bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between traumatic pelvic ring injuries and sexual dysfunctions: a multicentric retrospective study
Authors: Rovere Giuseppe , Smakaj Amarildo , Perna Andrea , De Mauro Domenico , Are Lorenzo , Meccariello Luigi , Fidanza Andrea , Erasmo Rocco , Falez Francesco , Maccauro Giulio , Liuzza Francesco
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Among the functional impairments associated with pelvic ring injuries (PRI), sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common clinical issue. The aim of this study is to investigate correlations between traumatic PRI, genitourinary, and sexual dysfunctions, for a proper multidisciplinary treatment.

Methods

We performed an observational, multicentric study, from January 2020 to 2022. We conducted a follow-up after surgery at three, six, 12, and 24 months by measuring the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), the Majeed Score, and the SF-12. Descriptive statistics was conducted on T-test, Whelc’s test, and one-way ANOVA which were performed when appropriate.

Results

A total of 76 patients (mean age 42.17 ± 15 years) were included in the study and allocated into three groups (A, B, and C). Tile A group revealed good sexual outcomes, similar to that of healthy patients. Tile B group demonstrated worsen SD than the previous group. In Tile C group, there was a longer average duration of the orthopaedic surgery when compared to group B. However, in terms of SDs, statistical significance could not be demonstrated between groups C and B.

Conclusions

We observed a progressive spontaneous recovery of sexual function, corresponding to each PRI group. Moreover, men classified as B2 had milder SDs than B1 male patients.
Conservative treatment for high-risk NMIBC failing BCG treatment: who benefits from adding electromotive drug administration (EMDA) of mitomycin C (MMC) to a second BCG induction cycle?
Authors: Busetto Gian Maria , Finati Marco , Chirico Marco , Cinelli Francesco , D’Altilia Nicola , Falagario Ugo G. , Sanguedolce Francesca , Del Giudice Francesco , De Berardinis Ettore , Ferro Matteo , Crocetto Felice , Porreca Angelo , Di Gianfrancesco Luca , Calo’ Beppe , Mancini Vito , Bettocchi Carlo , Carrieri Giuseppe , Cormio Luigi
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard treatment for high-risk non muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) failing first BCG treatment. A second BCG course is an option for those patients who refuse RC or are not eligible for it, but its success rate is quite low. Aim of the present study was to determine whether the addition of intravesical electromotive drug administration of mytomicin-C (EMDA-MMC) improved the efficacy of second BCG course.

Methods

Patients with high-risk NMIBC having failed first BCG treatment and having refused RC were offered a second BCG induction course either alone (group A) or combined with EMDA-MMC (group B). Recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were tested.

Results

Of the 80 evaluable patients, 44 were in group A and 36 in group B; median follow-up was 38 months. RFS was significantly worse in group A whereas there was no difference in PFS and CSS between the two groups. Stratifying by disease stage, Ta patients receiving combined treatment had statistically better RFS and PFS survival than those receiving BCG only; this difference did not apply to T1 patients. Multivariable analysis confirmed that combined treatment was a significant predictor of recurrence and was close to predict progression. No tested variable was predictive of recurrence or progression in T1 tumours. Among those who underwent RC, CSS was 61.5% in those who had progression and 100% in those who remained with NMIBC.

Conclusion

Combined treatment improved RFS and PFS only in patients with Ta disease.
Ab-interno-Trabekulotomie ohne/mit Kataraktoperation – Eine Therapiealternative vor bzw. anstatt Trabekulektomie bei Patienten mit hohen Augeninnendrücken?
Authors: Baumgarten Sabine , Lohmann Tibor , Prinz Julia , Walter Peter , Plange Niklas , Fuest Matthias
Published: March 2023

Hintergrund

Die Trabekulotomie mit dem Kahook-Messer ist ein neues Ab-interno-Verfahren der minimal-invasiven Glaukomchirurgie (MIGS). MIGS werden in der Regel bei frühen bis intermediären Glaukomen eingesetzt. In dieser retrospektiven Studie analysierten wir allerdings die Reduktion von Intraokulardruck (IOD) und topischer Glaukommedikation (Meds) durch die Kahook-Trabekulotomie (TO) ohne (n = 19) oder mit (n = 18) kombinierter Kataraktoperation (Cat-TO) als Initialintervention vor bzw. zur Vermeidung der filtrierenden Glaukomchirurgie.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden 37 Augen von 37 Patienten untersucht, bei denen an mindestens 2 Untersuchungen trotz maximal tolerierbarer Meds IOD-Werte > 21 mm Hg gemessen wurden. Die Cat-TO wurde in 18 phaken Augen (primäres Offenwinkelglaukom [POWG] = 11, Pseudoexfoliationsglaukom [PEX] = 5, okuläre Hypertension [OHT] = 2) durchgeführt. In 19 pseudophaken Augen (POWG = 12, PEX = 6, OHT = 1) wurde eine isolierte TO durchgeführt. Der absolute Erfolg (keine Meds) und der relative Erfolg (unabhängig von Meds) für IOD ≤ 21 mm Hg, ≤ 18 mm Hg, ≤ 16 mm Hg wurden nach 2, 6 und 12 Monaten postoperativ evaluiert.

Ergebnisse

Der IOD wurde signifikant von präoperativ zu 2 Monate nach Cat-TO als auch nach TO gesenkt (Cat-TO: 26,8 ± 5,9 mm Hg auf 16,0 ± 2,9 mm Hg, p < 0,001; TO: IOD 28,2 ± 5,6 mm Hg auf 16,3 ± 3,5 mm Hg, p < 0,001). Die Meds-Reduktion war nach Cat-TO als auch nach TO nicht signifikant (Cat-TO: 2,1 ± 1,3 auf 1,3 ± 1,3, p = 0,11; TO: Meds 2,7 ± 1,1 auf 2,2 ± 1,3, p = 0,23). Jedoch war die Meds-Reduktion nach 6 und 12 Monaten signifikant größer in der Cat-TO-Gruppe verglichen mit der TO-Gruppe (p = 0,02). IOD und Meds änderten sich nicht signifikant von der 2‑Monats- zur 6‑ und 12-Monats-Visite. Nach Cat-TO war der relative Erfolg nach 12 Monaten für IOD ≤ 18 mm Hg 61 % (11/18) und für IOD ≤ 16 mm Hg 28 % (5/18). Der relative Erfolg nach 12 Monaten für die TO lag bei 47 % (9/19) für IOD ≤18 mm Hg und 26 % (5/19) für IOD ≤ 16 mm Hg. Bei 7 Patienten in der TO und 2 Patienten in der Cat-TO-Gruppe war die Intervention nicht ausreichend (IOD zweimalig > 21 mm Hg).

Schlussfolgerungen

Die 12-Monats-Daten zeigen, dass die TO also auch die Cat-TO ([Cat-]TO) ein wirksamer minimal-invasiver Eingriff ist, um eine Trabekulektomie hinauszuzögern oder sogar zu verhindern. Bei Tropfunverträglichkeiten und Zieldruckwerten ≤ 16 mm Hg ist die (Cat‑)TO nicht ausreichend.
Visual learning in tethered bees modifies flight orientation and is impaired by epinastine
Authors: Kobayashi Norihiro , Hasegawa Yuji , Okada Ryuichi , Sakura Midori
Published: March 2023

Visual-orientation learning of a tethered flying bee was investigated using a flight simulator and a novel protocol in which orientation preference toward trained visual targets was assessed in tests performed before and after appetitive conditioning. Either a blue or a green rectangle (conditioned stimulus, CS) was associated with 30% sucrose solution (unconditioned stimulus, US), whereas the other rectangle was not paired with US. Bees were tested in a closed-looped flight simulator 5 min after ten pairings of the US and CS. Conditioned bees were preferentially oriented to the CS after such training. This increase in preference for CS was maintained for 24 h, indicating the presence of long-term memory. Because the total orienting time was not altered by conditioning, conditioning did not enhance orientation activity itself but increased the relative time for orientation to CS. When 0.4 or 4 mM epinastine (an antagonist of octopamine receptors) was injected into the bee’s head 30 min prior to the experiment, both short- and long-term memory formation were significantly impaired, suggesting that octopamine, which is crucial for appetitive olfactory learning in insects, is also involved in visual orientation learning.
New Orthogonality Relations for Super-Jack Polynomials and an Associated Lassalle–Nekrasov Correspondence
Authors: Hallnäs Martin
Published: March 2023

The super-Jack polynomials, introduced by Kerov, Okounkov and Olshanski, are polynomials in $$n+m$$

n
+
m

variables, which reduce to the Jack polynomials when $$n=0$$

n
=
0

or $$m=0$$

m
=
0

and provide joint eigenfunctions of the quantum integrals of the deformed trigonometric Calogero–Moser–Sutherland system. We prove that the super-Jack polynomials are orthogonal with respect to a bilinear form of the form $$(p,q)\mapsto (L_pq)(0)$$

(
p
,
q
)

↦

(

L
p

q
)

(
0
)

, with $$L_p$$

L
p

quantum integrals of the deformed rational Calogero–Moser–Sutherland system. In addition, we provide a new proof of the Lassalle–Nekrasov correspondence between deformed trigonometric and rational harmonic Calogero–Moser–Sutherland systems and infer orthogonality of super-Hermite polynomials, which provide joint eigenfunctions of the latter system.
The impact of time-of-day reperfusion on remote ischemic conditioning in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a RIC-STEMI substudy
Authors: Pires Carla Marques , Lamas Diana , Gaspar António , Lourenço André P. , Antunes Nuno , Marques Jorge , Leite-Moreira Adelino F.
Published: March 2023

Daytime variation affects the tolerance of cardiomyocytes to ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI). This study aims to evaluate the impact of time-of-day reperfusion on clinical outcomes of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) as an adjuvant to primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PPCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI) patients. A post-hoc analysis of a prospective, single-center parallel 1:1 randomized trial (RIC-STEMI) was performed. This analysis included 448 STEMI patients previously randomized to either PPCI alone (PPCI group) (n = 217) or RIC as an adjuvant to PPCI (RIC + PPCI group) (n = 231). Moreover, the sample was divided according to the time of PPCI: night-morning (22 h-11h59min) (n = 216) or afternoon (12 h-21h59min) (n = 232) groups. The primary follow-up endpoint was a composite of cardiac death and hospitalization due to heart failure. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics and the follow-up outcomes between groups. The afternoon period (HR = 0.474; 95% CI 0.230–0.977; p = 0.043) and RIC (HR = 0.423; 95% CI 0.195–0.917; p = 0.029) were independent predictors of the primary follow-up endpoint. An univariate analysis showed a lower frequency of primary follow-up endpoint, just in the afternoon period (10.3%vs0.9%; p = 0.002), in the RIC + PPCI group. A multivariate analysis revealed that RIC was an independent predictor of the primary follow-up endpoint in the afternoon group (HR = 0.098; 95% CI 0.012–0.785; p = 0.029), but not in the night-morning group. In addition, the afternoon period was not an independent predictor of the primary follow-up endpoint when the multivariate analysis was performed in the PPCI group. In conclusion, this study showed an important cardioprotective effect of RIC, namely in the afternoon period, suggesting that the afternoon period enhances the cardioprotection induced by RIC.
User interfaces for actuated scope maneuvering in surgical systems: a scoping review
Authors: Hamza Hawa , Baez Victor M. , Al-Ansari Abdulla , Becker Aaron T. , Navkar Nikhil V.
Published: March 2023

Background

A variety of human computer interfaces are used by robotic surgical systems to control and actuate camera scopes during minimally invasive surgery. The purpose of this review is to examine the different user interfaces used in both commercial systems and research prototypes.

Methods

A comprehensive scoping review of scientific literature was conducted using PubMed and IEEE Xplore databases to identify user interfaces used in commercial products and research prototypes of robotic surgical systems and robotic scope holders. Papers related to actuated scopes with human–computer interfaces were included. Several aspects of user interfaces for scope manipulation in commercial and research systems were reviewed.

Results

Scope assistance was classified into robotic surgical systems (for multiple port, single port, and natural orifice) and robotic scope holders (for rigid, articulated, and flexible endoscopes). Benefits and drawbacks of control by different user interfaces such as foot, hand, voice, head, eye, and tool tracking were outlined. In the review, it was observed that hand control, with its familiarity and intuitiveness, is the most used interface in commercially available systems. Control by foot, head tracking, and tool tracking are increasingly used to address limitations, such as interruptions to surgical workflow, caused by using a hand interface.

Conclusion

Integrating a combination of different user interfaces for scope manipulation may provide maximum benefit for the surgeons. However, smooth transition between interfaces might pose a challenge while combining controls.
The role of tyrosine hydroxylase as a key player in neuromelanin synthesis and the association of neuromelanin with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Nagatsu Toshiharu , Nakashima Akira , Watanabe Hirohisa , Ito Shosuke , Wakamatsu Kazumasa , Zucca Fabio A. , Zecca Luigi , Youdim Moussa , Wulf Maximilian , Riederer Peter , Dijkstra Johannes M.
Published: March 2023

The dark pigment neuromelanin (NM) is abundant in cell bodies of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and norepinephrine (NE) neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) in the human brain. During the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD), together with the degeneration of the respective catecholamine (CA) neurons, the NM levels in the SN and LC markedly decrease. However, questions remain among others on how NM is associated with PD and how it is synthesized. The biosynthesis pathway of NM in the human brain has been controversial because the presence of tyrosinase in CA neurons in the SN and LC has been elusive. We propose the following NM synthesis pathway in these CA neurons: (1) Tyrosine is converted by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which is converted by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase to DA, which in LC neurons is converted by dopamine β-hydroxylase to NE; (2) DA or NE is autoxidized to dopamine quinone (DAQ) or norepinephrine quinone (NEQ); and (3) DAQ or NEQ is converted to eumelanic NM (euNM) and pheomelanic NM (pheoNM) in the absence and presence of cysteine, respectively. This process involves proteins as cysteine source and iron. We also discuss whether the NM amounts per neuromelanin-positive (NM+) CA neuron are higher in PD brain, whether NM quantitatively correlates with neurodegeneration, and whether an active lifestyle may reduce NM formation.
Natural Disturbances are Essential Determinants of Tree-Related Microhabitat Availability in Temperate Forests
Authors: Zemlerová Veronika , Kozák Daniel , Mikoláš Martin , Svitok Marek , Bače Radek , Smyčková Marie , Buechling Arne , Martin Maxence , Larrieu Laurent , Paillet Yoan , Roibu Catalin-Constantin , Petritan Ion Catalin , Čada Vojtěch , Ferenčík Matej , Frankovič Michal , Gloor Rhiannon , Hofmeister Jeňýk , Janda Pavel , Kameniar Ondrej , Majdanová Linda , Markuljaková Katka , Matula Radim , Mejstřík Marek , Rydval Miloš , Vostarek Ondřej , Svoboda Miroslav
Published: March 2023

Assessing the impacts of natural disturbance on the functioning of complex forest systems are imperative in the context of global change. The unprecedented rate of contemporary species extirpations, coupled with widely held expectations that future disturbance intensity will increase with warming, highlights a need to better understand how natural processes structure habitat availability in forest ecosystems. Standardised typologies of tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) have been developed to facilitate assessments of resource availability for multiple taxa. However, natural disturbance effects on TreM diversity have never been assessed. We amassed a comprehensive dataset of TreM occurrences and a concomitant 300-year disturbance history reconstruction that spanned large environmental gradients in temperate primary forests. We used nonlinear analyses to quantify relations between past disturbance parameters and contemporary patterns of TreM occurrence. Our results reveal that natural forest dynamics, characterised by fluctuating disturbance intervals and variable severity levels, maintained structurally complex landscapes rich in TreMs. Different microhabitat types developed over time in response to divergent disturbance histories. The relative abundance of alternate TreMs was maximised by unique interactions between past disturbance severity and elapsed time. Despite an unequal distribution of individual TreMs, total microhabitat diversity was maintained at constant levels, suggesting that spatially heterogeneous disturbances maintained a shifting mosaic of habitat types over the region as a whole. Our findings underscore the fundamental role of natural processes in promoting conditions that maximise biodiversity potential. Strict conservation and management systems that preserve natural disturbance outcomes, including associated biological legacies, may therefore safeguard biodiversity at large scales.
Whole‐exome sequencing analyses in a Saudi Ischemic Stroke Cohort reveal association signals, and shows polygenic risk scores are related to Modified Rankin Scale Risk
Authors: Alkhamis Fahad A. , Alabdali Majed M. , Alsulaiman Abdulla A. , Alamri Abdullah S. , Alali Rudaynah , Akhtar Mohammed S. , Alsalman Sadiq A. , Cyrus Cyril , Albakr Aishah I. , Alduhalan Anas S. , Gandla Divya , Al-Romaih Khaldoun , Abouelhoda Mohamed , Loza Bao-Li , Keating Brendan , Al-Ali Amein K.
Published: March 2023

Ischemic stroke represents a significant societal burden across the globe. Rare high penetrant monogenic variants and less pathogenic common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been described as being associated with risk of diseases. Genetic studies in Saudi Arabian patients offer a greater opportunity to detect rare high penetrant mutations enriched in these consanguineous populations. We performed whole exome sequencing on 387 ischemic stroke subjects from Saudi Arabian hospital networks with up to 20,230 controls from the Saudi Human Genome Project and performed gene burden analyses of variants in 177 a priori loci derived from knowledge-driven curation of monogenic and genome-wide association studies of stroke. Using gene-burden analyses, we observed significant associations in numerous loci under autosomal dominant and/or recessive modelling. Stroke subjects with modified Rankin Scale (mRSs) above 3 were found to carry greater cumulative polygenic risk score (PRS) from rare variants in stroke genes (standardized PRS mean > 0) compared to the population average (standardized PRS mean = 0). However, patients with mRS of 3 or lower had lower cumulative genetic risk from rare variants in stroke genes (OR (95%CI) = 1.79 (1.29–2.49), p = 0.0005), with the means of standardized PRS at or lower than 0. In conclusion, gene burden testing in Saudi stroke populations reveals a number of statistically significant signals under different disease inheritance models. However, interestingly, stroke subjects with mRS of 3 or lower had lower cumulative genetic risk from rare variants in stroke genes and therefore, determining the potential mRS cutoffs to use for clinical significance may allow risk stratification of this population.
Mediation als Erfolgsfaktor bei der Planung und Umsetzung von Klimaschutz- und Klimaanpassungsmaßnahmen
Authors: Braig Katharina Franziska , Ehlers-Hofherr Angela
Published: March 2023

Maßnahmen des Klimaschutzes – insbesondere der Ausbau der Erneuerbare Energien –
aber auch der Klimaanpassung stoßen auf einen immer breiter werdenden Grundkonsens in der Bevölkerung,
führen aber auch zu gesellschaftlichen Konflikten. Mediation kann dabei mehr als ein reines Konfliktlösungsinstrument
sein. Vielmehr kann Mediation längerfristige Effekte erzielen, indem sie die Beteiligten anregt, konstruktive
statt destruktive Gedanken zu verfolgen, unter Beachtung der Fakten nach Lösungen statt Problemen zu
suchen und damit zum einen die Möglichkeit der Selbstwirksamkeit der Beteiligten eröffnet und
zu mehr Vertrauen zwischen Bürgern, Zivilgesellschaft, Politik und Verwaltung beitragen kann. Der
Beitrag skizziert Möglichkeiten und Grenzen einer Intensivierung und Systematisierung von Mediation
im Kontext von Konflikten, die bei der Planung und Durchführung von Klimaschutz- und Klimaanpassungsmaßnahmen
auftreten.
Tiefseebergbau: Mining Code quo vadis?
Authors: Jenisch Uwe
Published: March 2023

Das Internationale Seerechtsübereinkommen (SRÜ) der Vereinten Nationen von 1982, in Kraft
seit 1994, nebst seinem Durchführungsübereinkommen regelt den Tiefseebergbau unter der Regie der
International Seabed Authority ISA. Sie hat bisher 31 Lizenzen zur Exploration von Lagerstätten vergeben
und bereitet nun einen Mining Code für den industriellen Abbau vor. Gegner und Befürworter des
Tiefseebergbaus stehen sich unversöhnlich in der Frage gegenüber, ob Rohstoffsicherung oder maximaler
Schutz der submarinen Lebensräume Vorrang haben. Der Konflikt eskalierte 2021, als das erste Bergbauunternehmen
die “trigger-Klausel” des Seerechts aktivierte und eine kurzfristige Abbaulizenz verlangte.
Dieser Bericht gibt eine Übersicht über die vielfältigen Bemühungen der ISA, zuletzt
in ihrer Jahrestagung 2022, einerseits den Tiefseebergbau in Gang zu bringen und andererseits die Eingriffe
in die Tiefsee zu minimieren. Angesichts aktueller Krisen geht es am Beispiel des Tiefseebergbaus um die
konkreten Fragen des globalen Umweltschutzes und der Rohstoffversorgung für nachhaltige neue Technologien
und Industrien. Für 2023 sind Weichenstellungen zu erwarten.
Reform des EU-Emissionshandels
Authors: Frenz Walter
Published: March 2023

Die EU hat ein anspruchsvolles Reformpaket für den EU-Emissionshandel auf den Weg gebracht und
die CO2-Reduktionsziele erheblich verschärft. Zudem steht die Etablierung eines eigenen Emissionshandels
für Gebäude und Verkehr an – entsprechend dem BEHG, das daher zur Vermeidung von Doppelbelastungen
anzupassen ist.
Identifying bird species by their calls in Soundscapes
Authors: Maclean Kyle , Triguero Isaac
Published: March 2023

In many real data science problems, it is common to encounter a domain mismatch between the training and testing datasets, which means that solutions designed for one may not transfer well to the other due to their differences. An example of such was in the BirdCLEF2021 Kaggle competition, where participants had to identify all bird species that could be heard in audio recordings. Thus, multi-label classifiers, capable of coping with domain mismatch, were required. In addition, classifiers needed to be resilient to a long-tailed (imbalanced) class distribution and weak labels. Throughout the competition, a diverse range of solutions based on convolutional neural networks were proposed. However, it is unclear how different solution components contribute to overall performance. In this work, we contextualise the problem with respect to the previously existing literature, analysing and discussing the choices made by the different participants. We also propose a modular solution architecture to empirically quantify the effects of different architectures. The results of this study provide insights into which components worked well for this challenge.
Worth the Risk? Greater Acceptance of Instrumental Harm Befalling Men than Women
Authors: Graso Maja , Reynolds Tania , Aquino Karl
Published: March 2023

Scientific and organizational interventions often involve trade-offs whereby they benefit some but entail costs to others (i.e., instrumental harm; IH). We hypothesized that the gender of the persons incurring those costs would influence intervention endorsement, such that people would more readily support interventions inflicting IH onto men than onto women. We also hypothesized that women would exhibit greater asymmetries in their acceptance of IH to men versus women. Three experimental studies (two pre-registered) tested these hypotheses. Studies 1 and 2 granted support for these predictions using a variety of interventions and contexts. Study 3 tested a possible boundary condition of these asymmetries using contexts in which women have traditionally been expected to sacrifice more than men: caring for infants, children, the elderly, and the ill. Even in these traditionally female contexts, participants still more readily accepted IH to men than women. Findings indicate people (especially women) are less willing to accept instrumental harm befalling women (vs. men). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications and limitations of our findings.
Measuring and addressing health equity: an assessment of cancer center designation requirements
Authors: Semprini Jason T. , Biddell Caitlin B. , Eberth Jan M. , Charlton Mary E. , Nash Sarah H. , Yeager Katherine A. , Evans Donoria , Madhivanan Purnima , Brandt Heather M. , Askelson Natoshia M. , Seaman Aaron T. , Zahnd Whitney E.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

By requiring specific measures, cancer endorsements (e.g., accreditations, designations, certifications) promote high-quality cancer care. While 'quality' is the defining feature, less is known about how these endorsements consider equity. Given the inequities in access to high-quality cancer care, we assessed the extent to which equity structures, processes, and outcomes were required for cancer center endorsements.

Methods

We performed a content analysis of medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, and research hospital endorsements from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), respectively. We analyzed requirements for equity-focused content and compared how each endorsing body included equity as a requirement along three axes: structures, processes, and outcomes.

Results

ASCO guidelines centered on processes assessing financial, health literacy, and psychosocial barriers to care. ASTRO guidelines related to language needs and processes to address financial barriers. CoC equity-related guidelines focused on processes addressing financial and psychosocial concerns of survivors, and hospital-identified barriers to care. NCI guidelines considered equity related to cancer disparities research, inclusion of diverse groups in outreach and clinical trials, and diversification of investigators. None of the guidelines explicitly required measures of equitable care delivery or outcomes beyond clinical trial enrollment.

Conclusion

Overall, equity requirements were limited. Leveraging the influence and infrastructure of cancer quality endorsements could enhance progress toward achieving cancer care equity. We recommend that endorsing organizations 1) require cancer centers to implement processes for measuring and tracking health equity outcomes and 2) engage diverse community stakeholders to develop strategies for addressing discrimination.
On the solution stability of parabolic optimal control problems
Authors: Corella Alberto Domínguez , Jork Nicolai , Veliov Vladimir M.
Published: March 2023

The paper investigates stability properties of solutions of optimal control problems constrained by semilinear parabolic partial differential equations. Hölder or Lipschitz dependence of the optimal solution on perturbations are obtained for problems in which the equation and the objective functional are affine with respect to the control. The perturbations may appear in both the equation and in the objective functional and may nonlinearly depend on the state and control variables. The main results are based on an extension of recently introduced assumptions on the joint growth of the first and second variation of the objective functional. The stability of the optimal solution is obtained as a consequence of a more general result obtained in the paper–the metric subregularity of the mapping associated with the system of first order necessary optimality conditions. This property also enables error estimates for approximation methods. A Lipschitz estimate for the dependence of the optimal control on the Tikhonov regularization parameter is obtained as a by-product.
Assessment of the incubating environment for investment in biogas technology in Syria by using AHP and SWOT
Authors: Hasan Ghaith , Mazancová Jana , Roubík Hynek
Published: March 2023

In light of the massive energy supply shortage due to the Syrian war since 2011, renewable energy adoption has a high potential to cover the actual energy demand. Hence, this study aims to shed light on the factors that affect investment in biogas technology. With the scarcity of research on alternative energies in Syria, this paper focused on the characteristics of the Syrian environment toward biogas technology adoption. The results show that Syrian society accepts and desires to adopt new technologies, representing an optimal strategy to stimulate biogas technology use and the need to spread awareness about its benefits. The SWOT model was applied to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing biogas technology adoption. The analytical hierarchy process model was applied to set priorities and make better decisions related to the knowledge of biogas, acceptance of biogas technology, desire for and common approach for its use, the resulting organic fertilizer, and administrative and financial aspects. The work concludes that the southern region was at the forefront in the areas studied in terms of weights of biogas technology investment criteria, subsequently, the central and later the coastal regions. By presenting a systematic and comprehensive approach, this study represents a roadmap to assist decision-makers in inking decisions related to adopting and deploying biogas technology on a larger scale and contributes to developing a criterion for selecting biogas sites in Syria.
Understanding public discourse surrounding the impact of bitcoin on the environment in social media
Authors: Mankala Sachith , Durai Audhav , Padiyar Anvi , Gkountouna Olga , Mahabir Ron
Published: March 2023

Increasing public concerns about the environment have led to many studies that have explored current issues and approaches towards its protection. Much less studied, however, is topic of public opinion surrounding the impact that cryptocurrencies are having on the environment. The cryptocurrency market, in particular, bitcoin, currently rivals other top well-known assets such as precious metals and exchanged traded funds in market value, and its growing. This work examines public opinion expressed about the environmental impacts of bitcoin derived from Twitter feeds. Three primary research questions were addressed in this work related to topics of public interest, their location, and people and places involved. Our findings show that factions of of the public are interest in protecting the environment, with topics that resonate mainly related to energy. This discourse was also taking place at few similar locations with a mix of different people and places of interest.
Microscopic Quantum Jump: An Interpretation of Measurement Problem
Authors: Nakajima Tadashi
Published: March 2023

Nearly a century has passed, since the birth of quantum mechanics, and yet the measurement problem has not been solved. We investigate the measurement problem from two aspects. First we scrutinize the basic postulates adopted by existing theories and identify the postulate of classicality of apparatus (PCA) to be the origin of the trouble. Second, we analyze the simplest possible experimental setup, a single photon particle as an observed system S and a detector as an apparatus A, and we find that a quantum jump occurs as a microscopic interaction between S and a single particle in A. We call this a microscopic quantum jump (MIJ). The MIJ selects system eigenvalues (SEVs) such as a two-dimensional position and arrival time for an incident photon. The MIJ outputs a microscopic particle (MIP), which carries the information of the SEVs potentially. In the apparatus A, the MIP triggers amplification cascade of secondary particles, which we call the intermediate particles (IMPs). The IMPs are initially a few, but become plenty after the amplification. The output of the amplification is a macroscopic observable (MAO) such as a current pulse, which carries the information of the SEVs in actuality. The measurement is complete when the MAO is obtained. By adopting the postulate of the MIJ and by discarding the PCA, we have constructed a measurement theory, which is consistent with standard quantum mechanics.
Vanishing Angular Singularity Limit to the Hard-Sphere Boltzmann Equation
Authors: Jang Jin Woo , Kepka Bernhard , Nota Alessia , Velázquez Juan J. L.
Published: March 2023

In this note we study Boltzmann’s collision kernel for inverse power law interactions $$U_s(r)=1/r^{s-1}$$

U
s

(
r
)

=
1
/

r

s
-
1

for $$s>2$$

s
>
2

in dimension $$ d=3 $$

d
=
3

. We prove the limit of the non-cutoff kernel to the hard-sphere kernel and give precise asymptotic formulas of the singular layer near $$\theta \simeq 0$$

θ
≃
0

in the limit $$ s\rightarrow \infty $$

s
→
∞

. Consequently, we show that solutions to the homogeneous Boltzmann equation converge to the respective solutions.
A storytelling framework based on multimedia knowledge graph using linked open data and deep neural networks
Authors: Renzi Gianluigi , Rinaldi Antonio M. , Russo Cristiano , Tommasino Cristian
Published: March 2023

Automatic storytelling is a broad challenge in research contexts such as Natural Language Processing and Contend Based Image Analysis. Despite the considerable achievements of machine learning techniques in these research fields, combining different approaches to fill the gap between an automatic generated story and human handwriting is hard. This work proposes a novel storytelling framework in the Cultural Heritage domain. We developed our framework based on a Multimedia Knowledge Graph (MKG), a crucial point of our work. Furthermore, we populated our Multimedia Knowledge Graph with a focused crawler that employs deep learning techniques to recognise a multimedia object from web resources. Furthermore, we used a combined approach of deep learning techniques and Linked Open Data (LOD) to retrieve information about images and depicted figures using Instance Segmentation. The system has a dynamic, user-friendly interface that guides the user during the storytelling process. Finally, we evaluated the system from a qualitative and quantitative point of view.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies of methane and liquefied natural gas reforming processes on Ni/CeO2 catalyst
Authors: Mierczynski Pawel , Mierczynska-Vasilev Agnieszka , Vasilev Krasimir , Szynkowska-Jozwik Malgorzata I.
Published: March 2023

For the first time, a mechanistic study of methane oxy-steam reforming and LNG (OSR-LNG) processes is presented using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The FTIR measurements were carried out in the temperature range of 200–600 °C in the tested processes. The reaction mechanisms of oxy-steam reforming of CH4 or LNG were proposed from the results obtained. It was found that the dissociation of methane into carbon-containing molecules and/or into carbon molecules adsorbed on the catalyst surface is a crucial step in determining the reaction rate. The results can be used to design catalytic systems for natural gas reforming.
Agency and Transformative Potential of Technology in Students’ Images of the Future
Authors: Rasa Tapio , Lavonen Jari , Laherto Antti
Published: March 2023

Various current trends in education highlight the importance of pedagogies that address societal and environmental questions while preparing and inspiring students to take action. Meanwhile, how we view the future influences how we act, and how we act influences the future. Research on young people’s images of the future has shown how technology plays a central role in how we imagine the future and the changes that shape it. This suggests a need to address the role of perceptions of future sociotechnical change and agency in students’ thinking, as it may instruct the development of action-oriented critical scientific literacy. Thus, in this study, we examine how images of the future reflect students’ perceptions of sociotechnical change. Employing abductive qualitative content analysis on 58 upper secondary school students’ essays describing “a typical day” in the future, we focused on how students’ depictions of future sociotechnical change vary along three dimensions: from static futures to radical transformation, from nonproblematic change to issues deeply relevant to societal deliberation, and various framings of who, if anyone, has agency. We found that students’ images of the future contained wide variation in the discussed range of sociotechnical change, while technology was discussed typically in nonproblematic and sometimes in more critical, problematised ways. Indications of agency were mostly vague, but students occasionally attributed agency over sociotechnical change to the general public, specialised experts and themselves. We conclude by discussing the potential implications of the results in regard to recent definitions of scientific literacy as well as future-oriented pedagogies in science education.
An instrumentalist take on the models of the Free-Energy Principle
Authors: Pisano Niccolò Aimone
Published: March 2023

In this paper, by means of a novel use of insights from the literature on scientific modelling, I will argue in favour of an instrumentalist approach to the models that are crucially involved in the study of adaptive systems within the Free-Energy Principle (FEP) framework. I will begin (§2) by offering a general, informal characterisation of FEP. Then (§3), I will argue that the models involved in FEP-theorising are plausibly intended to be isomorphic to their targets. This will allow (§4) to turn the criticisms moved against isomorphism-based accounts of representation towards the FEP modelling practice. Since failure to establish an isomorphism between model and target would result in the former’s failure to represent the latter, and given that it is highly unlikely that FEP-models are ever isomorphic to their targets, maintaining that FEP-models represent their targets as they are, in a realist sense, is unwarranted. Finally (§5), I will consider what implications my argument in favour of an instrumentalist reading of FEP-models has for attempts at making use of the FEP to elaborate an account of what cognition exactly is. My conclusion is that we should not dismiss FEP-based accounts of cognition, as they would still be informative and would further our understanding of the nature of cognition. Nonetheless, the prospects of settling the philosophical debates that sparked the interest in having a “mark of the cognitive” are not good.
Heavy Metal Pollution of Soil in Vienna, Austria
Authors: Bibi Dina , Tőzsér Dávid , Sipos Bianka , Tóthmérész Béla , Simon Edina
Published: March 2023

Along an urbanization gradient, we explored the soil metal pollution in Vienna, Austria. We analyzed the physical and chemical parameters of topsoil from urban, suburban, and rural areas. The following elements were quantified using ICP-OES technique: Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, and Zn. For heavy metals, PI (pollution index) values were used to assess the level of pollution. We found that the concentration of Cu, Pb, Sr, and Zn was higher in the urban and suburban area than in the rural area. The PI values indicated a moderate level of pollution by Cd (1 ≤ PI ≤ 2) along the urbanization gradient. We found a low level of pollution for Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn (PI ≤ 1) in studied areas. Our findings demonstrated the presence of anthropogenic contamination, and it is likely that traffic emission may be the major source of metal pollution in Vienna. Our findings also demonstrated that the elemental analysis of soil and the values of PI are adequate indicators of the level of pollution based on soil sample analysis in urban ecosystems.
Fostering regulatory processes using computational scaffolding
Authors: Silva Leonardo , Mendes António , Gomes Anabela , Fortes Gabriel
Published: March 2023

The use of computational scaffolding is a crucial strategy to foster students’ regulation of learning skills, which is associated with increased learning achievement. However, most interventions treat the regulatory processes as individual actions isolated from a social context. This view contradicts the most recent research that points to the importance of studying the regulatory phenomenon from a social-cognitive perspective, where students’ interactions influence their regulation of the learning process. This work explores these problems and presents multiple scaffolds to promote Self-regulation of Learning (SRL), co-regulation, and socially shared regulation of learning (SSRL) embedded within a computer-supported collaborative learning environment. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was performed with students (n = 71) enrolled in an online introductory programming course. Students were randomly assigned to three groups: 1) SRL-only support, 2) SRL, co-regulation, and SSRL support, and 3) a no support control group. The findings revealed that students who received regulatory support achieved higher course grades than the control group. However, only students who received SSRL and co-regulation support achieved superior performance in collaborative activities, confirming the importance of this type of regulation. Even though students did not increase in SRL aptitude, the intervention provided support for achieving higher grades in the course.
A qualitative investigation of infusing products with service via strategic alliances among SMEs: a case of servitization
Authors: Pombo Diogo , Franco Mário
Published: March 2023

This study aims to understand the role of strategic alliances in successful SME servitization. A qualitative approach was adopted, elaborating a script for semi-structured interviews to be applied to some SMEs. Based on content analysis and using NVivo software, it is concluded that servitization and alliances are two strategies that are connected, with a complementary relation, through the share of resources and knowledge, creating competitive advantages and adding value to business models, while also improving the final client’s experience. This study intends to contribute more insights to provide SME owners–managers with the results of combining the two strategies analysed here.
Appraising Forgeability and Surface Cracking in New Generation Cast and Wrought Superalloys
Authors: Fernandez-Alvarez M. , Vaasudevan A. , Fischer E. , Rae C. , Witulski T. , Galindo-Nava E. I.
Published: March 2023

Surface cracking poses a major problem in industrial forging, but the scientific understanding of the phenomenon is hampered by the difficulty of replicating it in a laboratory setting. In this work, a novel laboratory-scale experimental method is presented to investigate forgeability in new generation cast and wrought superalloys. This new approach makes possible appraising the prevalence and severity of surface cracking by mimicking the die chilling effects characteristic of hot die forging. Two highγ′-reinforced alloys are used to explore this methodology. A Gleeble thermo-mechanical simulator is used to conduct hot compression tests following a non-isothermal cycle, with the aim to simulate the cooling of the near-surface regions during the forging process. FEA simulations, sample geometry design, and heat-treatments are used to ensure the correspondence between laboratory and real-scale forging. A wide range of surface cracking results are obtained for different forging temperatures and cooling rates—proving the soundness of the method. Surprisingly, samples heated up to higher initial temperatures typically show more extensive surface cracking. These findings indicate that—along with the local mechanical conditions of the forging—die-chilling effects and forging temperatures are paramount in controlling surface cracking, as they dictate the key variables governing the distribution and kinetics ofγ′ formation.
Hörmander’s $$L^2$$-Method, $${\overline{\partial }}$$-Problem and Polyanalytic Function Theory in One Complex Variable
Authors: Alpay Daniel , Colombo Fabrizio , Diki Kamal , Sabadini Irene , Struppa Daniele C.
Published: March 2023

In this paper we consider the classical $${\overline{\partial }}$$

∂
¯

-problem in the case of one complex variable both for analytic and polyanalytic data. We apply the decomposition property of polyanalytic functions in order to construct particular solutions of this problem and obtain new Hörmander type estimates using suitable powers of the Cauchy-Riemann operator. We also compute particular solutions of the $${\overline{\partial }}$$

∂
¯

-problem for specific polyanalytic data such as the Itô complex Hermite polynomials and polyanalytic Fock kernels.
EZ-InSAR: An easy-to-use open-source toolbox for mapping ground surface deformation using satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar
Authors: Hrysiewicz Alexis , Wang Xiaowen , Holohan Eoghan P.
Published: March 2023

Satellite Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a space-borne geodetic technique that can map ground displacement at millimetre accuracy. Via the new era for InSAR applications provided by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 SAR satellites, several open-source software packages exist for processing SAR data. These packages enable one to obtain high-quality ground deformation maps, but still require a deep understanding of InSAR theory and the related computational tools, especially when dealing with a large stack of images. Here we present an open-source toolbox, EZ-InSAR (easy-to-use InSAR), for a user-friendly implementation of InSAR displacement time series analysis with multi-temporal SAR images. EZ-InSAR integrates the three most popular and renowned open-source tools (i.e., ISCE, StaMPS, and MintPy), to generate interferograms and displacement time series by using these state-of-art algorithms within a seamless Graphical User Interface. EZ-InSAR reduces the user’s workload by automatically downloading the Sentinel-1 SAR imagery and the digital elevation model data for the user’s area of interest, and by streamlining preparation of input data stacks for the time series InSAR analysis. We illustrate the EZ-InSAR processing capabilities by mapping recent ground deformation at Campi Flegrei (> 100 mm·yr−1) and Long Valley (~ 10 mm·yr−1) calderas with both Persistent Scatterer InSAR and Small-Baseline Subset approaches. We also validate the test results by comparing the InSAR displacements with Global Navigation Satellite System measurements at those volcanoes. Our tests indicate that the EZ-InSAR toolbox provided here can serve as a valuable contribution to the community for ground deformation monitoring and geohazard evaluation, as well as for disseminating bespoke InSAR observations for all.