spatially resolved, almost non-destructive, in situ measurement of hydrogen at surfaces without sample preparation. We measured hydrogen in steels, which were charged either electrochemically or by high-pressure hydrogen gas, and compared the results. Further, the feasibility of quantitative hydrogen line scan measurements with LIBS was demonstrated by measuring hydrogen at water jet cut surfaces. The hydrogen concentrations measured with the help of LIBS were compared with CGHE measurements. It was observed that hydrogen can be reliably measured with LIBS for concentrations larger than 2 wt.-ppm. The maximum hydrogen concentration achieved using electrochemical charging was 85.1 ppm. The results show that LIBS is a promising technique for time- and spatially resolved measurements of hydrogen in steels.
Augmenting business statistics information by combining traditional data with textual data: a composite indicator approach
Authors: Salvatore Camilla , Biffignandi Silvia , Bianchi Annamaria
Published: January 2024

Combining traditional and digital trace data is an emerging trend in statistics. In this respect, new data sources represent the basis for multi-purpose extraction of different statistical indicators, which contribute to augmenting the statistical information, for feeding smart statistics. The production of business statistics can benefit from the use of unstructured data, especially to study novel aspects which are not covered by traditional data sources. This paper proposes a methodological general framework for augmenting information by combining data, both structured and non structured. The statistical challenges of using unstructured data and their integration with traditional data are discussed. The methodological general framework is applied to the construction of smart composite indicators using social media data and their metadata. An empirical exercise illustrates how to apply the methodology in practice.
The primacy of ocular perception: a narrative review on the role of gender identity in eating disorders
Authors: Tarchi Livio , Stanghellini Giovanni , Ricca Valdo , Castellini Giovanni
Published: January 2024

Background

Phenomenological research has enriched the scientific and clinical understanding of Eating Disorders (ED), describing the significant role played by disorders of embodiment in shaping the lived experience of patients with ED. According to the phenomenological perspective, disorders of embodiment in ED are associated with feelings of alienation from one’s own body, determining an excessive concern for external appearance as a form of dysfunctional coping. The purpose of the present narrative review is to address the role of gender identity as a risk factor for EDs in the light of phenomenological approaches.

Methods

Narrative review.

Results

The current study discusses the interplay between perception, gender identity, and embodiment, all posited to influence eating psychopathology. Internalized concerns for body appearance are described as potentially associated with self-objectification. Furthermore, concerns on body appearance are discussed in relation to gendered social expectations. The current review also explores how societal norms and gender stereotypes can contribute to dysfunctional self-identification with external appearances, particularly through an excessive focus on the optical dimension. The socio-cultural perspective on gender identity was considered as a further explanation of the lived experience of individuals with ED.

Conclusions

By acknowledging the interplay between these factors, clinicians and researchers can gain a deeper understanding of these disorders and develop more effective interventions for affected individuals.

Level of evidence

Level V narrative review.
Association between type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms after a 1-year follow-up in an older adult Mediterranean population
Authors: Baenas I. , Camacho-Barcia L. , Granero R. , Razquin C. , Corella D. , Gómez-Martínez C. , Castañer-Niño O. , Martínez J. A. , Alonso-Gómez Á. M. , Wärnberg J. , Vioque J. , Romaguera D. , López-Miranda J. , Estruch R. , Tinahones F. J. , Lapetra J. , Serra-Majem J. L. , Cano-Ibáñez N. , Tur J. A. , Martín-Sánchez V. , Pintó X. , Gaforio J. J. , Matía-Martín P. , Vidal J. , Vázquez C. , Daimiel L. , Ros E. , Jiménez-Murcia S. , Dalsgaard S. , Garcia-Arellano A. , Babio N. , Sorli J. V. , Lassale C. , García-de-la-Hera M. , Gómez-García E. , Zulet M. A. , Konieczna J. , Martín-Peláez S. , Tojal-Sierra L. , Basterra-Gortari F. J. , de las Heras-Delgado S. , Portoles O. , Muñoz-Pérez M. Á. , Arenas-Larriva A. P. , Compañ-Gabucio L. , Eguaras S. , Shyam S. , Fitó M. , Baños R. M. , Salas-Salvadó J. , Fernández-Aranda F.
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To examine the cross-sectional association between baseline depressive symptoms and the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and its association with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and other metabolic variables, and the prospective association of depressive symptoms and HbA1c after 1 year of follow-up.

Methods

n = 6224 Mediterranean older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (48% females, mean age 64.9 ± 4.9 years) were evaluated in the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus study cohort. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and HbA1c was used to measure metabolic control.

Results

The presence of T2D increased the likelihood of higher levels of depressive symptoms (χ2 = 15.84, p = 0.001). Polynomial contrast revealed a positive linear relationship (χ2 = 13.49, p = 0.001), the higher the depressive symptoms levels, the higher the prevalence of T2D. Longitudinal analyses showed that the higher baseline depressive symptoms levels, the higher the likelihood of being within the HbA1c ≥ 7% at 1-year level (Wald-χ2 = 24.06, df = 3, p < .001, for the full adjusted model). Additionally, depressive levels at baseline and duration of T2D predicted higher HbA1c and body mass index, and lower physical activity and adherence to Mediterranean Diet at 1 year of follow-up.

Conclusions

This study supports an association between T2D and the severity of depressive symptoms, suggesting a worse metabolic control from mild severity levels in the short–medium term, influenced by lifestyle habits related to diabetes care. Screening for depressive symptoms and a multidisciplinary integrative therapeutic approach should be ensured in patients with T2D.
Modelling the Symphyotrichum lanceolatum invasion in Slovakia, Central Europe
Authors: Michalová Martina , Hrabovský Michal , Kubalová Silvia , Miháliková Tatiana
Published: January 2024

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Willd.) G. L. Nesom is an alien invasive species in Europe, where it presents a potential threat to natural habitats. Its rapid expansion in recent decades raises questions and concerns about the causes and consequences of its spread in Slovakia. We investigated natural and anthropogenic habitats along with topographic and environmental factors, including changing climatic conditions such as air temperature and precipitation totals to adjust prediction models of the species distribution. Using 19 various algorithms, the models for the past, present, and future were calculated based on 395 octoploid populations selected by flow cytometry. The models revealed the potential species distribution along rivers and in human settlements and its increasing during the period 1970–2060 from 23.6 to 53.85% of the territory as a result of climatic change. A conditional inference tree indicates that the expansion can be limited by a mean annual air temperature below 8 °C and a pH of soil less than 5.5. Therefore, there is a high probability of the further spread of S. lanceolatum across Slovakia.