bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of photospheric magnetic fields in AR 12546: a case study
Authors: Abdelkawy Ali G. A. , Shaltout Abdelrazek M. K.
Published: August 2023

We investigate high-resolution observations with the spectropolarimeter (SP) aboard the Hinode satellite of the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) of a positive polarity sunspot of an active region (AR) (NOAA 12546). We present a case study for the properties of the thermal, magnetic field, and plasma flows as a function of the optical depth from the inversion of the observed Stokes profiles, covering a wide field of view area. Particular attention is paid to the examination of the net circular polarization (NCP) and area asymmetry of spectral lines in sunspots. We detect a large red-shifted velocity of 10 km sec−1 localized with the presence of a strong magnetic field corresponding to the NCP best fit of the inverted profiles. In addition, the comparison between the observed and calculated NCPs or Stokes V area asymmetries of spectral lines fitted well for most pixels in the field of view region, with a significant indication of a single-component inversion. We study the vertical gradients of temperature, magnetic strength, inclination field, and LOS velocity in the deeper and higher layers of the photosphere. The difference in the penumbral temperature between the two atmospheric layers is −130 K. The penumbral regions reveal a magnetic field gradient of $\Delta B \sim -0.5$
Δ
B
∼
−
0.5
to −0.9 G km−1. The inclination gradient in the limb-side penumbra is between $(\Delta \gamma /\Delta z) = -9 \times 10^{-3}$
(
Δ
γ
/
Δ
z
)
=
−
9
×

10

−
3

deg km−1 to $-3.5 \times 10^{-2}$
−
3.5
×

10

−
2

deg km−1. In particular, we find a higher positive inclination gradient in the disk center-side penumbra $(\Delta \gamma /\Delta z)= 0.2 - 1.5 \deg \text{ km}^{-1}$
(
Δ
γ
/
Δ
z
)
=
0.2
−
1.5
deg

 km

−
1

. The velocity gradient is $(\Delta V_{LOS}/\Delta \log \tau )= -0.13$
(
Δ

V

L
O
S

/
Δ
log
τ
)
=
−
0.13
to −0.30 km sec−1 in the limb-side penumbra, and the disk center-side penumbra is given by $(\Delta V_{LOS}/\Delta \log \tau )= 0.11$
(
Δ

V

L
O
S

/
Δ
log
τ
)
=
0.11
to 0.29 km sec−1.
Biomarkers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human excreta: recent advances in analytical techniques—a review
Authors: Styszko Katarzyna , Pamuła Justyna , Pac Agnieszka , Sochacka-Tatara Elżbieta
Published: August 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental pollutants that are generated by the incomplete combustion of organic materials. The main anthropogenic sources of PAHs are the combustion of solid fuels for heating purposes, illegal waste incineration, road transport and industries based on fossil fuels. PAHs can easily enter the body because they are present in all elements of the environment, including water, soil, air, and food. Due to their ubiquitous presence, PAHs, may exert a harmful effect on human health. Assessing PAH exposure through biomonitoring mostly involve techniques to measure the concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene in human urine. Nevertheless, through recent progress in analytical techniques, other common metabolites of PAHs in human biospecimens can be detected. A scientific literature search was conducted to determine which hydroxy derivatives of PAHs are markers of PAHs exposure and to reveal the leading sources of these compounds. Techniques for analyzing biological samples to identify OH-PAHs are also discussed. The most frequently determined OH-PAH in human urine is 1-hydroxypyrene, the concentration of which reaches up to a dozen ng/L in urine. Apart from this compound, the most frequently determined biomarkers were naphthalene and fluorene metabolites. The highest concentrations of 1- and 2-hydroxynaphthalene, as well as 2-hydroxyfluorene, are associated with occupational exposure and reach approximately 30 ng/L in urine. High molecular weight PAH metabolites have been identified in only a few studies. To date, PAH metabolites in feces have been analyzed only in animal models for PAH exposure. The most frequently used analytical method is HPLC-FLD. However, compared to liquid chromatography, the LOD for gas chromatography methods is at least one order of magnitude lower. The hydroxy derivatives naphthalene and fluorene may also serve as indicators of PAH exposure.
When gold standards are not so golden: prevalence bias in randomized trials on endoscopic colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Brenner Hermann , Heisser Thomas , Cardoso Rafael , Hoffmeister Michael
Published: August 2023

Randomized trials on the effectiveness of screening endoscopy in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) risk have reported statistically significant, but rather modest reduction of CRC risk by the screening offer. However, risk estimates in these trials included substantial proportions of prevalent CRC cases which were early detected, but could not possibly have been prevented by screening. Thereby, a key principle of randomized prevention trials is violated that only “at risk” persons who do not yet have the disease one aims to prevent should be included in measures of preventive effects. Using recently published data from the Nordic-European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer (NordICC) trial as an example, we illustrate that approaches aimed to account for “prevalence bias” lead to effect estimates that are substantially larger than those reported in the trial and more in line with results from observational studies and real life settings. More rigorous methodological work is needed to develop effective and user-friendly tools to prevent or adjust for prevalence bias in future screening studies.
How do Autistic and Neurotypical Children’s Interests Influence their Accuracy During Novel Word Learning?
Authors: Rothwell Charlotte , Westermann Gert , Hartley Calum
Published: August 2023

Word learning depends on attention – children must focus on the right things at the right times. However, autistic children often display restricted interests, limiting their intake of stimuli during word learning. This study investigates how category interests influence word learning in autism and neurotypical development. Autistic and neurotypical children matched on receptive vocabulary used a touch-screen computer to learn novel words associated with animals (high-interest stimuli) and objects (neutral-interest stimuli) via fast mapping. Response accuracy and speed were examined at referent selection, 5-minute retention, and 24-hour retention. Both groups identified meanings of novel words associated with unfamiliar animals and objects via mutual exclusivity with comparable accuracy. After 5 minutes, autistic children retained animal names with greater accuracy than neurotypical children. Autistic children showed a greater increase in their accuracy between 5-minute and 24-hour retention and outperformed neurotypical children across conditions after a night’s sleep. Across groups, 24-hour retention was predicted by number of target word repetitions heard at referent selection, indicating a relationship between fast mapping input and retention. However, autistic children were slower to respond correctly, particularly in the animal condition. For autistic children, superior word learning associated with high-interest stimuli was relatively short-term, as sleep appeared to consolidate their memory representations for neutral-interest stimuli. Although these results demonstrate that fundamental word learning mechanisms are not atypical in autism, slower response times may signal a speed-accuracy trade-off that could have implications for naturalistic language acquisition. Our findings also indicate favourable environmental conditions to scaffold word learning.
Pilot-scale cultivation of the red alga Porphyridium purpureum over a two-year period in a greenhouse
Authors: Schoeters Floris , Spit Jornt , Swinnen Erwin , De Cuyper Audrey , Vleugels Rut , Noyens Isabelle , Van Miert Sabine
Published: August 2023

Microalgae can form renewable feedstock for many sectors. However, most microalgae commercially cultivated are difficult to grow in colder climates. To overcome this problem one could cultivate cold tolerant algae. One such alga is the red marine alga Porphyridium purpureum. It is currently often cultivated in bag systems in limited volumes. In this study we cultivated P. purpureum at pilot-scale in horizontal tubular reactors in a greenhouse. P. purpureum was grown in batch mode in a total volume of either 350, 500, 1000 or 1500 L. A total of 28 batches, spread over two years, were cultivated reaching a maximum dry weight of 1.94 g L−1. The growth was continuously monitored to calculate the productivities and growth rates. The P and N concentrations were measured frequently during four batches to calculate the P and N usage per gram biomass. To calculate CO2 fixation efficiencies the total CO2 consumption was monitored during 6 of the 28 batches. A maximum productivity and growth rate of respectively 0.195 g L−1 day−1 and 0.233 day−1 were achieved while the P and N usage varied from 3.2–6.19 and 14.5–36.6 mg g−1 biomass for P and N, respectively. Growth was supported between 10 °C and 30 °C, while temperatures above 34—35 °C proved to be detrimental. The CO2 efficiencies differed among the 6 tested periods with the highest utilization efficiency being 13.5% and the lowest a mere 1.5%. Further large-scale, continuous, tests would be needed to fully optimize the cultivation of P. purpureum in larger volumes.
Targeted drug-loaded PLGA-PCL microspheres for specific and localized treatment of triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Nwazojie Chukwudalu C. , Obayemi John D. , Salifu Ali A. , Borbor-Sawyer Sandra M. , Uzonwanne Vanessa O. , Onyekanne Chinyerem E. , Akpan Udom M. , Onwudiwe Killian C. , Oparah Josephine C. , Odusanya Olushola S. , Soboyejo Winston O.
Published: August 2023

The paper presents the results of the experimental and analytical study of targeted drug-loaded polymer-based microspheres made from blend polymer of polylactic-co-glycolic acid and polycaprolactone (PLGA-PCL) for targeted and localized cancer drug delivery. In vitro sustained release with detailed thermodynamically driven drug release kinetics, over a period of three months using encapsulated targeted drugs (prodigiosin-EphA2 or paclitaxel-EphA2) and control drugs [Prodigiosin (PGS), and paclitaxel (PTX)] were studied. Results from in vitro study showed a sustained and localized drug release that is well-characterized by non-Fickian Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics model over the range of temperatures of 37 °C (body temperature), 41 °C, and 44 °C (hyperthermic temperatures). The in vitro alamar blue, and flow cytometry assays in the presence of the different drug-loaded polymer formulations resulted to cell death and cytotoxicity that was evidence through cell inhibition and late apoptosis on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells (MDA-MB 231). In vivo studies carried out on groups of 4-week-old athymic nude mice that were induced with subcutaneous TNBC, showed that the localized release of the EphA2-conjugated drugs was effective in complete elimination of residual tumor after local surgical resection. Finally, ex vivo histopathological analysis carried out on the euthanized mice revealed no cytotoxicity and absence of breast cancer metastases in the liver, kidney, and lungs 12 weeks after treatment. The implications of the results are then discussed for the development of encapsulated EphA2-conjugated drugs formulation in the specific targeting, localized, and sustain drug release for the elimination of local recurred TNBC tumors after surgical resection.

Graphical Abstract
Wave and current in extratropical versus tropical cyclones
Authors: Chang Yu-Chia , Chen Guan-Yu , Chu Peter C. , Centurioni Luca R. , Liu Chin-Chu
Published: August 2023

Data from QuikSCAT, ERA5, WAVERYS, drifters, and HYCOM + NCODA Reanalysis in the northern Pacific are analyzed under tropical cyclones (TCs) and extratropical cyclones (ECs). The EC (TC) has the stable (unstable) wind directions and wider (narrower) fetch resulting in a larger (smaller) significant wave height (Hs). For modest and weak wind speeds (W ≤ 26 m s−1), the current speed (U) is higher in low latitudes than in mid-latitudes since the oceanic mixed-layer thickness (ℎ) is not large enough. For strong wind speed (W > 26 m s−1), ℎ deepens more in low latitudes and causes lower U.
Assessing the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of a Pilot Hepatitis C Screening Program at Food Distribution Sites in Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma
Authors: Essex Whitney , Mera Jorge , Comiford Ashley , Winters Amanda , Feder Molly A
Published: August 2023

Compared with other racial and ethnic groups in the United States, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people experience the highest incidence of acute hepatitis c (HCV). Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) implemented a pilot health screening program from January through May 2019 to assess whether conducting HCV and other preventive health screenings at food distribution sites is a feasible, acceptable, and effective strategy to increase health screening among underserved community members. Data were collected among 340 eligible participants. Most (76%) participants reported being very comfortable receiving health screenings at food distribution sites and that getting screened at food distribution sites is very easy (75.4%). Most (92.1%, n = 313) participants received HCV screening, with 11 (3.5%) individuals testing positive for HCV antibodies. Of the 11 HCV seropositive individuals, six were confirmed to have active HCV infection of which four initiated treatment. Most (55.7%) participants exhibited a body mass index in the obese range, 33.1% exhibited high hemoglobin A1C (> 6.0), 24.5% exhibited high (> 200) cholesterol, 44.6% exhibited high blood pressure ( > = 140/90), and 54.8% did not have a current primary care provider. This project demonstrated that conducting HCV and other health screenings at food distribution sites within Cherokee Nation was an effective strategy to engage AI/AN people in preventive health screenings. Future programs are needed to scale-up preventive health screenings outside of traditional medical facilities as these types of screenings may help to decrease the HCV disparities among AI/AN people.
An online cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists to assess information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling
Authors: Alexa J. M. , Bertsche T.
Published: August 2023

Background

Community pharmacists play an important role in healthcare. They are frequently visited by patients to receive advice on self-medication products. Little research has been conducted to investigate pharmacists’ information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling.

Aim

To assess community pharmacists’ information needs in five predefined areas: general and specific individual needs, quality needs, utilisation needs, implication needs, and access needs for evidence based self-medication counselling.

Method

After ethical approval, we conducted an exploratory, semi-quantitative, cross-sectional online survey. Members of three different chambers of pharmacists in Germany were invited to participate anonymously in the survey. They gave informed consent and received no incentive for their participation.

Quantitative outcome: Frequency of relevance / importance of items within predefined information needs areas, except for access needs. Qualitative outcome: Open-text responses concerning all information needs.

Results

We analysed data from a total of 823 participants who completed the survey. General and specific information such as dosage (74.2% [611/823]) and when to refer to a physician (64.6% [532/823]) as well as an over-the-counter product’s effectiveness according to medical guidelines (71.4% [588/823]) were rated as very important. Participants reported to prefer digital information sources (50.5% [416/823] strongly agreed), especially in the form of an easily accessible database (61.6% [507/823] strongly agreed) that contains regularly updated, manufacturer-independent, critically appraised, concise information.

Conclusion

Community pharmacists expressed distinct information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling. Further information services on essential evidence-based pharmacy knowledge may be necessary to support implementation.
The indirect effect of travel mode use on subjective well-being through out-of-home activities
Authors: Tran Yen , Hashimoto Naohisa , Ando Takafumi , Sato Toshihisa , Konishi Naoki , Takeda Yuji , Akamatsu Motoyuki
Published: August 2023

The issue of the effects of travel on subjective well-being (SWB) has recently attracted increasing interest in transport studies. A common finding is that travel affects SWB indirectly through out-of-home activities. However, little is known about how to operationalize this relationship. In this study, we proposed a conceptual model and estimated structural equation models relating travel mode use and activities with multiple SWB dimensions, including affective components (positive affect and negative affect) and cognitive components (belongingness, achievement, and confidence in coping). We used data from a national mobility project in Japan (N = 13,000) to estimate the postulated models. We found that while public transport use enhanced the cognitive components of SWB, it also had a negative effect on the affective components of SWB. Car use affected SWB in a more complex pattern; it promoted SWB by enabling leisure activities but also reduced SWB dimensions of belongingness and achievement through shopping activities. Active travel modes did not have a clear effect on SWB; for example, walking to school was associated with increased belongingness, whereas walking for shopping negatively influenced belongingness. Other contributing factors, such as COVID-19 worry, car access, and the ‘going-out’ problem-solving style, were also found to influence multiple dimensions of SWB. Overall, our study showed how the effects of activities on multiple dimensions of SWB varied with different travel modes, thereby revealing the indirect effect of travel mode use on SWB via activities. Suggestions for shaping transport policies towards SWB are also discussed.
Living well while providing support: validation of LTCQ-Carer for assessing informal carers’ quality of life
Authors: Potter Caroline M. , Peters Michele , Cundell Maureen , McShane Rupert , Fitzpatrick Ray
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Despite international policies to support the health and wellbeing of informal (family) caregivers, there is no consensus on how to evaluate the effectiveness of carer support. We aimed to develop and validate a new quality-of-life measure for carers (LTCQ-Carer) and to assess its potential for use within a clinical pathway.

Methods

Psychometric properties of LTCQ-Carer were tested through cognitive interviews (qualitative phase) and a pilot survey (quantitative phase). Participants were family caregivers of people recently diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, recruited through one of 14 memory clinics in south-east England. They self-completed the new measure and comparative existing measures (EQ-5D, ASCOT-Carer). Ongoing feedback from memory clinic staff on potential use of LTCQ-Carer was collected.

Results

Interview participants (n = 10) found all draft items of LTCQ-Carer relevant and prompted inclusion of a new item on ‘time to yourself’. Responses from survey participants (n = 107) indicated acceptability (low missing data), high internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.95), and a general construct (single factor loadings 0.43–0.86 for all items). Observation of predicted associations with EQ-5D and ASCOT-Carer supported construct validity. Responsiveness requires further testing as evidence was inconclusive. Clinical staff feedback on potential use was positive.

Conclusion

LTCQ-Carer is a valid new measure for assessing family caregivers’ quality of life across broad health and social care domains, expanding the range of high-quality tools for evaluating carer support. When used concurrently with patient assessment, it could highlight carer needs and prompt appropriate family support at the earliest point in the clinical pathway.
On the positivity of a certain function related with the Digamma function
Authors: Castillo K.
Published: August 2023

In this note, we prove that

$$\begin{aligned} \left( \frac{x^n}{1-e^{-x}}\right) ^{(n)}>0 \end{aligned}$$

x
n

1
-

e

-
x

(
n
)

>
0

for all

$$x\in (\log 2, \infty )$$

x
∈
(
log
2
,
∞
)

and

$$n\in \mathbb {N}$$

n
∈
N

. This result improves a theorem of Al-Musallam and Bustoz (Ramanujan J 11:399–402, 2006).
Surface Geology of Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids
Authors: Marchi S. , Bell J. F. , Bierhaus B. , Spencer J.
Published: August 2023

The surface geology of Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids is one of the scientific investigations of the NASALucymission. A dedicated Geology Working Group will implement these studies using primarily panchromatic and color imaging data and complement the interpretation of these data with theoretical models, such as collisional evolution models. TheLucyScience Team will also rely on experience and lessons learned from prior space missions, such as NASA’sNEAR,Dawn, OSIRIS-REx, andNew Horizons.

A chief goal of the Geology Working Group is to map craters and characterize their morphology acrossLucytarget’s surfaces over a range of spatial resolutions. These data will be used to constrain the relative and absolute ages of terrains and their impactor size-frequency distributions. More broadly, impact-related processes such as excavation and mass wasting will inform other investigations, including geological unit mapping, stratigraphy and topography, surface composition, and internal structure.Lucy’s cratering data and morphology will also be used to perform comparative analyses with similar data from other small bodies across the Solar System, from Main Belt asteroids to Kuiper Belt objects. The present article provides an overview of the planned activities and methodologies of the Geology Working Group.
OpenMP offloading data transfer optimization for DCUs
Authors: Guo Hengliang , Zhang Long , Zhang Yi , Li Jianan , Xu Xiaoyue , Liu Lu , Cai Kuangsheng , Wu Dan , Yang Shuxin , Kong Lingbo , Gao Xu
Published: August 2023

OpenMP supports the use of target offloading compile guidance instructions to invoke heterogeneous-platform accelerators to compute core code segments; however, unreasonable use of target offloading instructions can make the data transfer process time-consuming. The problem of unused array transfer and unused data segment transfer arises when the amount of data transferred from the host side to the device side exceeds the amount of data required for the core computation on the device side. For the transmission of unused arrays, the use of the transmitted arrays is guided by adding a filter to eliminate the transmission of redundant data; for the transmission of unused data segments, the use of arrays is quickly determined on the basis of the filter, and valid data are transmitted by optimizing Clang’s code generation strategy after obtaining the lengths of the data segments in core computation. Experiments are performed using the Polybench benchmark; the optimized speedup for unused array transfer reaches 7%, and the optimized speedup for unused data segment transfer reaches 10%. The experimental results show that data transfer optimization for target offloading characteristics can help improve program performance.
Geographic variation in clinical outcomes and anticoagulation among medicare beneficiaries with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Authors: Atwater Brett D. , Di Fusco Manuela , Keshishian Allison , Delinger Rachel , Ferri Mauricio , Jiang Jenny , Seigel Lauren , Yuce Huseyin , Guo Jennifer D.
Published: August 2023

Oral anticoagulants (OACs) have been used to prevent stroke/systemic embolism (SE) among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). To evaluate baseline clinical characteristics, incidence rates of stroke/SE and hospitalization for bleeding, and OAC use among elderly patients with NVAF in the US by geographic region. Patients with NVAF were selected from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services claims database (01JAN2013-31DEC2016). Twelve months of health plan enrollment was required before and after the NVAF diagnosis to evaluate baseline characteristics and outcomes, respectively. Each patient was assigned to a 3-digit zip code based on their primary residence, and geographic variation was visualized using ArcGIS Pro software. Over 2.8 million patients with NVAF were identified. Large geographic variation was observed in clinical characteristics, stroke/SE, hospitalization for bleeding, and OAC use among patients across the US. The zip codes with the highest mean CHA2DS2–VASc scores and frequency of prior bleeding also had the highest incidence of stroke/SE and hospitalization for bleeding. Across 3-digit zip codes, 35–63% of patients were untreated. Overall, the incidence of stroke/SE and hospitalization for bleeding were higher and OAC treatment was less frequent in zip codes located in the Southern US. Baseline clinical characteristics, incidence rates of stroke/SE and hospitalization for bleeding, and OAC usage vary considerably by 3-digit zip code in the US. The additional granularity provided in this study may help clinicians to identify small regions with high-risk of stroke/SE and hospitalization for bleeding and low use of OAC that may benefit from targeted care strategies.
Long-lasting infection with Anaplasma ovis in sheep
Authors: Ruiz Héctor , de Arcaute Marta Ruiz , Benito Alfredo Ángel , Villanueva-Saz Sergio , Jiménez José Calasanz , Lacasta Delia
Published: August 2023

Ovine anaplasmosis is an emerging vector-borne disease in Europe caused by Anaplasma ovis. The infection has spread quickly in recent years, causing moderate to severe outbreaks in sheep flocks, leading to relevant economic losses in sheep farming. This wider spread has been associated with global warming and climate change, favouring the maintenance and life cycle of their main vector, the ticks. However, another epidemiological aspect could favour this quick spread. Long persistence infection of Anaplasma ovis has been proposed as a hypothesis in several articles but never scientifically proven. The results of the present study demonstrate that eight adult sheep, both naturally or experimentally infected, maintain Anaplasma ovis load in blood during their whole productive life (4 to 6 years), being permanently infected. In addition, the results suggest that A. ovis bacterial load can be constant or suffer fluctuations, as has been demonstrated in other Anaplasma species. Both aspects can be determinants in the epidemiology and the transmission of the infection.
Analysing the Impact of Land Subsidence on the Flooding Risk: Evaluation Through InSAR and Modelling
Authors: Navarro-Hernández María I. , Valdes-Abellan Javier , Tomás Roberto , Tessitore Serena , Ezquerro Pablo , Herrera Gerardo
Published: August 2023

Floods greatly impact human settlements in flood risk areas, such as floodplains and coastal lowlands, following heavy rainfall. The Alto Guadalentin valley, an orogenic tectonic depression, experiences extreme flash floods and land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal, rendering it one of Europe's fastest subsiding regions. In this study, we compared two 2D flood event models representing different land subsidence scenarios for 1992 and 2016. To determine the flooded area and water depth variations due to land subsidence, the Hydrologic Engineering Centre River Analysis System 2D (HEC-RAS 2D) model was used to simulate flood inundation by the Alto Guadalentin River and its tributaries. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite (ERS, ENVISAT, and Cosmo-SkyMED) images were employed, along with the interferometric SAR (InSAR) technique, to calculate the magnitude and spatial distribution of land subsidence. By analysing the accumulated subsidence distributions obtained from InSAR, the original topography of the valley in 1992 and 2016 was reconstructed. These digital surface models (DSMs) were then used to generate 2D hydraulic models, simulating flood scenarios in the unsteady mode. The results demonstrated significant changes in the water surface elevation over the 14-year period, with a 2.04 km2 increase in areas with water depths exceeding 0.7 m. These findings were utilized to create a flood risk map and assess the economic flood risk. The data highlight the crucial role of land subsidence in determining the inundation risk in the Alto Guadalentin valley, providing valuable insights for emergency management and civil protection against future potential flooding events.
The Parliamentary Inquiry into Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve’s Law) Bill 2021 in Australia: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Allen Jemima W. , Gyngell Christopher , Koplin Julian J. , Vears Danya F.
Published: August 2023

Recently, Australia became the second jurisdiction worldwide to legalize the use of mitochondrial donation technology. The Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve’s Law) Bill 2021 allows individuals with a family history of mitochondrial disease to access assisted reproductive techniques that prevent the inheritance of mitochondrial disease. Using inductive content analysis, we assessed submissions sent to the Senate Committee as part of a programme of scientific inquiry and public consultation that informed drafting of the Bill. These submissions discussed a range of bioethical and legal considerations of central importance to the political debate. Significantly, submissions from those with a first-hand experience of mitochondrial disease, including clinicians and those with a family history of mitochondrial disease, were in strong support of this legislation. Those in support of the Bill commended the two-staged approach and rigorous licencing requirements as part of the Bill’s implementation strategy. Submissions which outlined arguments against the legislation either opposed the use of these techniques in general or opposed aspects of the implementation strategy in Australia. These findings offer a window into the ethical arguments and perspectives that matter most to those Australians who took part in the Senate inquiry into mitochondrial donation. The insights garnered from these submissions may be used to help refine policy and guidelines as the field progresses.
Volatility spillovers between oil and financial markets during economic and financial crises: A dynamic approach
Authors: Sánchez García Javier , Cruz Rambaud Salvador
Published: August 2023

Volatility in international oil markets is a recurrent phenomenon which causes spillovers on financial markets. However, a bidirectional comparison between the dynamic behavior of economic and financial crises has not been documented yet. This paper addresses this research question by employing a combined GARCH-VAR-Spillover Index methodology to measure the volatility of the WTI and the Brent in order to analyze its relationship with the SP500, NASDAQ, DAX and the IBEX for a sample corresponding to the period [2000:01, 2021:04]. Specifically, this paper compares the dynamic behavior of spillovers during the 2007-2009 financial crisis (taken as the financial crisis) and the COVID-19 pandemic (taken as the economic crisis). It has been found that there exists statistically significant net volatility shocks and spillovers from oil to stocks markets in the majority of cases and periods. These spillovers are bidirectional, and the net relationship is reversed depending on the market and the time period. The dynamic behavior of such spillovers depends on the region, being the USA more reactive to the source of the crisis than Europe. In particular, in the USA when the crisis is originated by financial shocks, financial markets are net transmitters of volatility to oil markets. When the source of the shock is economic, oil markets are net transmitters of volatility to stocks markets. This is not the case for Europe, where financial markets seem to be either transmitters or receivers of volatility no matter the source of the shock. In general, our study offers new evidence to understand macro-financial linkages.
Clinical manifestations of respiratory syncytial virus infection and the risk of wheezing and recurrent wheezing illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Ming-Yue , Duan Yu-Ping , Tong Xun-Liang , Huang Qiang-Ru , Jia Meng-Meng , Yang Wei-Zhong , Feng Lu-Zhao
Published: August 2023

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants is a global health priority. We aimed to investigate the common manifestations of RSV infection by age group and human development index (HDI) level and to assess its association with the development of wheezing and recurrent wheezing illness.

Methods

We searched the literature published between January 1, 2010 and June 2, 2022 in seven databases. Outcomes included common manifestations and long-term respiratory outcomes of RSV infection in children. Random- and fixed-effect models were used to estimate the effect size and their 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analysis was conducted by age and HDI levels. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022379401).

Results

The meta-analysis included 47 studies. The top five manifestations were cough (92%), nasal congestion (58%), rhinorrhea (53%), shortness of breath (50%), and dyspnea (47%). The clinical symptoms were most severe in infants. In our analysis, compared to very high and high HDI countries, fewer studies in medium HDI countries reported related manifestations, and no study in low HDI countries reported that. The RSV-infected infants were more likely to develop wheezing than the non-infected infants [odds ratio (OR), 3.12; 95% CI, 2.59–3.76] and had a higher risk of developing wheezing illnesses after recovery (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 2.51–2.70).

Conclusions

Cough and shortness of breath are common manifestations of RSV infection. More attention should be given to infants and areas with low HDI levels. The current findings confirm an association between RSV infection and wheezing or recurrent wheezing illness.
Impact of a recent wildfire on tortoises at Cape Point, South Africa, and implications for the interpretation of heated bones in the archaeological record
Authors: Stahlschmidt M. C. , Mentzer S. M. , Heinrich S. , Cooper A. , Grote M. N. , McNeill P. J. , Wilder J. C.-B. , Steele T. E.
Published: August 2023

Heat-altered bones are a common occurrence in the archaeological record, and their analysis can provide detailed insights into past fire use behaviors and subsistence strategies. Heat-altered bones, however, may also result from natural fire events such as wildfires that are unrelated to human activity. We currently lack robust reference materials from natural fire events, analyzed using the same methodological approaches as we apply them to archaeological assemblages, that can be used to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic origins of heated materials. Here, we studied an assemblage of 50 tortoises that perished in a brushfire in Cape Point, South Africa. We used a combination of (1) zooarchaeological assessments of heating pattern and (2) infrared spectroscopy including a heating experiment to reconstruct heating temperatures with the aim to document the fire impact on the tortoise remains. For both approaches, we used statistical models to develop and test predictions that can also be applied to archaeological material. Our analyses suggest a quickly moving and low temperature brushfire in the study region with a generally low and superficial heating impact on the tortoise remains. However, we also observed several high-temperature alterations with calcination and speculate that naturally occurring fuel sources controlled the severity of the fire impact. The evidence of heating on the tortoise was unpatterned. We conclude that temperature alone presents a low confidence deciding factor between wildfires and campfires while skeletal heating pattern, in concert with other contextual analysis, may be able to facilitate this distinction with more localized heating signatures for campfires.
Analytical solutions of linear delay-differential equations with Dirac delta function inputs using the Laplace transform
Authors: Sherman Michelle , Kerr Gilbert , González-Parra Gilberto
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we propose a methodology for computing the analytic solutions of linear retarded delay-differential equations and neutral delay-differential equations that include Dirac delta function inputs. In numerous applications, the delta function serves as a convenient and effective surrogate for modeling high voltages, sudden shocks, large forces, impulse vaccinations, etc., applied over a short period of time. The solutions are obtained using the Laplace transform method, in conjunction with the Cauchy residue theorem. The accuracy of these solutions are assessed by comparing them with the ones provided by the method of steps. Numerical examples illustrating the methodology are presented and discussed. These examples show that the Laplace transform solution is very reliable for linear retarded delay-differential equations, because the analytic solution, for a single delta function input, is continuous. However, for linear neutral delay-differential equations with a delta function input the analytic solution is discontinuous. Consequently, the well-known Gibbs phenomenon is observed in the vicinity of the discontinuities. However, for neutral delay differential equations, we show that in some cases, the magnitude of the jumps at the discontinuities decrease, as time increases. Therefore, the Gibbs phenomenon of the Laplace solution dissipates.
Multilevel governance of energy transitions in Europe: Addressing wicked problems of coordination, justice, and power in energy policy
Authors: Radtke Jörg , Wurster Stefan
Published: August 2023

Concerns about energy transition and policies to achieve a clean energy Europe are omnipresent in all European discourses. A transformation dynamic has captured all European states, whereby the extent, scope, and direction of this transition vary between different (EU member‑) states and political levels (European, national, federal, local). Likewise, governance dynamics and policies vary between the different European governance and regulatory systems. This Special Issue aims to take stock and discuss approaches in governance and policy research to assess, analyse and evaluate this variance from a theoretical, methodological, and empirical perspective. Of particular interest are recourses to investigate concepts describing and analysing the formation of new policy fields. Within the framework of the Special Issue, the role of specific architectures in which the energy transformation in Europe is embedded (e.g., federalism and multi-level structures, institutional constellations of actors, multi-sector networks, etc.) are analysed to explain the energy transition policies and their transformative properties. Linking the empirical results back to basic research concepts and relating the results to the existing approaches in policy and governance research facilitates a better understanding of the energy transition as a classic and/or new transformation policy.
Prioritising paths: An improved cost function for local path planning for UAV in medical applications
Authors: Thoma A. , Thomessen K. , Gardi A. , Fisher A. , Braun C.
Published: August 2023

Even the shortest flight through unknown, cluttered environments requires reliable local path planning algorithms to avoid unforeseen obstacles. The algorithm must evaluate alternative flight paths and identify the best path if an obstacle blocks its way. Commonly, weighted sums are used here. This work shows that weighted Chebyshev distances and factorial achievement scalarising functions are suitable alternatives to weighted sums if combined with the 3DVFH*local path planning algorithm. Both methods considerably reduce the failure probability of simulated flights in various environments. The standard 3DVFH*uses a weighted sum and has a failure probability of 50% in the test environments. A factorial achievement scalarising function, which minimises the worst combination of two out of four objective functions, reaches a failure probability of 26%; A weighted Chebyshev distance, which optimises the worst objective, has a failure probability of 30%. These results show promise for further enhancements and to support broader applicability.
The evolving role of data & safety monitoring boards for real-world clinical trials
Authors: Bunning Bryan J. , Hedlin Haley , Chen Jonathan H. , Ciolino Jody D. , Ferstad Johannes Opsahl , Fox Emily , Garcia Ariadna , Go Alan , Johari Ramesh , Lee Justin , Maahs David M. , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Opsahl-Ong Krista , Perez Marco , Rochford Kaylin , Scheinker David , Spratt Heidi , Turakhia Mintu P. , Desai Manisha
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Clinical trials provide the “gold standard” evidence for advancing the practice of medicine, even as they evolve to integrate real-world data sources. Modern clinical trials are increasingly incorporating real-world data sources – data not intended for research and often collected in free-living contexts. We refer to trials that incorporate real-world data sources as real-world trials. Such trials may have the potential to enhance the generalizability of findings, facilitate pragmatic study designs, and evaluate real-world effectiveness. However, key differences in the design, conduct, and implementation of real-world vs traditional trials have ramifications in data management that can threaten their desired rigor.

Methods:

Three examples of real-world trials that leverage different types of data sources – wearables, medical devices, and electronic health records are described. Key insights applicable to all three trials in their relationship to Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) are derived.

Results:

Insight and recommendations are given on four topic areas: A. Charge of the DSMB; B. Composition of the DSMB; C. Pre-launch Activities; and D. Post-launch Activities. We recommend stronger and additional focus on data integrity.

Conclusions:

Clinical trials can benefit from incorporating real-world data sources, potentially increasing the generalizability of findings and overall trial scale and efficiency. The data, however, present a level of informatic complexity that relies heavily on a robust data science infrastructure. The nature of monitoring the data and safety must evolve to adapt to new trial scenarios to protect the rigor of clinical trials.
Shell Games: A Middle Preclassic Shell Deposit at the Minor Center of Tutu Uitz Na in the Upper Belize River Valley
Authors: Biggie Michael , Walden John P. , Shaw-Müller Kyle , Petrozza Michael L. , Ellis Olivia P. , Roa Ian N. , Stanchly Norbert , Guerra Rafael A. , Ebert Claire E. , Hoggarth Julie A. , Awe Jaime J.
Published: August 2023

Recent excavations at the ancient Maya minor center of Tutu Uitz Na in the Belize River Valley revealed an especially large—about 20 million shells—Middle Preclassic (900–300 BC) shell deposit underlying the plaza. Although marine shell species make up a small percentage of the assemblage, most shells are Pachychilus spp., a common freshwater snail known in the southern Maya Lowlands as jute. This report describes the architectural context and assemblage of the deposit and compares it to similar examples in the region. We propose that the Tutu Uitz Na deposit provides one of the earliest examples of depictions of the Maya primordial sea in an architectural context.
IDENTIFICATION AND INFERENCE IN A QUANTILE REGRESSION DISCONTINUITY DESIGN UNDER RANK SIMILARITY WITH COVARIATES
Authors: Jin Zequn , Zhang Yu , Zhang Zhengyu , Zhou Yahong
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the identification and inference of quantile treatment effects (QTEs) in a fuzzy regression discontinuity (RD) design under rank similarity. Unlike Frandsen et al. (2012, Journal of Econometrics 168, 382–395), who focus on QTEs only for the compliant subpopulation, our approach can identify QTEs and average treatment effect for the whole population at the threshold. We derived a new set of moment restrictions for the RD model by imposing a local rank similarity condition, which restricts the evolution of individual ranks across treatment status in a neighborhood around the threshold. Based on the moment restrictions, we derive closed-form solutions for the estimands of the potential outcome cumulative distribution functions for the whole population. We demonstrate the functional central limit theorems and bootstrap validity results for the QTE estimators by explicitly accounting for observed covariates. In particular, we develop a multiplier bootstrap-based inference method with robustness against large bandwidths that applies to uniform inference by extending the recent work of Chiang et al. (2019, Journal of Econometrics 211, 589–618). We also propose a test for the local rank similarity assumption. To illustrate the estimation approach and its properties, we provide a simulation study and estimate the impacts of India’s 40-billion-dollar national rural road construction program on the reallocation of labor out of agriculture.
W. E. B. Du Bois’s Global Sociology and the Anti-racist Struggle for Democracy in Cuba (1931–1941)
Authors: Vásquez Jorge Daniel
Published: August 2023

During the 1930s and 1940s, W. E. B. Du Bois was not only interested in European colonialism in Africa, but he also approached the racial situation in the Americas, particularly Haiti, Brazil, and Cuba. In this article, I examine how Du Bois engaged strategically in a critique of racism in Cuba and the United States. I analyze how Du Bois discussed the Cuban color line as linked to colonial dispossession and explore the formation of the anti-colonial critique within global sociology. Du Bois’s letters, manuscripts, and field notes during his first visit to Cuba in 1941 reveal how, to a large extent, Du Bois shared the prevailing vision of Cuba as a society free from racism. Although Du Bois only partially captured how racism worked in Cuba, he constantly affirmed how the analysis of the Cuban color line implies dealing with the analysis of American imperialism. Thus, Du Bois’s approach to Cuba was fundamental in two senses. First, it led him to consider the contradictions between cultural integration and social and economic equality in a setting other than the United States. Second, Du Bois developed the fundamental place assigned to the critique of U.S. imperialism within global sociology. At the same time, Du Bois’s connection with Cuba elaborates the understanding of Du Bois’s global sociology.
The Effect of Response Formats on Response Style	Strength
Authors: Henninger Mirka , Plieninger Hansjörg , Meiser Thorsten
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Many researchers use self-report data to examine abilities, personalities, or attitudes. At the same time, there is a widespread concern that response styles, such as the tendency to give extreme, midscale, or acquiescent responses, may threaten data quality. As an alternative to post hoc control of response styles using psychometric models, a priori control using specific response formats may be a means to reduce biasing response style effects in self-report data in day-to-day research practice. Previous research has suggested that response styles were less influential in a Drag-and-Drop (DnD) format compared to the traditional Likert-type format. In this article, we further examine the advantage of the DnD format, test its generalizability, and investigate its underlying mechanisms. In two between-participants experiments, we tested different versions of the DnD format against the Likert format. We found no evidence for reduced response style influence in any of the DnD conditions, nor did we find any difference between the conditions in terms of the validity of the measures to external criteria. We conclude that adaptations of response formats, such as the DnD format, may be promising, but require more thorough examination before recommending them as a means to reduce response style influence in psychological measurement.