bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The digital frontier as a liminal space
Authors: Belk Russell
Published: April 2023

Hadi et al. (Journal of Consumer Psychology, 34, 2023) have created a masterful and wide‐sweeping review of the consumer behavior literature on the Metaverse. They envision our encounter with the Metaverse as a consumer journey. In this commentary, I highlight some of their unique contributions and suggest additional insights that emerge when we view the digital frontier as a liminal place betwixt and between now and then, here and there, and reality and virtuality. The Metaverse is also a metaphor and I entertain three metaphoric interpretations. First, the Metaverse is an experience machine of the sort that Robert Nozick imagined in his thought experiment involving real and artificial pleasures. Alternatively, consumers themselves can be seen as desiring machines as Gilles Deleuze and Féliz Guattari characterized them, and the Metaverse can be seen as an instantiation of our collective desires. Or thirdly, the Metaverse can be regarded as a shared hallucination. As these diverse metaphors suggest, imagining the metaverse is a projective exercise. But the consequences may involve up to a trillion dollars in revenues, so I hope these provocations prove useful whether they are ultimately borne out or not.
Clinical presentation and management modalities of gallbladder cancer in Sudan: A single‐center study
Authors: Adam Khatab M. , Abdelrahim Elfatih Yousif , Doush Wael Mohialddin , Abdelaziz Muataz S.
Published: April 2023

Background and Aim

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy characterized by late presentation of nonspecific symptoms, poor curability, and high mortality. The gold standard for effective treatment depends on early detection and surgical excision. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the patterns of clinical presentation and management modalities to reach excellent practice.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted during the period from May 2021 to April 2022 at Ibn Sina specialized hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, on 50 patients with GBC who underwent a preoperative clinical and radiological evaluation to enable the use of appropriate surgical and oncological approaches.

Results

GBC was more prevalent in females in this series where all had GBC (68%), in the ratio 2:1. Distribution of patients according to age ranged between 61 and 75 years, representing 44% of patients. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting were present in 40% of patients. Fifty‐six percent of patients resided in urban areas. Transabdominal ultrasound (TUS) with CT scan diagnosed GBC in 54% of patients. GBC was metastatic (stage IV) in 52% of patients. Based on preoperative decision by a multidisciplinary team (MDT), 62% of patients had palliative nonsurgical oncological treatment. Histopathological analysis of the resected GBC showed adenocarcinoma in 74% of cases. The inoperable patients (42%) were treated palliativelly with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography/systemic chemotherapy. Finally, the overall mortality rate was 56%.

Conclusions

Accurate early clinical diagnosis and advanced radiological modalities with curative surgical approaches including clear surgical resection margins and systemic oncological therapies will potentially help in improving GBC survival outcomes.
Impact of inflammatory cytokine and adipokine gene variations in the development of HIV‐associated lipodystrophy
Authors: Namdev Goldi , Choudhari Ranjana , Shyamveer  , Khan Abdul Arif , Ali Nemat , Rashid Summya , Singh Hari Om
Published: April 2023

Cytokines affect lipid and glucose metabolism and also alter the body's habitus. They play a role in the development of lipodystrophy syndrome. Adipocytes secrete the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1, TNF‐α and IL‐6. The plasma cytokine concentration is associated with the percentage and distribution of fat tissue in the body. The metabolic disturbances are strongly associated with increased levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1, IL‐6 and TNF‐α). Plasma levels of cytokines such as TNF‐α, IL‐6 and leptin were found to be increased while plasma resistin levels were found to be variable in patients suffering from obesity and type II diabetes mellitus. Until now, limited information has been available on the polymorphism of cytokine and adipokine genes in patients of HIV‐associated lipodystrophy (HIVLD), which can contribute to individual variations in susceptibility to metabolic diseases, especially to HIVLD. Hence, we studied the association of cytokine and adipokine gene polymorphisms in various diseases and their impact on HIVLD. We carry out an extensive search using several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar. The distribution of cytokine and adipokine gene polymorphisms and their expression levels varied among various populations. We examined the variants of cytokine and adipokine genes, which can contribute to individual variations in susceptibility to metabolic diseases, especially to HIVLD. In the current review, we present a brief account of the risk factors of HIVLD, the pathogenesis of HIVLD and the polymorphism of cytokine and adipokine genes in various diseases with special reference to their impact on HIVLD.
IGH::CD274 (PD‐L1) rearrangement in diffuse large B cell lymphoma and its therapeutic implication
Authors: Wu Xuemei , Chen Si , Chen Ping , Zhang Han , Zhang Liying , Wang Panjun , Li Bingzong , Rong Rong , Wang Yiting , Lang Xingping , Wang Kai , Zhang Xiaohui , Xiao Sheng
Published: April 2023

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) expresses abundant programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), which shields tumor cells from immune attacks through the PD‐L1/PD‐1 signaling axis. The mechanism of PD‐L1 overexpression includes the deletion of the 3′end of PD‐L1, which increases its mRNA stability, and the gain or amplification of PD‐L1. Previous studies found two cases of DLBCL carrying an IGH::PD‐L1 by whole genome sequencing. We describe two more such cases by a targeted DNA next‐generation sequencing (NGS) capable of detecting IGH rearrangements, leading to PD‐L1 overexpression. DLBCL with PD‐L1 overexpression is often resistant to R‐CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine and prednisolone). Our patients responded to a combination of R‐CHOP and a PD‐1 inhibitor.
Role‐Modeling Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises: The Role of Leader Identification, Leader–Member Exchange, Job Stress, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intent
Authors: Balwant Paul T. , Singh Amanda
Published: April 2023

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are instrumental to most economies and leadership offers a means for SMEs to face today's business challenges. Despite the need for effective leadership in SMEs, researchers rarely examine leadership theories in this context. The SME context is characterized by proximal conditions that are conducive to role‐modeling leadership. Role‐modeling leadership, although popular in the practitioner literature, is an underdeveloped concept in the scientific literature because such leadership has been confounded with other leadership theories and behaviors. The present study showcases role‐modeling leadership as a distinct style of leadership and investigates its nomological framework between SMEs and large organizations. Using a sample of 371 employees across the UK, the findings supported (a) leader identification as an antecedent of role‐modeling leadership and (b) a chain of outcomes between role‐modeling leadership, leader–member exchange, job stress, job satisfaction, and turnover intent. However, the moderating effect of organization size was not supported. The present study contributes to theory by unraveling how a novel style of leadership is predicted as well as its relationship with important organizational outcomes. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The influence of fossils in macroevolutionary analyses of 3D geometric morphometric data: A case study of galloanseran quadrates
Authors: Kuo Pei‐Chen , Benson Roger B. J. , Field Daniel J.
Published: April 2023

In birds and other reptiles, the quadrate acts as a hinge between the lower jaw and the skull and plays an important role in avian cranial kinesis. Though previous studies have qualitatively described substantial variation in quadrate morphology among birds, none have attempted to quantify evolutionary changes in quadrate shape. Here, we investigate geometric evolution of the quadrate in Galloanserae, a major clade of extant birds uniting chicken‐like (Galliformes) and duck‐like (Anseriformes) fowl. We quantified morphological variation in the quadrate across 50 extant galloanseran species covering all major extant subclades using three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics, and performed ancestral shape reconstructions in the context of an up‐to‐date neornithine phylogeny. We find that our results based only on extant quadrates may overlook plesiomorphic features captured by fossil taxa, resulting in an ancestral state reconstruction for Galloanserae that is seemingly an approximation of the average shape of the extant data set. By contrast, analyses incorporating early fossil galloanseran quadrates (from taxa such as Asteriornis, Presbyornis, and Conflicto) result in ancestral geometric reconstructions more similar to the morphology of extant galliforms, indicating that the quadrate of the last common ancestor of galloanserans may have been more morphologically and functionally similar to those of extant galliforms than to extant anseriforms. These results generally corroborate previous inferences of galloanseran quadrate plesiomorphies and identify several additional plesiomorphic features of the galloanseran quadrate for the first time. Our results illustrate the importance of incorporating fossil taxa into ancestral shape reconstructions and help elucidate important aspects of the morphology and function of the avian feeding apparatus early in crown bird evolutionary history.
Preparation of high complex concentration emulsion stabilized by soy protein/dextran sulfate composite particles
Authors: Yin Qi , Wu Liang , Zhang Xinli , Zheng Zhi , Luo Shuizhong , Zhong Xiyang , Zhao Yanyan
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

Soy protein isolate (SPI) can be used as an emulsifier to stabilize emulsions, though SPI is unstable under low acidic conditions. Stable composite particles of SPI and dextran sulfate (DS) can be formed by the electrostatic interaction at the pH 3.5. Furthermore, the SPI/DS composite particles can be used to prepare a high complex concentration emulsion. The stabilization properties of the high complex concentration emulsion were investigated.

RESULTS

Compared to uncompounded SPI, the particle size of SPI/DS composite particles was smaller at 1.52 μm, and the absolute value of the potential increased to 19.9 mV when the mass ratio of SPI to DS was 1:1 and the pH was 3.5. With the DS ratio increased, the solubility of the composite particles increased to 14.44 times of the untreated protein at pH 3.5, while the surface hydrophobicity decreased. Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds were the main forces between SPI and DS, and DS was electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of SPI. The emulsion stability significantly enhanced with the increase of complex concentration (38.88 times higher than at 1% concentration), the emulsion average droplet size was the lowest (9.64 μm), and the absolute value of potential was the highest (46.67 mV) when the mass ratio of SPI to DS was 1:1 and the complex concentration of 8%. The stability of the emulsion against freezing was improved.

CONCLUSION

The SPI/DS complex has high solubility and stability under low acidic conditions, and the emulsion of the SPI/DS complex has good stability. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Efficiency enhancement of submicron‐size light‐emitting diodes by triple dielectric layers
Authors: Cho Hyunmin , Kim Daehyun , Lee Seunga , Yoo Chuljong , Sim Youngchul
Published: April 2023

Micro‐LED (light‐emitting diode) is an emerging technology that produces superiorly bright, efficient, and high‐resolution display. However, efficiency drop at small chip sizes is one of the major hurdles for cost‐effectiveness and ultra‐compact form factor. We demonstrate highly efficient submicron‐scale nanorod LEDs (nLEDs) passivated by the triple dielectric layers. The diameter, length, and wavelength at a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of nLEDs are 580 nm, 5 μm, and 460 nm, respectively. We report a peak EQE of 22.2 ± 0.3% with HfO2‐based triple dielectric layer. We also explore the relation of indium fluctuation in multi‐quantum wells (MQWs) to sidewall effect of micro‐LEDs. We show that higher indium contents in MQWs successfully reduce non‐radiative recombination on sidewall of InGaN blue nLEDs.
Liver Fat Quantification With Ultrasound: Depth Dependence of Attenuation Coefficient
Authors: Ferraioli Giovanna , Raimondi Ambra , Maiocchi Laura , De Silvestri Annalisa , Poma Gianluigi , Kumar Viksit , Barr Richard G
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The primary aim was to estimate the influence of various depths on ultrasound attenuation coefficient (AC) of multiple vendors in the liver. The secondary aim was to evaluate the impact of region of interest (ROI) size on AC measurements in a subset of participants.

Methods

This Institutional Review Board (IRB)‐approved Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)‐compliant retrospective study was carried out in two centers using AC‐Canon and AC‐Philips algorithms and extracting AC‐Siemens values from ultrasound‐derived fat fraction algorithm. Measurements were performed positioning ROI upper edge (3 cm size) at 2, 3, 4, 5 cm from the liver capsule with AC‐Canon and AC‐Philips and at 1.5, 2, 3 cm with Siemens algorithm. In a subset of participants, measurements were obtained with 1 and 3 cm ROI size. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were used for statistical analysis as appropriate.

Results

Three different cohorts were studied. Sixty‐three participants (34 females; mean age: 51 ± 14 years) were studied with AC‐Canon, 60 (46 females; mean age: 57 ± 11 years) with AC‐Philips, and 50 (25 females; 61 ± 13 years) with AC‐Siemens. There was a decrease in AC values per 1 cm increase in depth in all. In multivariable analysis, the coefficient was −0.049 (−0.060; −0.038 P < .001) with AC‐Canon, −0.058 (−0.066; −0.049 P < .001) with AC‐Philips and −0.081 (−0.112; −0.050 P < .001) with AC‐Siemens. AC values with 1 cm ROI were significantly higher than those obtained with 3 cm ROI at all depths (P < .001) but the agreement between AC values obtained with different ROI size was excellent (CCC 0.82 [0.77–0.88]).

Conclusions

There is depth dependence in AC measurement that affects results. A standardized protocol with fixed ROI's depth and size is needed.
Salvage transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery for post‐irradiation recurrence of hypopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Sakai Akihiro , Ebisumoto Koji , Iijima Hiroaki , Yamauchi Mayu , Teramura Takanobu , Yamazaki Aritomo , Watanabe Takane , Inagi Toshihide , Maki Daisuke , Okami Kenji
Published: April 2023

Background

Transoral salvage surgery has the potential to preserve a patient's quality of life. Therefore, we investigated the outcomes, safety, and risk factors for postoperative complications of salvage transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery (TOVS) for recurrent hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods

This retrospective analysis enrolled patients with hypopharyngeal cancer who had a history of RT or CRT and underwent TOVS from January 2008 to June 2021. The factors related to postoperative complications, postoperative swallowing functions and survival rates were analyzed.

Results

Seven patients (36.8%) of the 19 patients developed complications. Severe dysphagia was the primary complication, and post‐cricoid resection was a complication risk factor. The FOSS score was significantly lower in the salvage treatment group. The survival rates were: 3‐year overall survival: 94.4%; disease‐specific survival: 94.4%; 5‐year overall survival: 62.3%; and disease‐specific survival: 86.6%.

Conclusions

Salvage TOVS for hypopharyngeal cancer was feasible, and oncologically and functionally reasonable.

Level of Evidence: 2b.
A study on the parametric optimization of drawing metal stamping process for aluminum alloy tailgate parts using response surface methodology
Authors: Kim S.‐Y. , Kim B.‐G. , Lee T.‐G.
Published: April 2023

The tailgate‐extension in a vehicle is a part that connects the upper and lower parts of the tailgate. Since this part does not require high strength, aluminum must be used in order to reduce the weight of the vehicle. However, when choosing aluminum, it is difficult to satisfy the shape quality with the existing manufacturing process. Therefore, this study was conducted for the purpose of optimizing the draw metal stamping process for the development of tailgate extensions for vehicles using aluminum. The response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the draw metal stamping process. The process design parameters were established as blank holding force, coefficient of friction and die speed. Finally, the reliability of the optimization process and finite element analysis was secured by conducting field experiments to review the derived optimal process conditions.
Effect of granite flour proportion on the strength properties of geopolymer mortar based on fly ash
Authors: Kozub B. , Rodziewicz M.
Published: April 2023

Given global trends and challenges, the development of binders for the production of geopolymer concretes has become a topical area of building science. The purpose of this study is to determine whether granite can replace traditional construction aggregate, such as river sand, during geopolymer production, as well as to demonstrate the effect of the proportion of granite flour on the strength properties of fly ash‐based geopolymer mortar. A combination of granite flour, quartz sand, and fly ash in various proportions was used as an aluminosilicate precursor. The scope of the study includes density measurements, compressive and flexural strength tests, abrasion by the Boehme method, and microstructural observations. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that granite can be successfully used as a replacement for quartz sand during the production of fly ash‐based geopolymers. Moreover, the addition of granite makes it possible to improve the strength properties of geopolymers, compared to a geopolymer composite containing quartz sand.
Influence of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of foamed geopolymer materials
Authors: Figiela B. , Korniejenko K. , Hebdowska‐Krupa M.
Published: April 2023

Current research focuses heavily on geopolymer concrete as possible applications for insulation materials. The aim of the research is to test the strength properties of lightweight geopolymer concrete after exposure to high temperatures. Waste material from the Wieczorek mine (Poland) was used to produce the foamed geopolymers. Alkaline activation took place by mixing the mine powder with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide combined with an aqueous sodium silicate with a concentration of 10 M. Prepared geopolymer samples after temperature curing at 75 °C for 24 hours in a laboratory dryer, they were seasoned for 28 days, after which the strength properties were determined. Mechanical tests: compressive strength and bending strength were carried out at temperatures: 20 °C, 200 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, 1100 °C. Research has shown the precursor activation with the presence of hydrogen peroxide enabled the manufacturing of foamed geopolymers. Heating in the temperature range up to 1100 °C influenced, to some extent, the total porosity of the tested foams. The geopolymer foams based on coal gangue present stable mechanical properties in the range up to 800 °C. No sharp mechanical performances decrease or material chipping was observed. Only colour change of heated samples occurred.
Effects of COVID‐19 lockdown measures on nitrogen dioxide and black carbon concentrations close to a major Italian motorway
Authors: Bertazza Elena , Bisignano Andrea , Falocchi Marco , Giovannini Lorenzo
Published: April 2023

During the first half of 2020, the Italian government imposed several restrictions to limit the spread of the COVID‐19 pandemic: at the beginning of March, a heavy lockdown regime was introduced leading to a drastic reduction of traffic and, consequently, traffic‐related emissions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of these restrictions on pollutant concentrations close to a stretch of the Italian A22 motorway lying in the Alpine Adige valley. In particular, the analysis focuses on measured concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC). Results show that, close to the motorway, NO2 concentrations dropped by around 45% during the lockdown period with respect to the same time period of the previous 3 years. The equivalent analysis for BC shows that the component related to biomass burning, mostly due to domestic heating, was not particularly affected by the restrictions, while the BC component related to fossil fuels, directly connected to traffic, plummeted by almost 60% with respect to the previous years. Since atmospheric concentrations of pollutants depend both on emissions and meteorological conditions, which can mask the variations in the emission regime, a random forest algorithm is also applied to the measured concentrations, in order to better evaluate the effects of the restrictions on emissions. This procedure allows for obtaining business‐as‐usual and meteorologically normalized time series of both NO2 and BC concentrations. The results derived from the random forest algorithm clearly confirm the drop in NO2 emissions at the beginning of the lockdown period, followed by a slow and partial recovery in the following months. They also confirm that, during the lockdown, emissions of the BC component due to biomass burning were not significantly affected, while those of the BC component related to fossil fuels underwent an abrupt drop.
Performance comparison of different deconvolution methods on 2D terahertz imaging
Authors: Ning Wei , Hu Nairui , Xu Peng , Song Yingchao , Li Yufeng
Published: April 2023

Terahertz (THz) images are always to be degraded because of the diffraction phenomenon. In this letter, the wave nature is considered in the resolution enhancement of terahertz imaging. The phase operation is extended to three classical deconvolution algorithms, which are used in THz complex‐value deconvolution field. The resolution improvement can be seen, and it is impressive that the resolution can reach 0.5 times of the wavelength via the complex‐value total variation deconvolution. We believe that the current resolution of THz imaging system can be significantly upgraded by taking advantage of such approaches.
A nonlinear constitutive model for whole stress–strain behaviors of compressed rocks incorporating crack closure effect
Authors: Ren Lu , Zhao Lun‐Yang , Niu Fu‐Jun , Lai Yuan‐Ming , Shao Jian‐Fu
Published: April 2023

This paper is devoted to establishing a nonlinear constitutive model incorporating crack closure effect for capturing the whole process of rock deformation and failure behavior under compression. The model formulated in the framework of irreversible thermodynamics is based on the additive decomposition of the total strain into crack closure strain, elastic, and plastic parts. New specific criteria are proposed for the description of crack closure strain and plastic strain evolution. Notably, analytical solutions of the model under conventional triaxial compression loading conditions are derived. For application, a robust semi‐implicit return mapping (SRM) algorithm with a crack closure strain correction and a plastic strain correction is developed. The analytical solutions, herein, are subtly used to calibrate model parameters and as reference results for assessing the accuracy and robustness of the SRM algorithm. Validation of the model conducted by comparing with experimental data from the literature shows that the model can properly describe the nonlinear mechanical behaviors of rocks, including crack closure effect, strain hardening/softening, peak and residual strength, as well as volumetric compaction/dilation transition. In addition, a nonlocal formulation is introduced as an extension of the model to remedy the mesh dependency problem.
Evening types as determined by subjective and objective measures are more emotional eaters
Authors: Garaulet Marta , Vizmanos Barbara , Muela Teresa , Betancourt‐Núñez Alejandra , Bonmatí‐Carrión María‐Ángeles , Vetter Céline , Dashti Hassan S. , Saxena Richa , Scheer Frank A. J. L.
Published: April 2023

Objective

This study aimed to determine the association between being an evening type (ET; defined subjectively by the Morning‐Evening Questionnaire or objectively by the dim‐light melatonin onset [DLMO] timing) and reporting emotional eating (EE) behaviors.

Methods

Cross‐sectional analyses were conducted in 3964 participants (four international cohorts: ONTIME and ONTIME‐MT [both Spain], SHIFT [the US], and DICACEM [Mexico]), in which chronotype (Morning‐Evening Questionnaire), EE behaviors (Emotional Eating Questionnaire), and dietary habits (dietary records or food‐frequency questionnaire) were assessed. Among 162 participants (ONTIME‐MT subsample), additional measures of DLMO (physiological gold standard of circadian phase) were available.

Results

In three populations, ETs presented with a higher EE score than morning types (p < 0.02); and they made up a higher proportion of emotional eaters (p < 0.01). ETs presented with higher scores on disinhibition/overeating as well as food craving factors and experienced these behaviors more frequently than morning types (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a meta‐analysis showed that being an ET was associated with a higher EE score by 1.52 points of a total of 30 points (95% CI: 0.89–2.14). The timing of DLMO in the early, intermediate, and late objective chronotypes occurred at 21:02 h, 22:12 h, and 23:37 h, with late types showing a higher EE score (p = 0.043).

Conclusions

Eveningness associated with EE in populations with different cultural, environmental, and genetic backgrounds. Individuals with late DLMO also showed more EE.
Superabsorbent polymer with enhanced gel strength and heat resistance using itaconic acid‐based oligomer
Authors: Kim Hae Chan , Kwon Yong Rok , Kim Jung Soo , Kim Jong‐Ho , Kim Dong Hyun
Published: April 2023

The preparation of an itaconic acid‐based oligomer and its polymerization with acrylic acid via aqueous solution copolymerization are described herein for application as novel superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). The structure of the SAP is characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. In addition, the absorption properties of the SAPs with various oligomer contents and degrees of monomer neutralization are evaluated by measuring the free absorbency, centrifuge retention capacity (CRC), and absorbency under load (AUL) in 0.9 wt% saline solution. Further, the gel strengths and thermal stabilities are examined via rheological thermo gravimetric analyses. The results demonstrate that the introduction of the IA‐based oligomer into the SAP network is improves the AUL, gel strength, and thermal stability of the SAP. We found the best performance of an SAP using IA‐based oligomer with a CRC of 36.7 and AUL of 22.7 g/g.
Electrochemical behavior of oxazoline‐based plasma polymers for biosensing applications
Authors: Gheorghiu Alexandru , Yang Daisy , Delcheva Iliana , Priest Craig , MacGregor Melanie
Published: April 2023

Plasma‐polymerized polyoxazoline (POx) thin films offer a fast, scalable, and solvent‐free method of electrode functionalization through the unique chemistry of the oxazoline ring. However, for POx to be a viable green alternative to existing surface modification approaches, the films should be able to withstand the processing steps involved in biosensing. Here, the effects that current exposure, extended incubation, and repeated electrode rinses have on the electrochemical and physical stability of polymethyloxazoline thin films are investigated. The films are observed to become more diffusive after incubation and rinse steps. While no significant changes in chemistry were observed, a marked change in nanotopography occurred after exposure to current, suggesting a change in the polymer film structure.
Temperature‐Induced Low‐Coordinate Ni Single‐Atom Catalyst for Boosted CO2 Electroreduction Activity
Authors: Wang Na , Li Haoyue , Wang Haojing , Yang Huanhuan , Ren Ziqiu , Xu Rong
Published: April 2023

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit remarkable potential for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to value‐added products. However, the commonly pursued methods for preparing SACs are hard to scale up, and sometimes, lack general applicability because of expensive raw materials and complex synthetic procedures. In addition, the fine tuning of coordination environment of SACs remains challenging due to their structural vulnerability. Herein, a simple and universal strategy is developed to fabricate Ni SACs with different nitrogen coordination numbers through one‐step pyrolysis of melamine, Ni(NO3)∙6H2O, and polyvinylpyrrolidone at different temperatures. Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations reveal that the low‐coordinate Ni SACs exhibit outstanding CO2 reduction performance and stability, achieving a Faradic efficiency (FECO) of 98.5% at −0.76 V with CO current density of 24.6 mA cm−2, and maintaining FECO of over 91.0% at all applied potential windows from −0.56 to −1.16 V, benefiting from its coordinatively unsaturated structure to afford high catalytic activity and low barrier for the formation of *COOH intermediate. No significant performance degradation is observed over 50 h of continuous operation. Additionally, several other metallic single‐atom catalysts are successfully prepared by this synthetic method, demonstrating the universality of this strategy.
SOAR: Simultaneous Or‐of‐And Rules for classification of positive and negative classes
Authors: Khusainova Elena , Dodwell Emily , Mitra Ritwik
Published: April 2023

Algorithmic decision making has proliferated and now impacts our daily lives in both mundane and consequential ways. Machine learning practitioners use a myriad of algorithms for predictive models in applications as diverse as movie recommendations, medical diagnoses, and parole recommendations without delving into the reasons driving specific predictive decisions. The algorithms in such applications are often chosen for their superior performance among a pool of competing algorithms; however, popular choices such as random forest and deep neural networks fail to provide an interpretable understanding of the model's predictions. In recent years, rule‐based algorithms have provided a valuable alternative to address this issue. Previous work established an or‐of‐and (disjunctive normal form) based classification technique that allows for classification rule mining of a single class in a binary classification. In this work, we extend this idea to provide classification rules for both classes simultaneously. That is, we provide a distinct set of rules for each of the positive and negative classes. We also present a novel and complete taxonomy of classifications that clearly capture and quantify the inherent ambiguity of noisy binary classifications in the real world. We show that this approach leads to a more granular formulation of the likelihood model and a simulated annealing‐based optimization achieves classification performance competitive with comparable techniques. We apply our method to synthetic and real‐world data sets for comparison with other related methods to demonstrate the utility of our contribution.
The Korean War Identification Project: 30 years of expanding scope and complexity in the accounting of American war dead
Authors: Go Matthew C. , Keyes Veronica A. , Doman Jessamy H. , Grow Kristen M. , Hale Amanda R. , Nagengast‐Stevens Elizabeth , New Briana T. , Williams Devin N. , Jin Jennie J. H.
Published: April 2023

The Korean War claimed approximately 36,500 American service member casualties in its 3 years, of which nearly 7600 are still unaccounted for. The Korea 208 (K208) Project began in 2011 to more strategically address the highly commingled nature of 208 boxes of human remains that were repatriated from North Korea to the United Nations Command in the early 1990s and subsequently turned over to the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (now Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency [DPAA]) for analysis and identification. The K208 was further expanded by the recovery of remains from Joint Recovery Operations (JROs) in North Korea between 1996 and 2005, which revealed, among other issues, the presence of non‐U.S. casualties and crossover of elements between these two assemblages. More recently, 55 boxes of human remains (known as the K55) were repatriated from North Korea in 2018 with many of the same commingling and assemblage crossover issues originally presented by the K208. Additionally, there has been an increased push to disinter more than 800 unknown Korean War service members buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also known as the Punchbowl) in Honolulu, which represent casualties recovered from both North and South Korea that had undergone prior analysis in the 1950s and 1960s. Subsequent examination has revealed that many Punchbowl remains are commingled despite being thought to have been originally buried as discrete individuals. Because of these developments, the K208 Project has grown in complexity and scope, thus changing its name to the Korean War Identification Project (KWIP) in 2017. Now under its purview are the original accessions from the K208 and JROs as well as the K55 and Punchbowl, representing the largest identification project within the DPAA. A robust and defensible identification process begins with an initial triage of the remains, followed by a systematic process of segregation, consolidation, and corroboration leading to identification. This unique case of highly commingled human remains, involving thousands of missing persons from varied proveniences, highlights the challenges and successes of a multi‐disciplinary approach involving historians, anthropologists, odontologists, and DNA and isotope specialists at the forefront, while also working with family members towards resolution. As of December 31, 2020, the KWIP has identified a total of 591 service members and continues to seek ways to innovate and improve both the quantity and quality of its work.

This article is categorized under:

Forensic Anthropology > Anthropology in Mass Disaster & War Crime Contexts

Forensic Biology > Forensic DNA Technologies

Forensic Medicine > Historical Perspectives
Remarks on the Terrain Correction and the Geoid Bias
Authors: Sjöberg Lars E. , Abrehdary Majid
Published: April 2023

The incomplete knowledge of the topographic density distribution causes a topographic bias in all gravimetric geoid determinations. This bias becomes critical in aiming for accurate geoid models in high mountainous regions. The bias can be divided into two components: the bias of the Bouguer shell (or Bouguer plate) and that of the remaining terrain. Starting from the known (disturbing) potential at the Earth’s surface, we study the possible location of the bias caused by incomplete reduction of the terrain masses in the computational process, We show that there is no such bias for terrain masses located exterior to the Bouguer plate/shell and/or inside the Bouguer plate at a lateral distance exceeding the height HP of the topography at the computational point. We conclude that the only possible terrain bias could be generated by masses inside a dome of height
$$ \left(\sqrt{2}-1\right){H}_P $$

2

−
1

H

P

centered along the radius vector through the computational point with its base of radius HP at sea-level.
It’s Coming Home Down Under – The Potential of Digital Work to Overcome Australia’s Challenges in Reshoring Manufacturing
Authors: Lammers Thorsten , Guertler Matthias , Sick Nathalie , Deuse Jochen
Published: April 2023

Over the past decades, the world has seen a continuous increase of globalisation and interconnectedness – in part supported by advances in digital communication and production technologies. In the case of industrial production, this trend has led to global, integrated supply chains in order to provide the most competitive and innovative products utilising the most competitive market conditions. In Australia, due to its remote geographic location and socioeconomic conditions, such as high labour costs and negative economics of scale, this has resulted in a loss of domestic manufacturing capabilities. With recent changes in the geopolitical environment (trade wars, actual wars, Covid-19, climate crisis etc.) calls to produce local are becoming louder again. In this article, we therefore explore the potential of digital technologies to overcome Australia’s challenges in reshoring its manufacturing capabilities. Findings indicate that a highly skilled digital workforce is needed to leverage the country’s potential in world-leading niche manufacturing. The Associate Degree of Advanced Manufacturing, developed and delivered by the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), is presented as an example of how to upskill the manufacturing workforce.
Artificial Intelligence and Assistance Systems for Technical Vocational Education and Training – Opportunities and Risks
Authors: Windelband Lars
Published: April 2023

Artificial intelligence and Assistance Systems are having an impact on the economy, society, skilled work and work environment. However, there are often very different assessments of the effects: On the one hand the loss of jobs and even professions have been predicted, on the other hand new support and options for work are emerging.

The actual promotion of these systems will depend on the opportunities of intervention and control by skilled workers. How can problem situations and imponderabilities in virtual environments be handled and solved? Both the opportunities and the risks of Artificial Intelligence and assistance systems for vocational education and training are reflected in this article.
Designing Digital Work – A Tale of Two Complexities
Authors: Mühlbradt Thomas
Published: April 2023

Digital work is becoming ubiquitous across a range of fields, ranging from production to services. Besides the effects of automation on the job market, it changes job contents and job demands for those holding jobs. Such jobs are characterized by high information load, higher levels of autonomy, performance diversity and growth potential. Respective jobs, tasks and work environments are often characterized with the term complexity. Paradigms, strategies, tools, and practices of work design must keep up with the affordances of so-called complex sociotechnical systems. However, understanding and conceptualization of complexity in work design are still rather superficial. In healthcare, sometimes labeled as a paradigm for complexity, a rising dissatisfaction with this state can be noticed and a lack of progress in patient safety is lamented. Drawing upon systems theory and its variant systems thinking, an integrated approach to work design is sketched out with reference to healthcare. This approach allows for a more systematic treatment of complexity with its two main strategies of complexity reduction and complexity management. Finally, the transfer of this approach into teaching is discussed within the field of work & organizational psychology at a university of applied science.
Designing Explainable and Controllable Artificial Intelligence Systems Together: Inclusive Participation Formats for Software-Based Working Routines in Industry
Authors: Pentenrieder Annelie , Hahn Peter , Schaffrath Scarlet , Krieger Benedikt , Brzoska Stefanie , Peters Robert , Künzel Matthias , Hartmann Ernst Andreas
Published: April 2023

“This is what it would look like if your AI (Artificial Intelligence) system was explainable to and controllable by you.” With this title, a co-creation workshop was hosted by the Berlin-based Institute for Innovation and Technology (iit) on December 1, 2021. The workshop addressed the question of how artificially intelligent systems can be designed to be explainable and controllable in collaboration with different user groups. The workshop tested sociotechnical design methods for the participatory inclusion of potential users in the development process. An interactive matrix helped to collect ideas from participants and differentiated sociotechnical aspects on a technical, organizational, and human level.

As a second method, drafters (a.k.a. graphic recorders) accompanied the workshop and visualized the computer system´s interface according to the discussion. The following article introduces these two workshop methods, presents the results and gives recommendations based on the experiences for future workshops. The workshop format also addresses the challenge of operationalizing ethical principles in the design of AI.
Polyakov’s confinement mechanism for generalized Maxwell theory
Authors: Heydeman Matthew , Jepsen Christian B. , Ji Ziming , Yarom Amos
Published: April 2023

Abstract

We study fractional-derivative Maxwell theory, as appears in effective descriptions of, for example, large Nf QED3, graphene, and some types of surface defects. We argue that when the theory is realized on a lattice, monopole condensation leads to a confining phase via the Polyakov confinement mechanism.
Can the size of the contact area body-ground influence the presence of acute pulmonary emphysema in cases of incomplete hanging?
Authors: Castiglioni C. , Lanzillotta F. , Fracasso T.
Published: April 2023

In a recently published study, we showed that acute pulmonary emphysema (APE) was present in cases of death by incomplete hanging and absent in cases of complete hanging. This result suggested a possible role of the hanging position on the respiratory distress of these victims. To further investigate this hypothesis, in the present study, we compared cases of incomplete hanging with a small contact area between body and ground (group A) to cases of incomplete hanging with a large contact area (group B). As positive and negative control group, we investigated cases of freshwater drowning (group C) and acute external bleeding (group D) respectively. Pulmonary samples were histologically examined, and the mean alveolar area (MAA) for each group was measured by digital morphometric analysis. MAA was 23,485 μm2 for group A and 31,426 μm2 for group B (p < 0.05). MAA of group B was similar to MAA of positive control group (33,135 μm2) and MAA of group A was similar to MAA of negative control group (21,991 μm2). These results seem to confirm our hypothesis and suggest that the size of the contact area between body and ground influences the presence of APE. Furthermore, the present study showed that APE can be proposed as a vitality sign in incomplete hanging, but only in cases with a large contact area between body and ground.
Ernährungsempfehlungen für Menschen mit Diabetes (Update 2023)
Authors: Klammer Carmen , Schindler Karin , Bugl Rita , Plazek Dagmar , Vötter Miriam , Kirchner Tanja , Martino Claudia , Klammer-Martin Jasmin , Brix Johanna , Dämon Sabine , Hoppichler Friedrich , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Kruschitz Renate , Toplak Hermann , Clodi Martin , Ludvik Bernhard
Published: April 2023

Je nach Diabetesform und -therapie sollen alle Menschen mit Diabetes eine individuelle ernährungsmedizinische Beratung und Schulung durch Fachpersonal erhalten. Im Vordergrund sollte eine patientinnen- und patientenzentrierte, individualisierte Beratung stehen, angepasst an die jeweiligen Bedürfnisse und Lebensumstände der Menschen mit Diabetes. Neben der Unterstützung zur Umsetzung einer ausgewogenen Ernährung gilt es, gemeinsam mit Patient:innen individuelle Stoffwechselziele und Gewichtsziele zu definieren, um mithilfe der Ernährung den Krankheitsverlauf positiv zu beeinflussen und mögliche Spätfolgen zu vermeiden. Dabei sollten vor allem praxisbezogene Empfehlungen unter Berücksichtigung der persönlichen Nahrungsmittel-Präferenzen ausgesprochen werden und Hilfsmittel zur Planung von geeigneten Portionsgrößen und der geeigneten Mahlzeitenzusammenstellung zum Einsatz kommen. Entsprechend aktueller internationaler und nationaler Standards sollen Menschen mit Diabetes im Diabetes-Selbstmanagement unterstützt werden (DSMES) und erlernen, die postprandiale Reaktion auf Speisen und Getränke besser einschätzen und durch die geeignete Lebensmittel- und Getränkeauswahl positiv beeinflussen zu können. Alle Menschen mit Diabetes sollten regelmäßig, je nach individuellem Bedarf, die Möglichkeit haben, eine ernährungstherapeutische Beratung oder Schulung in Anspruch nehmen zu können.Diese Praxisempfehlung stellt eine Zusammenfassung der aktuellen Literatur zu ernährungsrelevanten Aspekten bei Diabetes dar.
Therapie der Hyperglykämie bei erwachsenen, kritisch kranken PatientInnen (Update 2023)
Authors: Clodi M. , Resl M. , Abrahamian H. , Föger B. , Weitgasser R.
Published: April 2023

Bei kritisch kranken PatientInnen kommt es häufig zum Auftreten einer Hyperglykämie welche eindeutig mit einer gesteigerten Mortalitätsrate assoziiert ist. Der aktuell verfügbaren Datenlage entsprechend sollte eine intravenöse Insulintherapie bei Blutzuckerwerten > 180 mg/dl begonnen werden und ein Zielbereich zwischen meist 140–180 mg/dl angestrebt werden.
Adipositas und Typ-2-Diabetes (Update 2023)
Authors: Clodi Martin , Toplak Hermann , Resl Michael , Brix Johanna , Leitner Deborah Raphaela , Harreiter Jürgen , Hoppichler Friedrich , Wascher Thomas C. , Schindler Karin , Ludvik Bernhard
Published: April 2023

Der Body-Mass-Index (BMI) ist individuell betrachtet ein sehr grobes Maß für den Anteil des Körperfetts am Körpergewicht. Sogar Normalgewichtige können bei Muskelmangel zu viel Körperfett aufweisen (Sarkopenie), weswegen zusätzlich Messungen der Körperzusammensetzung (z. B. Bioimpedanzanalyse [BIA]) empfohlen werden. Lebensstilmanagement mit Ernährungsumstellung und Bewegung ist eine der wichtigsten Maßnahmen in der Diabetesprävention und -therapie. In der Therapie des Typ-2-Diabetes hat das Gewicht als sekundärer Zielparameter zunehmende Bedeutung erlangt. Auch die Wahl der antidiabetischen Therapie, aber auch der Begleittherapien nimmt immer mehr darauf Rücksicht. Die modernen GLP‑1 Analoga als auch der kombinierte GLP-1–GIP-Agonist Tirzepatid nehmen einen wichtigen Stellenwert in der gemeinsamen Behandlung von Adipositas und Diabetes mellitus Typ 2 ein. Die bariatrische Chirurgie ist derzeit bei an Diabetes mellitus Typ 2 erkrankten Menschen mit BMI > 35 kg/m2 indiziert und kann zumindest teilweise zur Diabetesremission beitragen, sie muss aber in ein entsprechendes lebenslanges Betreuungskonzept eingebunden sein.