bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management von Naturgefahren auf kommunaler Ebene. Ergebnisse einer Umfrage in Österreich mit Fokus auf kleinräumige Starkregen-Ereignisse
Authors: Ebenstreit Dominik , Periny Johann
Published: September 2024

Die Ebene der Gemeinde spielt im österreichischen Krisen- und Katastrophenmanagement durch ihre Vielfalt der Aufgabenbereiche eine bedeutende Rolle. Als unmittelbar betroffene Wirkebene sind sie nicht nur für das Einschreiten im Ernstfall, sondern auch für die Umsetzung von Präventionsmaßnahmen zuständig. Dies trifft vor allem auf Starkregen-Ereignisse zu, welche durch ihr kleinräumiges Auftreten zumindest in der Anfangsphase des Einschreitens der kommunalen Ebene bedürfen. Durch ihr ubiquitäres Auftreten sind sie außerdem ein besonders taugliches Anschauungsbeispiel, um die Umsetzung des kommunalen Katastrophen‑, Krisen- und Naturgefahrenmanagements sowie dessen zukünftige Herausforderungen zu untersuchen. Auf Basis einer quantitativen Befragung österreichischer Gemeinden wurden diese Punkte näher beleuchtet. Die Analyse der Ergebnisse hat gezeigt, dass das Risikobewusstsein unter österreichischen Gemeinden hinsichtlich Starkregen-Ereignissen bereits sehr hoch ist. Die Maßnahmen, die bereits ergriffen wurden, beschränken sich aktuell oftmals noch auf inkrementelle Maßnahmen zur unmittelbaren Bekämpfung der Folgen von Starkregen-Ereignissen. Defizite konnten vor allem bei kommunikativen Maßnahmen sowie strategischen und mitigierenden Maßnahmen festgestellt werden. Als zentrale Herausforderung für die Zukunft wurden finanzielle wie auch personelle Ressourcen sowie das Fehlen von Know-how identifiziert. Durch statistische Analysen konnte gezeigt werden, dass eine engere interkommunale Zusammenarbeit, Unterstützung beim Aufbau von Know-how der Gemeindeverwaltung sowie finanzielle Anreize zur Erstellung von strategischen Plänen essenziell für das zukünftige kommunale Krisen- und Katastrophenmanagement sind.
The Gromov–Wasserstein Distance Between Spheres
Authors: Arya Shreya , Auddy Arnab , Clark Ranthony A. , Lim Sunhyuk , Mémoli Facundo , Packer Daniel
Published: September 2024

The Gromov–Wasserstein distance—a generalization of the usual Wasserstein distance—permits comparing probability measures defined on possibly different metric spaces. Recently, this notion of distance has found several applications in Data Science and in Machine Learning. With the goal of aiding both the interpretability of dissimilarity measures computed through the Gromov–Wasserstein distance and the assessment of the approximation quality of computational techniques designed to estimate the Gromov–Wasserstein distance, we determine the precise value of a certain variant of the Gromov–Wasserstein distance between unit spheres of different dimensions. Indeed, we consider a two-parameter family $$\{d_{{{\text {GW}}}p,q}\}_{p,q=1}^{\infty }$$

{

d

GW
p
,
q

}

p
,
q
=
1

∞

of Gromov–Wasserstein distances between metric measure spaces. By exploiting a suitable interaction between specific values of the parameters p and q and the metric of the underlying spaces, we are able to determine the exact value of the distance $$d_{{{\text {GW}}}4,2}$$

d

GW
4
,
2

between all pairs of unit spheres of different dimensions endowed with their Euclidean distance and their uniform measure.
Out-of-Distribution Detection and Radiological Data Monitoring Using Statistical Process Control
Authors: Zamzmi Ghada , Venkatesh Kesavan , Nelson Brandon , Prathapan Smriti , Yi Paul , Sahiner Berkman , Delfino Jana G.
Published: September 2024

Machine learning (ML) models often fail with data that deviates from their training distribution. This is a significant concern for ML-enabled devices as data drift may lead to unexpected performance. This work introduces a new framework for out of distribution (OOD) detection and data drift monitoring that combines ML and geometric methods with statistical process control (SPC). We investigated different design choices, including methods for extracting feature representations and drift quantification for OOD detection in individual images and as an approach for input data monitoring. We evaluated the framework for both identifying OOD images and demonstrating the ability to detect shifts in data streams over time. We demonstrated a proof-of-concept via the following tasks: 1) differentiating axial vs. non-axial CT images, 2) differentiating CXR vs. other radiographic imaging modalities, and 3) differentiating adult CXR vs. pediatric CXR. For the identification of individual OOD images, our framework achieved high sensitivity in detecting OOD inputs: 0.980 in CT, 0.984 in CXR, and 0.854 in pediatric CXR. Our framework is also adept at monitoring data streams and identifying the time a drift occurred. In our simulations tracking drift over time, it effectively detected a shift from CXR to non-CXR instantly, a transition from axial to non-axial CT within few days, and a drift from adult to pediatric CXRs within a day—all while maintaining a low false positive rate. Through additional experiments, we demonstrate the framework is modality-agnostic and independent from the underlying model structure, making it highly customizable for specific applications and broadly applicable across different imaging modalities and deployed ML models.
Exploring preparedness transitions in medicine and pharmacy: a qualitative longitudinal study to inform multiprofessional learning opportunities
Authors: Ottrey Ella , Rees Charlotte E. , Kemp Caitlin , Lyons Kayley M. , Brock Tina P. , Leech Michelle , Monrouxe Lynn V. , Palermo Claire
Published: September 2024

Despite extensive preparedness literature, existing studies fail to adequately explore healthcare graduates’ feelings of preparedness longitudinally across new graduate transition journeys, nor do they compare different healthcare professions to ascertain what opportunities exist for multiprofessional transition interventions. Therefore, this Australian study, underpinned by temporal theory, explores the preparedness transitions of medicine and pharmacy graduates. Our 6-month qualitative longitudinal study involved 12 medicine and 7 pharmacy learners after purposive sampling. They participated in an entrance interview before starting internship, longitudinal audio-diaries during their first three months of internship, and an exit interview. Framework analysis explored patterns in the data cross-sectionally and longitudinally for the whole cohort (thinking over time), with pen portraits illustrating individuals’ journeys (thinking through time). Preparedness and unpreparedness narratives involved practical skills and tasks, interpersonal skills, knowledge, and professional practice for medicine and pharmacy. However, narratives for practical skills and tasks, and professional practice were dominant amongst medicine graduates, while narratives for interpersonal skills and knowledge were dominant amongst pharmacy graduates. We found numerous cohort changes in feelings of preparedness over time, but the illustrative pen portraits demonstrated the complexities and nuances through time, including feelings of preparedness before internship becoming unpreparedness during internship (e.g., cannulas), improving preparedness through time (e.g., cover shifts), and persistent feelings of unpreparedness (e.g., patient interactions). While our cross-sectional findings are reasonably consistent with existing research, our comparative and longitudinal findings are novel. We recommend that educators build learners’ preparedness through uniprofessional transition interventions involving practical skills and tasks, and professional practice in medicine, and interpersonal skills and knowledge in pharmacy. More importantly, we recommend multiprofessional transition interventions for medicine and pharmacy learners before internship focusing on knowledge, and during internship focusing on practical skills and tasks.
Digital technology and on-farm responses to climate shocks: exploring the relations between producer agency and the security of food production
Authors: Richards Carol , Messner Rudolf , Higgins Vaughan
Published: September 2024

Recent research into climate shocks and what this means for the on-farm production of food revealed mixed and unanticipated results. Whilst the research was triggered by a series of catastrophic, climate related disruptions, Australian beef producers interviewed for the study downplayed the immediate and direct impacts of climate shocks. When considering the changing nature of production under shifting climatic conditions, producers offered a commentary on the digital technology and data which interconnected with climate solutions deriving from both on and off the farm. Perceptions of digital technologies were mixed. Some viewpoints outlined how data driven climate solutions supported on farm planning and decision making, helping to manage climate risks and shocks. However, alongside these narratives, concerns were raised about satellite-based sustainability surveillance and their implications for producer agency. These concerns include the data-informed actions of non-farming third parties, such as bank loan call-ins for properties perceived to be a climate risk, remote surveillance of ground cover, and the commercial re-appraisal of pastoral lands as carbon sinks. Digital solutions to climate shocks thus emerge as inherently ambivalent, a response to shocks and a potential catalyst for renewed crisis. Drawing upon the theoretical lens of relationality, we argue that digital data are increasingly entangled with other material and non-material elements that may disrupt and/or reconfigure the management of farming and with that, the future security of food production. In some instances, data-based solutions to climate risks and shocks present even greater risks to producer agency than climate risks and shocks themselves.
The Rise of Partisan CSR: Corporate Responses to the Russia–Ukraine War
Authors: Bamiatzi Vassiliki , Brieger Steven A. , Karakulak Özgü , Kinderman Daniel , Manning Stephan
Published: September 2024

The Russia–Ukraine war has challenged our understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Whereas CSR is traditionally associated with business self-regulation that benefits business and society, the conflict has revealed new forms of what we call “partisan CSR.” Based on comprehensive data from Fortune Global 500 firms, this study discovers that in particular Western, but also some non-Western, corporations have engaged in partisan CSR activities, ranging from (1) strengthening Ukraine’s economy, to (2) enhancing security and protection for Ukrainian citizens, (3) providing military support, (4) weakening Russia’s economy, and (5) supporting Ukraine in symbolic ways. By comparison, several mostly non-Western firms, e.g. from Asian countries, have chosen to be “neutral”, while, in some cases, exploiting economic opportunities arising from the conflict. This study also discusses major drivers of these CSR responses, including political climate, resource availability and economic dependency, isomorphism, and regulatory requirements. Our findings suggest a shift from political CSR to partisan CSR, which we expect to become more important with growing geopolitical divides and territorial conflicts.
Fears and Worries at Nighttime in Young Children: Development and Psychometric Validation of a Parent-Report Measure (FAWN-YC)
Authors: Shiels Amy , Uhlmann Laura , Farrell Lara J. , Munro-Lee Erinn , Donovan Caroline L.
Published: September 2024

This paper outlines the development and psychometric evaluation of the Fears and Worries at Nighttime—Young Children (FAWN-YC) scale; a parent-rated measure for children aged 3–5 years. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesised that the measure would be represented by a six-factor solution, with four clusters of fear types and two behavioural manifestations of fears. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA; N = 436) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; N = 383), resulted in a final 17 items that loaded onto 3 factors: Nighttime Fear Focus (8 items, α = 0.92), Bedtime/Sleep Avoidance and Interference (5 items, α = 0.90), and Dark Fear (4 items, α = 0.88). Evidence of convergent validity was found through strong associations between the total score and subscales of the FAWN-YC with measures of child anxiety, fear, sleep, externalizing and conduct problems. Furthermore, there was support for divergent validity (through a very weak to no relationship with a measure of prosocial behaviours), and evidence for temporal stability was also established with 2-week test–retest reliability. Overall, the results provide strong preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the FAWN-YC total score and subscales. Implications for the use of the measure in research and clinical practice are discussed.
Cause-specific excess mortality in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–2022: a study using nationwide population data
Authors: Nilsson Anton , Emilsson Louise , Kepp Kasper P. , Knudsen Ann Kristin Skrindo , Forthun Ingeborg , Madsen Christian , Björk Jonas , Lallukka Tea
Published: September 2024

While there is substantial evidence on excess mortality in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, no study has conducted a cause-specific analysis of excess mortality for the whole period 2020–2022 across multiple countries. We examined cause-specific excess mortality during 2020–2022 in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden—four countries with similar demographics and welfare provisions, which implemented different pandemic response policies. To this end, we utilized nationwide register-based information on annual cause-specific deaths stratified by age and sex, and applied linear regression models to predict mortality in 2020–2022 based on the reference period 2010–2019. Excess deaths were obtained by contrasting actual and expected deaths. Additional analyses employed standardization to a common population, as well as population adjustments to account for previous deaths. Our results showed that, besides deaths due to COVID-19 (a total of 32,491 during 2020–2022), all countries experienced excess deaths due to cardiovascular diseases (in total 11,610 excess deaths), and under-mortality due to respiratory diseases other than COVID-19 (in total 9878) and dementia (in total 8721). The excess mortality due to cardiovascular diseases was particularly pronounced in Finland and Norway in 2022, and the under-mortality due to dementia was particularly pronounced in Sweden in 2021–2022. In conclusion, while COVID-19 deaths emerge as the most apparent consequence of the pandemic, our findings suggest that mortality has also been influenced by substitutions between different causes of death and over time, as well as indirect consequences of COVID-19 infection and pandemic responses—albeit to different extents in the different countries.
Coarse entropy of metric spaces
Authors: Geller William , Misiurewicz Michał , Sawicki Damian
Published: September 2024

Coarse geometry studies metric spaces on the large scale. The recently introduced notion of coarse entropy is a tool to study dynamics from the coarse point of view. We prove that all isometries of a given metric space have the same coarse entropy and that this value is a coarse invariant. We call this value the coarse entropy of the space and investigate its connections with other properties of the space. We prove that it can only be either zero or infinity, and although for many spaces this dichotomy coincides with the subexponential–exponential growth dichotomy, there is no relation between coarse entropy and volume growth more generally. We completely characterise this dichotomy for spaces with bounded geometry and for quasi-geodesic spaces. As an application, we provide an example where coarse entropy yields an obstruction for a coarse embedding, where such an embedding is not precluded by considerations of volume growth.
Sharing housing: a solution to – or a reflection of – housing inequality?
Authors: Grundström Karin , Grander Martin , Lazoroska Daniela , Molina Irene
Published: September 2024

Shared housing is a rather unusual phenomenon in Sweden. However, due to the decreasing availability of affordable housing and a large share of single-person households in urban areas, sharing is on the rise and new forms of shared housing have entered the market. By analysing how shared housing overlaps with existing patterns of socioeconomic segregation and by interviewing developers of diverse forms of shared housing in the cities of Stockholm and Malmö, this article aims to evolve the understanding of sharing housing from a perspective on housing inequality. We find that while many households are sharing housing because there are no other options, others share because they have the possibility to share certain spaces and facilities, which makes life easier and enhances a sense of togetherness. While the first category is concentrated in marginalized and racialized areas of the cities, the other category is concentrated in well-off areas. Developers offering shared solutions in marginalized areas are few but do so based on a discourse of ‘receiving less for more’, while developers offering shared housing in wealthier districts are doing so based on ‘sustainability’ and ‘making life easier’, as the shared housing includes private facilities and services that aim to support an effortless lifestyle in districts with existing urban assets. The conclusion is that sharing housing is no longer solely built on community spirit and de-growth, but sharing housing is also a reflection of contemporary housing inequality.
On the uniqueness of continuous and discrete hard models of NMR-spectra
Authors: Hellwig Jan , Neymeyr Klaus
Published: September 2024

Lorentz, Gauss, Voigt and pseudo-Voigt functions play an important role in hard modeling of NMR spectra. This paper shows the uniqueness of continuous NMR hard models in terms of these functions by proving their linear independence. For the case of discrete hard models, where the spectra are represented by finite-dimensional vectors, criteria are given under which the models are also unique.
Integrating a Parenting Assessment into Practice: Pediatric Providers’ Time and Perspectives
Authors: J Cooke Amber , Attar Tahra I , L Carr Victoria , C Whitney Anna , J Tinker Rory , L Carlson Kathryn , M Stoppelbein Merrill , A Jana Laura , J Scholer Seth
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To integrate a parenting assessment into primary care and assess pediatric providers’ time needed to review it and their perceptions of the process.

Description

The Quick Parenting Assessment (QPA) is a validated, 13 item parent support tool that assesses for healthy and unhealthy parenting practices. Higher QPAs indicate more unhealthy parenting being used. In a clinic serving low-income parents, the QPA was integrated into the 15 month, 30 month, 5 year, and 8 year well child visits. After each well child visit in which the QPA was administered, providers were invited to complete a one-page survey—315 surveys were included in the analysis.

Assessment

Most QPAs (78.7%) were low risk (QPA <  = 2), 14.6% were medium risk (QPA = 3–4), and 6.7% were high risk (QPA > 4). The median time was 15–30 s to review low risk QPAs and 30 s to 1 min to review high risk QPAs. For most QPA reviews, health care providers reported that the QPA increased their objectivity in determining the level of support needed (68%), facilitated communication about parenting (77%), and increased the value of the visit (68%).

Conclusion

A validated parenting assessment tool, integrated into pediatric primary care, appears to work for pediatric health care providers. These findings have implications for supporting parents in pediatrics, value-based care, and disease prevention.
Shared emotion without togetherness: the case of shared grief
Authors: Richardson Louise
Published: September 2024

I offer a philosophical account of shared grief, on which it is a process, undergone by a group, of recognising and accommodating significant possibilities that are lost to that group. In setting out from an understanding of grief’s distinctive characteristics, a philosophically interesting, metaphysically undemanding, and practically useful account of shared grief comes into view, that has broader consequences for understanding shared emotion.
For values in science: Assessing recent arguments for the ideal of value-free science
Authors: Brown Matthew J.
Published: September 2024

There is a near consensus among philosophers of science whose research focuses on science and values that the ideal of value-free science is untenable, and that science not only is, but normatively must be, value-laden in some respect. The consensus is far from complete; with some regularity, defenses of the value-free ideal (VFI) as well as critiques of major arguments against the VFI surface in the literature. I review and respond to many of the recent defenses of the VFI and show that they generally fail to meet the mark. In the process, I articulate what the current burden of argument for a defense of the VFI ought to be, given the state of the literature.
Values in British higher education: knowledge, freedom and wellbeing
Authors: Pritchard Rosalind M. O.
Published: September 2024

British higher education is ranked among the best in the world, but some of its core values are under strain. Knowledge and critical thinking can be undermined by biased mind-sets, especially when engaging with the social media. Research demonstrates that false news goes viral much more quickly than true news. Political correctness and the woke movement can militate against freedom, especially in gender-related matters. Surveys show that many staff and students have a lower sense of wellbeing than the rest of the population. Conscious of these problems, the Government has responded with an Act to place extensive new obligations on certain types of online service providers, requiring them to protect their users by managing risks relating to illegal and harmful content. A separate Act has also been passed to protect freedom of speech in universities. The issue of staff and student unhappiness is much less amenable to legislation because it is so multi-faceted. However, it is a very important issue for a healthy, democratic society that fosters cooperation, trust and community. It needs to be addressed.
Thinking or talking about teaching? Student evaluation as an occasion for dialogue or reflection on teaching
Authors: Søndergaard Mie Kusk , Degn Lise , Lassesen Berit
Published: September 2024

Using student evaluations of teaching (SETs) as a quality assessment tool have long been a highly debated topic among both practitioners and scholars of higher education teaching. Rather than focus on whether SETs provide reliable measurements of quality, we explore what happens when SETs are implemented as or intended as quality development tools. We report from a qualitative study of how higher education teachers and managers perceive and use SETs as part of developing their own teaching, and focus on how the dialogue around teaching, which was intended as a part of the quality assessment procedure, is actualized (or not) in practice.
El fantasma de Helena en Noli me tangere de Andrea Camilleri. El uso del mito clásico para la creación de una novela policíaca
Authors: López Gregoris Rosario
Published: September 2024

Este trabajo analiza el uso que hace Andrea Camilleri de los poemas presuntamente escritos por el poeta griego Estesícoro, para desarrollar una trama policíaca en la novela Noli me tangere. La figura de Estesícoro y de sus poemas sobre Helena de Esparta sirven al escritor italiano, en primer lugar, para justificar, casi en términos autobiográficos, el primer poema difamatorio sobre Helena del poeta griego y la obligada palinodia para restituir la honorabilidad de la espartana. También sirve, en segundo lugar, para perpetuar la figura de Helena como mito erótico en este relato policíaco, protagonizado por una cohorte de pretendientes de Helena, personaje apenas visible en el relato. Por último, el autor hibrida el mito erótico clásico con el tópico cristiano noli me tangere, con el sorprendente resultado de que esta idea suaviza el erotismo inherente al mito de Helena, y el mito de Helena impregna de complicidad íntima la relación entre Jesús y María Magdalena.
Impact and limitations of 3D computational modelling in transcatheter mitral valve replacement—a two-centre Dutch experience
Authors: van den Dorpel Mark M. P. , de Sá Marchi Mauricio Felippi , Rahhab Zouhair , Ooms Joris F. , Adrichem Rik , Verhemel Sarah , Ren Claire Ben , Nuis Rutger-Jan , Daemen Joost , Hirsch Alexander , Van den Branden Ben J. L. , Van Mieghem Nicolas M.
Published: September 2024

Background

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to mitral valve surgery for patients at high or prohibitive operative risk. Prospective studies reported favourable outcomes in patients with annulus calcification (valve-in-mitral annulus calcification; ViMAC), failed annuloplasty ring (mitral valve-in-ring; MViR), and bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction (mitral valve-in-valve; MViV). Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT)-derived 3D-modelling and simulations may provide complementary anatomical perspectives for TMVR planning.

Aims

We aimed to illustrate the implementation of MSCT-derived modelling and simulations in the workup of TMVR for ViMAC, MViR, and MViV.

Methods

For this retrospective study, we included all consecutive patients screened for TMVR and compared MSCT data, echocardiographic outcomes and clinical outcomes.

Results

Sixteen out of 41 patients were treated with TMVR (ViMAC n = 9, MViR n = 3, MViV n = 4). Eleven patients were excluded for inappropriate sizing, 4 for anchoring issues and 10 for an unacceptable risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) based on 3D modelling. There were 3 procedure-related deaths and 1 non-procedure-related cardiovascular death during 30 days of follow-up. LVOTO occurred in 3 ViMAC patients and 1 MViR patient, due to deeper valve implantation than planned in 3 patients, and anterior mitral leaflet displacement with recurrent basal septum thickening in 1 patient. TMVR significantly reduced mitral mean gradients as compared with baseline measurements (median mean gradient 9.5 (9.0–11.5) mm Hg before TMVR versus 5.0 (4.5–6.0) mm Hg after TMVR, p = 0.03). There was no residual mitral regurgitation at 30 days.

Conclusion

MSCT-derived 3D modelling and simulation provide valuable anatomical insights for TMVR with transcatheter balloon expandable valves in ViMAC, MViR and MViV. Further planning iterations should target the persistent risk for neo-LVOTO.
Sequel to “Highly dispersive optical solitons with differential group delay for kerr law of self—phase modulation by sardar sub—equation approach”: non—local law of self—phase modulation
Authors: Jawad Anwar Ja’afar Mohamad , Yildirim Yakup , Hussein Layth , Biswas Anjan
Published: September 2024

The paper obtains highly dispersive optical solitons with nonlocal law of self—phase modulation with differential group delay. The Sardar sub equation approach is the integration algorithm that makes this retrieval possible. The parameter constraints that naturally emerge from the scheme are also enlisted. The current work is thus a sequel to the previous paper that is with Kerr law of self—phase modulation structure.
Challenges and Opportunities of Sentinel-1 InSAR for Transport Infrastructure Monitoring
Authors: Piter Andreas , Haghshenas Haghighi Mahmud , Motagh Mahdi
Published: September 2024

Monitoring displacement at transport infrastructure using Sentinel‑1 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) faces challenges due to the sensor’s medium spatial resolution, which limits the pixel coverage over the infrastructure. Therefore, carefully selecting coherent pixels is crucial to achieve a high density of reliable measurement points and to minimize noisy observations. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various pixel selection methods for displacement monitoring within transport infrastructures. We employ a two-step InSAR time series processing approach. First, high-quality first-order pixels are selected using temporal phase coherence (TPC) to estimate and correct atmospheric contributions. Then, a combination of different pixel selection methods is applied to identify coherent second-order pixels for displacement analysis. These methods include amplitude dispersion index (ADI), TPC, phase linking coherence (PLC), and top eigenvalue percentage (TEP), targeting both point-like scatterer (PS) and distributed scatterer (DS) pixels. Experiments are conducted in two case studies: one in Germany, characterized by dense vegetation, and one in Spain, with sparse vegetation. In Germany, the density of measurement points was approximately 30 points/km², with the longest segment of the infrastructure without any coherent pixels being 2.8 km. In Spain, the density of measurement points exceeded 500 points/km², with the longest section without coherent pixels being 700 meters. The results indicate that despite the challenges posed by medium-resolution data, the sensor is capable of providing adequate measurement points when suitable pixel selection methods are employed. However, careful consideration is necessary to exclude noisy pixels from the analysis. The findings highlight the importance of choosing a proper method tailored to infrastructure characteristics. Specifically, combining TPC and PLC methods offers a complementary set of pixels suitable for displacement measurements, whereas ADI and TEP are less effective in this context. This study demonstrates the potential of Sentinel‑1 InSAR for capturing both regional-scale and localized displacements at transport infrastructure.
Ein Blick auf das Spermiogramm
Authors: Hunziker Manuela , Lautenbach Noémie , Eberli Daniel
Published: September 2024

Das Spermiogramm wird standardisiert nach den Richtlinien der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) durchgeführt und umfasst eine gründliche makroskopische (Volumen, Farbe, Konsistenz, pH-Wert) sowie mikroskopische Untersuchung (Motilität, Vitalität, MAR-Test [„Mixed-Antiglobulin-Reaction-Test“], Leukozytenzählung, Konzentration und Morphologie). Ergänzend können biochemische Markeranalysen des Seminalplasmas und Probeaufbereitungen vorgenommen werden. Ein pathologisches Spermiogramm kann zwar eine ernsthafte Herausforderung für die männliche Fruchtbarkeit darstellen, es gibt jedoch in vielen Fällen Möglichkeiten zur Verbesserung. Glücklicherweise stehen heute verschiedene Behandlungsmöglichkeiten zur Verfügung. Diese können von medikamentösen Therapien zur Behandlung von zugrunde liegenden Ursachen bis hin zu assistierten Reproduktionstechniken (ART) wie In-vitro-Fertilisation (IVF) reichen. Die Wahl der richtigen Behandlung hängt von der spezifischen Diagnose und den individuellen Umständen ab.
Zein nanoencapsulation enhances the antifungal activity of thymol for postharvest decay control in bananas
Authors: Punelas–Villanueva Dana C. , Almeda Ronaniel A. , Chua Mari Sherlin S. , Tabor Rico F. , Vidallon Mark Louis P. , Rodriguez Evelyn B.
Published: September 2024

The current work describes a nanoparticle system-based approach to enhance the antifungal activity of thymol, a ubiquitous natural antifungal phenolic compound, in postharvest control against banana anthracnose. Thymol was encapsulated within the amphiphilic protein zein by high-shear emulsification, yielding highly dispersible thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles with a high encapsulation efficiency (70%). These particles have an average diameter of 300 nm with spherical morphology, smooth interface, and matrix-type internal structure, as supported by comprehensive structural characterization (dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy). Based on a 40-d storage stability test, thymol was effectively retained within the nanoparticles at 4 °C and ambient room temperature (99% and 97% retention, respectively), despite thymol’s instability and volatility. Antifungal activity assessment against Colletotrichum musae, one of the predominant pathogens that cause banana anthracnose, showed a 200- to 300-fold improvement in the in vitro antifungal activity of thymol. Moreover, the application of thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles as a spray component for banana postharvest treatment demonstrated the efficacy of thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles in preventing and delaying the formation of initial symptoms of banana anthracnose. This appears to arise from the thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles depositing as a film on the banana epidermis, as revealed by atomic force microscopy. Overall, this nanoparticle system offers a new avenue for the design of effective antifungal materials with potential applications in combatting postharvest diseases.

Graphical abstract
Separation and Release Devices for Aeronautical and Astronautical Systems: A Review
Authors: Lee Juho , Han Jae-Hung
Published: September 2024

This review presents an in-depth examination of the advancements, current state, and future trends of separation and release devices in aeronautical and astronautical systems, focusing on their classification into one-point and linear devices as well as the move from pyrotechnic to nonexplosive methods. For one-point separation devices, this review discusses the evolution from traditional explosive bolts, which use high explosives to operate, to nonexplosive actuators such as shape memory alloy devices that offer resettable, low-shock options. It also highlights devices that rely on pyrotechnic initiators without using high explosives as key developments for reducing shock and increasing safety. In the section on linear separation devices, the review examines flexible linear shaped charges and mild-detonating fuses, which are crucial for precise separations such as stage and fairing detachments. Introducing expanding tubes as a new method to avoid the usual debris and damage from pyrotechnics is a big improvement. In addition, the use of clamp-band joint systems for satellite separation, secured by either pyrotechnic bolts or nonexplosive dual-initiator devices, is a common approach. The recent focus on developing pneumatic linear separation devices marks a shift toward systems that can be reused and reduce shock without explosives. Moreover, the emergence of nonexplosive satellite separation systems represents a shift toward safer and more adaptable deployment technologies. These fully mechanical actuation methods facilitate shock-free separations, which are crucial for the integrity of sensitive payloads. This review suggests that continuous innovation in nonexplosive separation technology will significantly change mission planning and system design in the aeronautics and astronautics fields.
How can fisheries’ environmental policies help achieve a sustainable blue economy and blue tourism?
Authors: Hamaguchi Yoshihiro , Thakur Barun Kumar
Published: September 2024

Fishing, fish processing, and tourism are important actors in the blue economy. These industries depend on fishery resources and natural environments. However, overfishing and congestion in tourist areas can also lead to environmental pollution and resource depletion. In addition, wastewater from the fish-processing industry can damage the environment and resources, hindering sustainable development. This study analyzes whether fishery environmental policies can lead to sustainable development in blue economies using an R&D-based growth model that includes firm location. Both policies promote economic growth, but fishery policy leads to pollution havens from North to South and increases tourism consumption through improved environmental quality. Under certain parameter conditions, environmental policy leads to pollution havens from South to North and decreases tourism consumption through worsened environmental quality. However, when these conditions change, the environmental policy leads to pollution havens from South to North. Then, fisheries and environmental policies have complementary effects on pollution havens from the South to the North. This study result stating that fishery policies, not environmental ones, can achieve sustainable blue tourism. This outcome relies on the cost of exogenous rent-seeking for ITQs being passed on to fishing prices. Hence, in the blue economy, this rent-seeking could have serious negative impacts on marine ecosystems. Besides, this study suggests that in the blue economy, fisheries and environmental policies may have unintended adverse government impacts on fisheries resources and pollution emissions through their interdependent effects. In achieving a sustainable blue economy, policymakers should consider the indirect effects of these policies on marine ecosystems.
Bird behaviour characterisation and environment dependence modelling in airport airspace based on radar datasets
Authors: Xu Q. , Liu J. , Su M. , Chen W.S.
Published: September 2024

Bird strike accidents are critical threats for aviation safety especially in airport airspaces. Environment friendly solutions are preferred for wildlife managements to achieve harmonic coexistence between airports and surrounding environments. Avian radar systems are the most effective remote sensing approach for long-range and all-weather birds monitoring. Massive historical avian radar datasets and other data sources provide an opportunity to explore relevance between bird behaviour and environments. This paper proposes a bird behaviour characterisation and prediction method to reveal bird behaviour dependency with weather parameters. Bird behaviours are modelled as indices and grades from selected avian radar datasets. Weather dependence are studied from single parameter to multivariable parameters. The random forest model is selected as a behaviour grade prediction model taking four weather parameters as system inputs. Radar datasets for diurnal and nocturnal birds are constructed to validate their behaviour characters and prediction performance, respectively. Experiment results verify the feasibility of bird behaviour prediction using weather parameters, but also reflect some insufficiencies within the proposed method. Data sufficiency and severe weather considerations are also discussed to analyse their impact on prediction accuracy. A more comprehensive prediction model with standardised avian radar data quality and enhanced weather information accuracy is promising to further elevate the application significance of the proposed method.
Pharmacotherapy guideline concordance for major depressive disorder and its link to functioning via symptom change
Authors: Breitzig Mason T. , He Fan , Kong Lan , Liu Guodong , Waschbusch Daniel A. , Yanosky Jeff D. , Liao Duanping , Saunders Erika F.H.
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Alleviation of symptom severity for major depressive disorder (MDD) is known to be associated with a lagged improvement of functioning. Pharmacotherapy guidelines support algorithms for MDD treatment. However, it is currently unclear whether concordance with guidelines influences functional recovery. A guideline concordance algorithm (GCA-8) was used to measure this pathway in a naturalistic clinical setting.

Methods:

Data from 1403 adults (67% female, 84% non-Hispanic/Latino White, mean age of 43 years) with nonpsychotic MDD from the Penn State Psychiatry Clinical Assessment and Rating Evaluation System registry (visits from 02/01/2015 to 04/13/2021) were evaluated. Multivariable linear regression measured associations between GCA-8 and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) scores. Mediation by MDD symptom severity using the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) was also evaluated.

Results:

This study found a statistically significant improvement in WHODAS scores (functioning) between baseline and final measures (−2 points, P < .001) within one year. A one standard deviation increase in the GCA-8 score was associated with a 0.48-point reduction in mean disability score (total effect; P = .02) with significant mediation by the change in MDD symptom severity (coefficient = −0.51, P < .001) and a nonsignificant natural direct effect of the GCA-8 independent of PHQ-9 change (coefficient = −0.02, P = .92).

Conclusions:

Higher pharmacotherapy guideline concordance is associated with better functioning for MDD patients; this association likely occurs through improvement in MDD symptom severity rather than directly.
SEED: A novel web-based data visualization platform to visualize, communicate, and explore social, environmental, and equity drivers of health
Authors: Bhavsar Nrupen A. , Sperling Jessica , Ruiz Raquel , Mohottige Dinushika , Muhigaba Perusi , Silberberg Mina , Leiro Anthony , Maxson Pamela , Lyn Michelle , Boulware L. Ebony
Published: September 2024

Multisector stakeholders, including, community-based organizations, health systems, researchers, policymakers, and commerce, increasingly seek to address health inequities that persist due to structural racism. They require accessible tools to visualize and quantify the prevalence of social drivers of health (SDOH) and correlate them with health to facilitate dialog and action. We developed and deployed a web-based data visualization platform to make health and SDOH data available to the community. We conducted interviews and focus groups among end users of the platform to establish needs and desired platform functionality. The platform displays curated SDOH and de-identified and aggregated local electronic health record data. The resulting Social, Environmental, and Equity Drivers (SEED) Health Atlas integrates SDOH data across multiple constructs, including socioeconomic status, environmental pollution, and built environment. Aggregated health prevalence data on multiple conditions can be visualized in interactive maps. Data can be visualized and downloaded without coding knowledge. Visualizations facilitate an understanding of community health priorities and local health inequities. SEED could facilitate future discussions on improving community health and health equity. SEED provides a promising tool that members of the community and researchers may use in their efforts to improve health equity.
Unveiling readability challenges: An extensive analysis of consent document accessibility in clinical trials
Authors: Zai Adrian H. , Faro Jamie M. , Allison Jeroan
Published: September 2024

Background:

Clinical research trials rely on informed consent forms (ICFs) to explain all aspects of the study to potential participants. Despite efforts to ensure the readability of ICFs, concerns about their complexity and participant understanding persist. There is a noted gap between Institutional Review Board (IRB) standards and the actual readability levels of ICFs, which often exceed the recommended 8th-grade reading level. This study evaluates the readability of over five thousand ICFs from ClinicalTrials.gov in the USA to assess their literacy levels.

Methods:

We analyzed 5,239 US-based ICFs from ClinicalTrials.gov using readability metrics such as the Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, and the percentage of difficult words. We examined trends in readability levels across studies initiated from 2005 to 2024.

Results:

Most ICFs exceeded the recommended 8th-grade reading level, with an average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of 10.99. While 91% of the ICFs were written above the 8th-grade level, there was an observable improvement in readability, with fewer studies exceeding a 10th-grade reading level in recent years.

Conclusions:

The study reveals a discrepancy between the recommended readability levels and actual ICFs, highlighting a need for simplification. Despite a trend toward improvement in more recent years, ongoing efforts are necessary to ensure ICFs are comprehensible to participants of varied educational backgrounds, reinforcing the ethical integrity of the consent process.
Informing synthetic passive microwave predictions through Bayesian deep learning with uncertainty decomposition
Authors: Ortiz Pedro , Casas Eleanor , Orescanin Marko , Powell Scott W. , Petkovic Veljko
Published: September 2024

Space-borne passive microwave (PMW) data provide rich information on atmospheric state, including cloud structure and underlying surface properties. However, PMW data are sparse and limited due to low Earth orbit collection, resulting in coarse Earth system sampling. This study demonstrates that Bayesian deep learning (BDL) is a promising technique for predicting synthetic microwave (MW) data and its uncertainties from more ubiquitously available geostationary infrared observations. Our BDL models decompose predicted uncertainty into aleatoric (irreducible) and epistemic (reducible) components, providing insights into uncertainty origin and guiding model improvement. Low and high aleatoric uncertainty values are characteristic of clear sky and cloudy regions, respectively, suggesting that expanding the input feature vector to allow richer information content could improve model performance. The initially high average epistemic uncertainty metrics quantified by most models indicate that the training process would benefit from a greater data volume, leading to improved performance at most studied MW frequencies. Using quantified epistemic uncertainty to select the most useful additional training data (a training dataset size increase of 3.6%), the study reduced the mean absolute error and root mean squared error by 1.74% and 1.38%, respectively. The broader impact of this study is the demonstration of how predicted epistemic uncertainty can be used to select targeted training data. This allows for the curation of smaller, more optimized training datasets and also allows for future active learning studies.
On the stability of fully nonlinear hydraulic-fall solutions to the forced water wave problem
Authors: Keeler J.S. , Blyth M.G.
Published: September 2024

Two-dimensional free-surface flow over localised topography is examined, with the emphasis on the stability of hydraulic-fall solutions. A Gaussian topography profile is assumed with a positive or negative amplitude modelling a bump or a dip, respectively. Steady hydraulic-fall solutions to the full incompressible, irrotational Euler equations are computed, and their linear and nonlinear stability is analysed by computing eigenspectra of the pertinent linearised operator and by solving an initial value problem. The computations are carried out numerically using a specially developed computational framework based on the finite-element method. The Hamiltonian structure of the problem is demonstrated, and stability is determined by computing eigenspectra of the pertinent linearised operator. It is found that a hydraulic-fall flow over a bump is spectrally stable. The corresponding flow over a dip is found to be linearly unstable. In the latter case, time-dependent simulations show that ultimately, the flow settles into a time-periodic motion that corresponds to an invariant solution in an appropriately defined phase space. Physically, the solution consists of a localised large-amplitude wave that pulsates above the dip while simultaneously emitting nonlinear cnoidal waves in the upstream direction and multi-harmonic linear waves in the downstream direction.