bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the learning curve: assessing caseload and comparing outcomes before and after the learning curve of computer-navigated total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Hecht II Christian J. , Porto Joshua R. , Sanghvi Parshva A. , Homma Yasuhiro , Sculco Peter K. , Kamath Atul F.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Computer-navigated (CN) total hip arthroplasty (THA) offers improved acetabular component placement and radiographic outcomes, but inconsistent assessment methods of its learning curves render the evaluation of adopting a novel platform challenging. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to assess the learning curve associated with CN-THA, both tracking a surgeon's performance across initial cases and comparing their performance to manual THA (M-THA).

Methods

A search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar on June 16, 2023 to find research articles published after January 1, 2000 (PROSPERO registration: CRD4202339403) that investigated the learning curve associated with CN-THA. 655 distinct articles were retrieved and subsequently screened for eligibility. In the final analysis, nine publications totaling 847 THAs were evaluated. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) tool was utilized to evaluate the potential for bias, with the mean MINORS score of 21.3 ± 1.2.

Results

CN-THA showed early advantages to M-THA for component placement accuracy and radiographic outcomes but longer operative times (+ 3− 20 min). There was a learning curve required to achieve peak proficiency in these metrics, though mixed methodologies made the required caseload unclear.

Conclusions

CN-THA offers immediate advantages to M-THA for component placement accuracy and radiographic outcomes, though CN-THA’s advantages become more pronounced with experience. Surgeons should anticipate longer operative times during the learning curve for CN-THA, which lessen following a modest caseload. A more thorough evaluation of novel computer-navigated technologies would be enhanced by adopting a more uniform method of defining learning curves for outcomes of interest.

Registration PROSPERO registration of the study protocol: CRD42023394031, 27 June 2023.
The economic incentive for risk taking in professional partnerships
Authors: Jennergren L. Peter
Published: March 2024

Professional service firms are common in some areas, in particular auditing and law. They are organized as partnerships, private corporations, or public corporations. This paper discusses the first category of these three. When a partner leaves the partnership, her/his shares are redeemed. Two alternatives for redemption are at book value, the traditional alternative, or at fair market value. By means of a novel discounted dividends model that includes risk taking, it is shown that there may be an economic incentive for risk taking when the redemption value is equal to book value. There may also be an incentive for risk taking when the redemption value is equal to fair market value. However, the level of risk taking in the latter alternative is not higher than the level of risk taking in the former alternative. Switching from book value to fair market value as redemption value is hence suggested as one way to reduce client propensity for litigation. This paper’s incentive for risk taking in a professional partnership has apparently not been noted in the literature.
Wise leaders fostering employees’ speaking up behaviors: developing and validating a measure of leader-expressed practical wisdom
Authors: Rego Arménio , Meyer Marcel , Júnior Dálcio Reis , Cunha Miguel Pina e
Published: March 2024

Practical wisdom, an essential component of leadership, has been approached mainly from a theoretical perspective. While there are barely any empirical studies on leaders’ practical wisdom, quantitative ones are even rarer, and no valid measure of a leader’s practical wisdom exists. Thus, our understanding of whether and how wise leaders influence their followers is limited. Inspired by Thomas Aquinas’ ideas on practical wisdom, we operationalize it as a tridimensional capacity of inquiring, judging, and acting in an emotionally regulated way, and develop and validate a corresponding measure of leader-expressed practical wisdom. To support our operationalization, we test how leader-expressed practical wisdom predicts employees’ speaking up behaviors via their psychological safety. Our rationale is that to make better decisions, wise leaders are receptive to employees’ views that address matters of concern and challenge the status quo with the intention of improving the situation – such a receptiveness being enabled by fostering employees’ psychological safety. Through a two-wave field study, a three-wave field study, and a vignette-based experiment carried out in three countries we obtain empirical support for that three-dimensional construct and show that leader-expressed practical wisdom predicts employees’ speaking up behaviors via their psychological safety.
Analysis of economic growth through the context conditions that allow entrepreneurship
Authors: Cervelló-Royo Roberto , Devece Carlos , Lull Juan J.
Published: March 2024

The literature that recognizes the entrepreneurial function as a fundamental factor in regions’ and countries’ growth abounds. When studying the macroeconomic conditions that favor entrepreneurship, most studies analyze the problem from an organizational level. This article assumes the value of entrepreneurship as a mediating element in economic growth. It analyzes the most relevant legal and macroeconomic conditions that improve the suitable adjustment of entrepreneurial initiatives to the demands and available resources of a given economy. These conditions are not analyzed strictly from an economic perspective but in terms of their impact on the entrepreneurial function. To validate our hypotheses, a qualitative methodology focused on Latin American countries is used to reduce the heterogeneity of the cultural and historical context of the studied cases. The results reveal that low or moderate inflation, together with investment freedom and low tax burden, are the most determining factors of economic growth in Latin America.
Does the use of digital tools improve a firm’s performance?
Authors: Grijalba Miguel Angoitia , Hernández Yolanda Bueno , Perez-Encinas Adriana , Urda Begoña Santos
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant economic impact. Different economic agents have been forced to make temporary or permanent changes to their usual patterns of economic activity. In some business sectors, confinement brought activity to a standstill; in others, it led to the spread of teleworking and, in parallel, highlighted, among other aspects, the importance of digital sales channels. In this context, digitalization can be seen as an opportunity (even a necessity) to maintain the level of business activity and to develop new business initiatives. Firms that used digital tools in their pre-pandemic processes were better prepared to face the health and economic crises and could emerge from them earlier than those companies that were less digitized. Drawing on data from The Future of Business Survey, this paper analyzes the adoption of digital tools in the wake of the pandemic and examines the relationship between pre- and post-pandemic indicators of business digitization and business performance, as measured by sales and employeees. It also considers the diversity of existing digital platforms and the possible uses of these tools.
Cellular Alterations in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction
Authors: Michel Lars , Ferdinandy Peter , Rassaf Tienush
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has emerged as a pivotal advancement in cancer treatment, but the widespread adoption has given rise to a growing number of reports detailing significant cardiovascular toxicity. This review concentrates on elucidating the mechanisms behind ICI-related cardiovascular complications, emphasizing preclinical and mechanistic data.

Recent Findings

Accumulating evidence indicates a more significant role of immune checkpoints in maintaining cardiac integrity than previously understood, and new key scientific data are available to improve our understanding of ICI-related cardiovascular toxicity, including hidden cardiotoxicity. New avenues for innovative concepts are hypothesized, and opportunities to leverage the knowledge from ICI-therapy for pioneering approaches in related scientific domains can be derived from the latest scientific projects.

Cardiotoxicity from ICI therapy is a paramount challenge for cardio-oncology. Understanding the underlying effects builds the foundation for tailored cardioprotective approaches in the growing collective at risk for severe cardiovascular complications.
Osteoarthritis as an Enhanceropathy: Gene Regulation in Complex Musculoskeletal Disease
Authors: Roberts Jack B. , Rice Sarah J.
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

Osteoarthritis is a complex and highly polygenic disease. Over 100 reported osteoarthritis risk variants fall in non-coding regions of the genome, ostensibly conferring functional effects through the disruption of regulatory elements impacting target gene expression. In this review, we summarise the progress that has advanced our knowledge of gene enhancers both within the field of osteoarthritis and more broadly in complex diseases.

Recent Findings

Advances in technologies such as ATAC-seq have facilitated our understanding of chromatin states in specific cell types, bolstering the interpretation of GWAS and the identification of effector genes. Their application to osteoarthritis research has revealed enhancers as the principal regulatory element driving disease-associated changes in gene expression. However, tissue-specific effects in gene regulatory mechanisms can contribute added complexity to biological interpretation.

Understanding gene enhancers and their altered activity in specific cell and tissue types is the key to unlocking the genetic complexity of osteoarthritis. The use of single-cell technologies in osteoarthritis research is still in its infancy. However, such tools offer great promise in improving our functional interpretation of osteoarthritis GWAS and the identification of druggable targets. Large-scale collaborative efforts will be imperative to understand tissue and cell-type specific molecular mechanisms underlying enhancer function in disease.
Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cell Therapy Improves Salivary Flow Rate in Radiation-Induced Salivary Gland Hypofunction in Preclinical in vivo Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Carlander Amanda-Louise Fenger , Gundestrup Anders Kierkegaard , Jansson Per Marcus , Follin Bjarke , Hoeeg Cecilie , Kousholt Birgitte Saima , Larsen Rasmus Tolstrup , Jakobsen Kathrine Kronberg , Rimborg Susie , Fischer-Nielsen Anne , Grønhøj Christian , Buchwald Christian von , Lynggaard Charlotte Duch
Published: March 2024

Background

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have been suggested for salivary gland (SG) restoration following radio-induced salivary gland damage. This study aimed to determine the safety and effectiveness of MSC therapy on radio-induced SG damage and hypofunction in preclinical in vivo studies.

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched for preclinical in vivo interventional studies evaluating efficacy and safety of MSC treatment following radio-induced salivary gland damage published before 10th of January 2022. The primary endpoint was salivary flow rate (SFR) evaluated in a meta-analysis. The study protocol was published and registered on PROSPERO (www.crd.ac.uk/prospero), registration number CRD42021227336.

Results

A total of 16 preclinical in vivo studies were included for qualitative analysis (858 experimental animals) and 13 in the meta-analysis (404 experimental animals). MSCs originated from bone marrow (four studies), adipose tissue (10 studies) and salivary gland tissue (two studies) and were administered intravenously (three studies), intra-glandularly (11 studies) or subcutaneously (one study). No serious adverse events were reported. The overall effect on SFR was significantly increased with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 6.99 (95% CI: 2.55–11.42). Studies reported improvements in acinar tissue, vascular areas and paracrine factors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis showed a significant effect of MSC therapy for restoring SG functioning and regenerating SG tissue following radiotherapy in preclinical in vivo studies without serious adverse events. MSC therapy holds significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of radio-induced xerostomia, but comprehensive, randomized, clinical trials in humans are required to ascertain their efficacy in a clinical setting.

Graphical Abstract
Mpox Pharyngitis
Authors: Saro-Buendía Miguel , Palacios-Díaz Rodolfo David , Suárez-Urquiza Pedro , Mansilla-Polo Miguel , Bancalari-Díaz Catalina , Cabrera-Guijo Javier , Armengot-Carceller Miguel
Published: March 2024

A case of mpox pharyngitis in absence of cutaneous lesions is reported. Usually, clinical presentation is either a cutaneous eruption or a combination of cutaneous and mucosal lesions. In patients with atypical pharyngitis, regardless of the presence of skin lesions, pharyngeal swabs should be collected to rule out mpox.
Paramedic Professionalism and Sex Work: Is it Morally Permissible for Paramedics to Also be Sex Workers?
Authors: Luck Morgan , Townsend Ruth
Published: March 2024

In this paper we focus on the possibility that a paramedic might also be a (legal) sex worker. We consider whether such a possibility is grounds for an employer to dismiss, and/or a professional board to deregister, such a paramedic. To make this determination we consider whether it is ever permissible for an employer to dismiss someone because they are a sex worker. To this end we examine a paradigm case of permissible dismissal for engaging in sex work – that of being employed as a Catholic role model. We argue that the underlying principles that may make this dismissal permissible do not extend to the paramedic profession. We then examine an alternative argument for the permissibility of dismissing a paramedic for being a sex worker – that sex work may undermine public confidence in the profession. We put pressure on this argument, suggesting that professions have a duty to challenge certain biases even if, in doing so, public confidence in the profession may be undermined.
How does mindfulness relate to sustainable attitude and behavior? The role of possible mediators
Authors: Jansen Petra , Rahe Martina , Wolff Fabian
Published: March 2024

The study’s primary goal is to investigate the relationship between different aspects of mindfulness which were carved out by a systematic literature review on sustainability through possible mediators. The relationship between different aspects of mindfulness (acceptance, acting with awareness, decentering, inner awareness, outer awareness, insight) and sustainable attitudes and behavior under the consideration of mediating variables (congruence of attitudes and behavior, values, well-being, connectedness to nature, disruption of routines, pro-socialness) was investigated in 337 participants. The results showed the diverse relation of mindfulness to sustainable attitude and behavior. In a mediation model, sustainable attitude and sustainable behavior were positively predicted by outer awareness and insight via connectedness to nature. Moreover, sustainable attitude and behavior were positively predicted by inner awareness, outer awareness, and insight via pro-socialness. There were no direct effects from any other aspect of mindfulness on sustainable attitude or behavior. Our study hints that connectedness to nature and pro-socialness are the relevant mediators between mindfulness (awareness and insight) and sustainable attitude and behavior. However, further intervention studies should test whether these mindfulness aspects are the most important for changing sustainable attitudes and behaviors.
The Influence of Glass Fiber and Copper Wire z-Binder on the Mechanical Properties of 3D Woven Polymeric Composites
Authors: Ghandour A. Ashraf , Selmy A. I. , Megahed M. , Kabeel A. M. , Ibrahim Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Three-dimensional composites (3D) have potential applications in various fields due to their enhanced properties compared to conventional two-dimensional composites (2D). This study investigates the effect of different volumes of z-binder made from copper wire and E-glass fiber on the mechanical properties of 3D woven polymeric composites. The tensile, flexural, and fracture toughness behavior of four types of 3D orthogonal woven composites were studied in addition to a comparative 2D composite. The creation of the 3D orthogonal single-ply fabrics involved weaving z-binders using two different copper wire diameters, single fiber bundles, and double fiber bundles, each combined with four layers of woven E-glass fiber. The consolidation process for both 2D fabric and single-fabric 3D woven composites was executed using the hand lay-up technique. The results showed that most 3D woven composites outperformed 2D composites in terms of fracture toughness (stress intensity factor KIC and energy release rate GIC) and flexural strain. However, a decrease in flexural strength and tensile properties was observed for all 3D composites. The specimen with a small copper diameter had the smallest decrease of 5% in tensile strength. Furthermore, a decrease of 9% and 21% was attained by reinforcing with double and single glass fiber bundle z-binders, respectively, as compared with 2D composites. The highest enhancement of 92.5% in flexural failure strain was attained with double glass fiber bundles of z-binder. The maximum improvement in KIC fracture toughness, reaching 126% and 101.5%, was observed in specimens with a single glass fiber bundle z-binder and those with a large copper wire diameter, respectively.
Beyond control over data: Conceptualizing data sovereignty from a social contract perspective
Authors: Abbas Antragama Ewa , van Velzen Thomas , Ofe Hosea , van de Kaa Geerten , Zuiderwijk Anneke , de Reuver Mark
Published: March 2024

In the data economy, data sovereignty is often conceptualized as data providers’ ability to control their shared data. While control is essential, the current literature overlooks how this facet interrelates with other sovereignty facets and contextual conditions. Drawing from social contract theory and insights from 31 expert interviews, we propose a data sovereignty conceptual framework encompassing protection, participation, and provision facets. The protection facets establish data sharing foundations by emphasizing baseline rights, such as data ownership. Building on this foundation, the participation facet, through responsibility divisions, steers the provision facets. Provision comprises facets such as control, security, and compliance mechanisms, thus ensuring that foundational rights are preserved during and after data sharing. Contextual conditions (data type, organizational size, and business data sharing setting) determine the level of difficulty in realizing sovereignty facets. For instance, if personal data is shared, privacy becomes a relevant protection facet, leading to challenges of ownership between data providers and data subjects, compliance demands, and control enforcement. Our novel conceptualization paves the way for coherent and comprehensive theory development concerning data sovereignty as a complex, multi-faceted construct.
Fouling communities from the South African west coast are vulnerable to cooling and ocean acidification
Authors: Matikinca Phikolomzi , Robinson Tamara B.
Published: March 2024

Changing temperature and ocean acidification are well-recognised consequences of climate change in marine systems. In contrast to global trends, the South African west coast is experiencing cooling due to increased frequency and intensity of upwelling. The implications of concurrent cooling and acidification for marine biota are poorly understood, particularly at the community level. This laboratory study assessed how cooling and acidification might affect fouling communities along the South African west coast. Communities were experimentally exposed to two temperatures, 13℃ (current) and 9℃ (cooling), and three pH treatments, 7.9 (current), 7.6 and 7.4, for 18 days. Cooling and acidification altered community structure. Species diversity declined in response to acidification but was not affected by cooling. This was driven by greatest loss of species at 7.4 pH. Notably, acidification reduced the abundance of both calcifying and soft-bodied taxa, highlighting the vulnerability of taxa like ascidians to acidification. Overall, these results highlight the dominant threat posed by acidification, even for alien taxa that are often perceived as resilient to climate change. Additionally, in regions experiencing cooling, acidification may pose a greater threat to fouling communities than thermal changes.
An orbit determination software suite for Space Surveillance and Tracking applications
Authors: Montaruli Marco Felice , Purpura Giovanni , Cipollone Riccardo , Vittori Andrea De , Facchini Luca , Di Lizia Pierluigi , Massari Mauro , Peroni Moreno , Panico Alessandro , Cecchini Andrea , Rigamonti Marco
Published: March 2024

The growth of both operational satellites and orbital debris is creating the requirement for more robust Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST)-related applications. These systems necessarily must leverage ground-based sensors (optical and radar) to realise higher performance solutions. In this context, the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EUSST) consortium groups European national agencies and institutions, and is in charge of carrying out the following services: conjunction analysis, fragmentation analysis and re-entry prediction, and the Italian Air Force is in charge of the latter two. In this framework, the Italian SST Operational Centre (ISOC) has recently upgraded its system to the ISOC Suite, an integrated platform providing multiple functions and services in the SST domain. This paper presents the orbit determination functions provided by the novel ISOC Suite. First, a statistical index is computed to assess the measurements correlation to a catalogued object. If it is successful, the object predicted orbit is refined through measurements according either to batch or sequential filters; otherwise these are used to refine a first estimate of the target orbital state computed according to dedicated methodologies. After the presentation of the prototypal software architecture, the ISOC Suite performance are assessed and discussed both in terms of synthetic and real data.
Comment on the Paper “Seminumerical Scheme for Mixed Convection Flow of Hybrid Nanofluids with Viscous Dissipation and Dynamic Viscosity, BioNanoScience, doi.org/10.1007/s12668-023-01271-2”
Authors: Pantokratoras Asterios
Published: March 2024

Some serious errors exist in the above paper.
The prognostic value of LAYN in HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and its influence on immune cell infiltration
Authors: Chen Qingjuan , Chen Jiankang , Lu Zuzhuang , Nian Rui , Li Wanjun , Yao Zhongqiang , Mou Shangdong , Liu Ying , Cao Xia , He Wenjing , Zhu Chenjing
Published: March 2024

Background

HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) exhibits different characteristics from HPV-negative tumors in terms of tumor development, clinical features, treatment response, and prognosis. Layilin (LAYN), which contains homology with C-type lectins, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the prognostic value of LAYN and the relationship between LAYN and immune infiltration levels in HPV-related HNSCC patients still require a comprehensive understanding. Herein, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of LAYN and to investigate its underlying immunological function in HPV-related HNSCC.

Methods

Through various bioinformatics methods, we analyzed the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases to explore the potential underlying oncogenic impression of LAYN, including the relevance of LAYN to survival outcomes, clinicopathological factors, immune cell infiltration, and immune marker sets in HPV-related HNSCC. The expression levels of LAYN and HPV were also verified in HNSCC patient tissues.

Results

LAYN was differentially expressed in a variety of tumors. The expression of LAYN in HNSCC was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.0001), and high expression of LAYN was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) in HNSCC patients (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.3, P = 0.035). Moreover, LAYN expression level in HPV-positive HNSCC patients was significantly lower than that in HPV-negative patients, with HPV-positive HNSCC patients displaying a trend of favorable prognosis. In addition, the relationship between LAYN expression and immune infiltration levels in HPV-positive HNSCC group was less tightly correlated than that in HPV-negative HNSCC group, and there was a strong relationship between LAYN expression and markers of M2 macrophage (P < 0.001) and exhausted T cells (P < 0.05) in HPV-negative HNSCC. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that LAYN potentially influenced tumor progression through HPV infection and other cancer-related pathways.

Conclusions

LAYN might contribute to tumorigenesis via its positive correlation with immune checkpoint molecules and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Our study might provide a novel prognostic biomarker and latent therapeutic target for the treatment of HPV-related HNSCC.
Effects of different surgical approaches on health-related quality of life in pediatric and adolescent patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Su Yanling , Wang Feng , Chen Shunjin , Yao Xiyu
Published: March 2024

Objective

We aimed to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric and adolescent patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent bilateral or unilateral thyroidectomy.

Methods

This prospective observational study recruited children and adolescents diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma at low risk of recurrence. Participants were categorized into bilateral or unilateral thyroidectomy groups. They were asked to complete one questionnaire regarding basic information and three others regarding quality of life. HRQOL data from patients who underwent different procedures at various time points were compared.

Results

Thirty patients underwent unilateral thyroidectomy and 54 bilateral thyroidectomy (median age = 14.27 years). HRQOL of the unilateral thyroidectomy group was higher than the bilateral group.

Conclusion

For children and adolescents with papillary thyroid carcinoma at low risk of recurrence, bilateral thyroidectomy is associated with a lower HRQOL than unilateral thyroidectomy. Surgeons should consider tumor impact and HRQOL when selecting the most appropriate surgical method.
“In the end, the story of climate change was one of hope and redemption”: ChatGPT’s narrative on global warming
Authors: Sommer Bernd , von Querfurth Sarah
Published: March 2024

AI chatbots such as ChatGPT help people produce texts. According to media reporting, these texts are also used for educational purposes. Thus, AI influences people’s knowledge and perception of current issues. This paper examines the narrative of ChatGPT's stories on climate change. Our explorative analysis reveals that ChatGPT’s stories on climate change show a relatively uniform structure and similar content. Generally, the narrative is in line with scientific knowledge on climate change; the stories convey no significant misinformation. However, specific topics in current debates on global warming are conspicuously missing. According to the ChatGPT narrative, humans as a species are responsible for climate change and specific economic activities or actors associated with carbon emissions play no role. Analogously, the social structuration of vulnerability to climate impacts and issues of climate justice are hardly addressed. ChatGPT’s narrative consists of de-politicized stories that are highly optimistic about technological progress.
Why Care About Sustainable AI? Some Thoughts From The Debate on Meaning in Life
Authors: Rüther Markus
Published: March 2024

The focus of AI ethics has recently shifted towards the question of whether and how the use of AI technologies can promote sustainability. This new research question involves discerning the sustainability of AI itself and evaluating AI as a tool to achieve sustainable objectives. This article aims to examine the justifications that one might employ to advocate for promoting sustainable AI. Specifically, it concentrates on a dimension of often disregarded reasons — reasons of “meaning” or “meaningfulness” — as discussed more recently in the “meaning in life” literature of analytic ethics. To proceed, the article first elucidates the working definitions of “sustainable AI” and “meaning in life”, while also setting the criteria for evaluating the plausibility of these reasons. Subsequently, it presents and scrutinises three arguments for the claim that one has reasons to care about sustainable AI from a perspective of meaning: the Meaning-conferring-action Argument, the Afterlife Argument, and the Harm Argument. In conclusion, this article asserts that only the Harm Argument presents a viable line of reasoning. However, it also outlines the presuppositions of this argument and the additional steps necessary to make it compelling.
Investigations on the influence of angular and linear misalignment on the fatigue strength of HFMI-treated structural steel butt joints
Authors: Ripsch Benjamin , Gabriel Göran , Gericke Andreas , Henkel Knuth-Michael
Published: March 2024

The effect of High-Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) treatment on the fatigue resistance of structural steel S355 butt welds with macro geometric imperfections outside of the usual fatigue design limits was investigated. Thin-walled specimens (t = 8 mm) were manufactured with different degrees of angular and linear misalignment and fatigue tested in the as welded and HFMI treated condition. The fatigue test results show that HFMI treatment can compensate the fatigue strength-reducing effects of macro geometric imperfections (ΔσC,HFMI = 127 N/mm2, m = 5), but also that linear and angular misalignment does not reduce the fatigue strength of butt welds as severely as rules and guidelines suggest (ΔσC,AW = 107 N/mm2, m = 3). Underestimating the fatigue strength determined by testing by more than 40%, numerical analysis and strain gauge measurements show that the application of the effective notch stress approach and the structural hot-spot stress approach delivers conservative assessment results, which might not always be representative for the actual fatigue strength benefit that can be gained by HFMI treatment.
The effect of xylitol chewing gums and candies on caries occurrence in children: a systematic review with special reference to caries level at study baseline
Authors: Pienihäkkinen K. , Hietala-Lenkkeri A. , Arpalahti I. , Söderling E.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

A systematic review of published data was carried out to assess the caries-preventive effects of xylitol chewing gums and candies in children.

Methods

Electronic and hand searches were performed to find clinical studies on the effects of xylitol chewing gums and candies on dental caries in children (≤ 18 years). Prospective randomised or controlled clinical trials published before 2023 were included in the review.

Results

The initial search identified 365 titles to be evaluated. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles with either fair or low quality were reviewed. Nine articles studied chewing gums, five candies, and one both of them. In the ten evaluated xylitol chewing gum studies xylitol consumption significantly reduced caries occurrence when compared with no treatment or a placebo polyol gum. The effect was clinically significant in studies with high or moderate caries level at study baseline. The results also suggested that the caries-reducing effect of xylitol gums may differ from sorbitol/polyol gums. In five of the six heterogenous xylitol candy studies, no caries-reducing effect was found independent of caries level. In addition to caries level, also the daily xylitol dose was a confounding factor.

Conclusion

The present findings suggest that the caries-reducing effect of adding xylitol chewing gum to the daily diet has been well demonstrated in children and adolescents with high or moderate caries level at study baseline. Xylitol gum use could benefit subjects with active incipient caries lesions on smooth tooth surfaces.
Using Machine Learning for Motion Analysis to Early Detect Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Simeoli Roberta , Rega Angelo , Cerasuolo Mariangela , Nappo Raffaele , Marocco Davide
Published: March 2024

Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is typically performed using traditional tools based on behavioral observations. However, these diagnosis methods are time-consuming and can be misleading. Integrating machine learning algorithms with technological screening tools within the typical behavioral observations can possibly enhance the traditional assessment and diagnostic process. In the last two decades, to improve the accuracy and reliability of autism detection, many clinicians and researchers began to develop new screening methods by means of advanced technology like machine learning (ML). These methods include artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), a priori algorithms, and decision trees (DT). Mostly, these methods have been applied to pre-existing datasets, derived from the standard diagnostic and assessment tools, to implement and test predictive models. On the other hand, the detection of new objective behavioral measures such as biomarkers could lead to a significant strengthening of existing screening tools. In the present study, we carried out a critical review of the literature about the latest findings in this field. The aim was to shed light about the effectiveness of using ML systems for motion analysis to enhance both clinical assessment and diagnostic processes. Specifically, we discussed the contribution of ML systems in promoting early diagnosis of ASD. The literature review showed that motion patterns ML analysis predicts ASD classification as accurately as that of classical gold standard tools. However, the application of these methods is still challenging, as discussed in this review.
A data decomposition and attention mechanism-based hybrid approach for electricity load forecasting
Authors: Oqaibi Hadi , Bedi Jatin
Published: March 2024

An accurate and reliable prediction of future energy patterns is of utmost significance for the smooth operation of several related activities such as capacity or generation unit planning, transmission network optimization, better resources availability, and many more. With the availability of historical load datasets through smart grid systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning-based techniques have been extensively developed for achieving the desired objectives. However, effectively capturing strong randomness and non-linear fluctuations in the load time-series remains a critical issue that demands concrete solutions. Considering this, the current research proposes a hybrid approach amalgamating data smoothing and decomposition strategy with deep neural models for improving forecasting results. Moreover, an attention mechanism is integrated to capture relevant portions of the time series, thus achieving the desired ability to capture long-term dependencies among load demand observations. This integration enhances the prediction and generalization capabilities of the proposed model. To validate the performance benefits achieved by the proposed approach, a comparative evaluation is conducted with state-of-the-art neural-based load series prediction models. The performance assessment is carried out on a novel real-world dataset of five southern states of India, and the superiority of the proposed in capturing load time-series variations is well observed and demonstrated in terms of several performance indicators.
A novel implicit decision variable classification approach for high-dimensional robust multi-objective optimization in order scheduling
Authors: Xiao Youkai , Du Wei , Tang Yang
Published: March 2024

This paper efficiently addresses the high-dimensional robust order scheduling problem. A novel algorithm named dynamic cooperative coevolution based on an implicit decision variable classification approach (DCC/IDVCA) is developed to search for robust order schedules. To significantly reduce the computational resources required for solving the high-dimensional robust order scheduling problem, we propose decomposing the original decision variables through implicit classification methods. First, a novel estimation method is introduced to evaluate the weighted contribution of variables to robustness. This method utilizes historical information, including the variation of the overall mean effective fitness and the frequency of variables being classified into highly robustness-related subcomponents in previous cycles, for evaluating their weighted contribution to robustness. Then, based on the corresponding weighted robustness contributions, the original variables are classified into highly and weakly robustness-related variables. Finally, these two types of variables are decomposed into highly and weakly robustness-related subgroups within a dynamic cooperative coevolution framework and optimized separately. In the experimental section, the proposed algorithm is applied to two practical order scheduling problems in discrete manufacturing industry. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves competitive outcomes compared to state-of-the-art high-dimensional robust multi-objective optimization algorithms.
Time-aware MADDPG with LSTM for multi-agent obstacle avoidance: a comparative study
Authors: Zhao Enyu , Zhou Ning , Liu Chanjuan , Su Houfu , Liu Yang , Cong Jinmiao
Published: March 2024

Intelligent agents and multi-agent systems are increasingly used in complex scenarios, such as controlling groups of drones and non-player characters in video games. In these applications, multi-agent navigation and obstacle avoidance are foundational functions. However, problems become more challenging with the increased complexity of the environment and the dynamic decision-making interactions among agents. The Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (MADDPG) algorithm is a classical multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm successfully used to improve agents’ performance. However, it ignores the temporal message hidden in agents’ interaction with the environment and needs to be more efficient in scenarios with many agents due to its training technique. To address the limitations of MADDPG, we propose to explore modified algorithms of MADDPG for multi-agent navigation and obstacle avoidance. By combining MADDPG with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), we obtain the MADDPG-LSTMactor algorithm, which leverages continuous observations over time as input for the policy network, enabling the LSTM layer to capture hidden temporal patterns. Moreover, by simplifying the input of the critic network, we obtain the MADDPG-L algorithm for efficiency improvement in scenarios with many agents. Experimental results demonstrate that these algorithms outperform existing networks in the OpenAI multi-agent particle environment. We also conducted a comparative study of the LSTM-based approach with Transformer and self-attention models in the task of multi-agent navigation and obstacle avoidance. The results reveal that Transformer and self-attention do not consistently outperform LSTM. The LSTM-based model exhibits a favorable tradeoff across varying sequence lengths. Overall, this work addresses the limitations of MADDPG in multi-agent navigation and obstacle avoidance tasks, providing insights for developing intelligent agents and multi-agent systems.
Which characteristics do religious school administrators value in teachers? Experimental evidence from the global Christian school sector
Authors: Johnson Alison , Lee Matthew H. , Cheng Albert
Published: March 2024

Research shows that teacher quality is the most important school-related input correlated with student success. In religious private schools, teachers do not merely influence academic outcomes; they may also play a role in spiritual formation. Religious school administrators report that their faith informs their hiring decisions. However, little research has examined the ways that religious school administrators choose individuals to place in teaching positions. In this study, we use conjoint analysis to experimentally examine the hiring preferences of 170 Christian school administrators. We find that having modest (compared to below-average) academic achievement and qualifications or extensive (compared to limited) experience each increases a teacher candidate’s likelihood of being hired by 26 percentage points. Having strong (compared to modest) academics, being a graduate of a Christian (compared to secular) postsecondary institution, or being a graduate of the administrator’s K-12 school (compared to a different school) produces smaller effects.
Effect of Additives on Heat Hardened Inorganic Solid Foundry Binder
Authors: Anwar Nurul , Major-Gabryś Katarzyna , Jalava Kalle , Orkas Juhani
Published: March 2024

Renewed interest in inorganic binders for sand molding has also intensified research on different forms of it. In this study, solid inorganic sodium silicate binder was tested with different additives to see how these affected the silica mold quality. The five additives used were: glucose, sucrose, boric acid, aluminum oxide and iron(III)oxide powders. The mold quality was assessed through tests like bending strength, tensile strength, hot distortion, wear resistance, gas evolution and collapsibility tests. In addition, SEM imaging was done on some select mold fracture samples. In the end, a casting trial was carried out followed by a surface roughness and defects analysis. A reduction in mold strength was noticed with glucose and boric acid, while collapsibility was improved by glucose, sucrose and boric acid additives. Casting trials have shown the best surface finish to be obtained with sucrose additive. All the casts in general showed some penetration; however, repeat casts have proven that altering some casting parameters could result in casts with excellent surface finish using solid silicates.
Making Cities Socialist
Authors: Zubovich Katherine
Published: March 2024

This Element explores the history of urban planning, city building, and city life in the socialist world. It follows the global trajectories of architects, planners, and ideas about socialist urbanism developed during the twentieth century, while also highlighting features of everyday life in socialist cities. The Element opens with a section on the socialist city as it took shape first in the Soviet Union. Subsequent sections take a comparative and transnational approach to the history of socialist urbanism, tracing socialist city development in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
César Vallejo, Trilce y dadá París
Authors: Fernández Carlos
Published: March 2024

César Vallejo paradoxically discounted the modernist significance of his avant-garde masterpiece,Trilce, published in 1922. Yet, in these poems, the renowned Peruvian writer played with the Spanish language, incorporating neologisms, typographic innovations, radical syntax, symbols and shocking imagery.
The Creation of Beethoven's Nine Symphonies
Authors: Cooper Barry A. R.
Published: March 2024

Offers a unique investigation of the composition of the entire corpus of Beethoven's symphonies, reconstructing their creation through the most extensive study of Beethoven's sketches yet.
Implications of Flat‐Slab Subduction on Hydration, Slab Seismicity, and Arc Volcanism in the Pampean Region of Chile and Argentina
Authors: Liu Xiaowen , Wagner Lara S. , Currie Claire A. , Caddick Mark J.
Published: March 2024

The Pampean flat slab in central Chile and Argentina is characterized by the inland migration and subsequent cessation of arc volcanism since the mid‐Miocene. Slab flattening also affects the distribution and number of intermediate‐depth earthquakes and the evolution of the overlying continental thermal structure. In this study, we combine thermal‐mechanical models with petrological models to examine temporal changes in pressure, temperature, and composition during flat‐slab subduction and estimate water carrying capacity, predicted melt distributions and predicted changes in melt composition. Model results indicate that the present‐day flattened Nazca plate carries water to ∼700 km inland from the trench and could cause flux melting if the material above the slab remains fertile. Observed slab seismicity matches areas where hydrated materials have ∼>3 wt% H2O in the oceanic crust and mantle lithosphere. Seismicity increases as slab water carrying capacity decreases (slab dehydration). As P‐T conditions and compositions of the rock trapped above the slab change during slab flattening, flux melting switches from a peridotite‐dominated early phase to a combined mid‐ocean ridge basalt/eclogite and peridotite melting at ∼8 Ma. The results provide broad consistency with known earthquake distributions, seismic velocities, and observed temporal and spatial changes in volcanic patterns above the Pampean flat slab and point toward the role of melt depletion in the decrease and ultimate cessation of arc volcanism in this region.
Geophysical Responses to an Environmentally‐Boosted Volcanic Unrest
Authors: De Siena L. , Amoruso A. , Petrosino S. , Crescentini L.
Published: March 2024

The spatiotemporal relationship between geophysical, environmental, and geochemical responses during volcanic unrest is essentially unknown, making their joint use and interpretation for eruption forecasting challenging. Here, Empirical Orthogonal Functions analysis applied to GPS data allows the separation of the dominant deep‐sourced inflation from environmentally controlled signals associated with extension at Campi Flegrei caldera. This separation bridges the gap between deformation, seismic and geochemical responses, clarifying the processes underlying the ongoing volcanic unrest. Persistent meteoric forcing during the 2017–2018 hydrological year changed the decadal trend of seismic energy and secondary deformation components, pairing their spatial patterns. The result was a block in the carbon dioxide released in 2018 at Solfatara, the primary stress‐release valve at the caldera. The subsequent overpressure weakened the fractured eastern caldera, opening pathways for deep, hot materials to reach the surface. Our results give insight into how environmental forcing can favor volcanic unrest in pressurized calderas.