bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bowel function in a prospective cohort of 1052 healthy term infants up to 4 months of age
Authors: Solasaari Terhi , Korpela Katri , Lommi Sohvi , Hyvönen Sanni , Gardemeister Susanna , Merras-Salmio Laura , Salonen Anne , de Vos Willem M. , Kolho Kaija-Leena
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study is to describe the defecation pattern of healthy infants up to 17 weeks of age. We included 1052 healthy term infants from the prospective HELMi cohort (NCT03996304). Parents filled in recurring online questionnaires on feeding, gastrointestinal function, and crying weekly for the first 17 weeks of life. Defecation frequency was highest at the age of 3 weeks (a median of 4 times/day, interquartile range (IQR) 2.9–5). At each time point, the median defecation frequency of breastfed infants was higher than that of infants receiving formula (e.g., at week 17 a median of 2 times/day, IQR 0.9–3.6, and a median of 1.1, IQR 0.6–1.4, respectively). The dominant color of the stool was most often yellow or light brown. Nearly black stools were reported in the first week of life in 3.4%. Nearly half (47.4%) of the infants had green stool color dominating for at least 1 week, with comparable frequency among breastfed (47.7%) and formula-fed (45.2%) infants. Green stools were associated with a higher defecation frequency (linear mixed-effect model p < 0.0001). Occasional blood in stool was reported in 9.3% and recurrent blood in 5.2% of the infants with no difference in stool consistency. Hard stools were rare (≤ 1%).

     Conclusion: This study enlightens the spectrum of defecation patterns in healthy term infants during the first 17 weeks of life. A better understanding of bowel function helps healthcare professionals distinguish normal from abnormal when addressing defecation, the color of stools, and the type of feeding.

What is Known:• Breastfed infants have more frequent and more yellow-colored stools than formula-fed infants.• Stools with green color are often suggested by the parents or even by medical professionals to indicate disease or discomfort in early life.

What is New:• Nearly half of the healthy term infants had green stool dominating for at least one week during the first 17 weeks and occasional blood was reported in almost 10% of the infants during this period.• Data on normal variation in bowel function and stool may serve primary health care professionals when educating the families and caretakers of infants.
Detection and classification of photovoltaic module defects based on artificial intelligence
Authors: Shaban Warda M.
Published: May 2024

Photovoltaic (PV) system performance and reliability can be improved through the detection of defects in PV modules and the evaluation of their effects on system operation. In this paper, a novel system is proposed to detect and classify defects based on electroluminescence (EL) images. This system is called Fault Detection and Classification (FDC) and splits into four modules, which are (1) Image Preprocessing Module (IPM), (2) Feature Extraction Module (FEM), (3) Feature Selection Module (FSM), and (4) Classification Module (CM). In the first module (i.e., IPM), the EL images are preprocessed to enhance the quality of the images. Next, the two types of features in these images are extracted and fused together through FEM. Then, during FSM, the most important and informative features are extracted from these features using a new feature selection methodology, namely, Feature Selection-based Chaotic Map (FS-CM). FS-CM consists of two stages: filter stage using chi-square to initially select the most effective features and a modified selection stage using an enhanced version of Butterfly Optimization Algorithm (BOA). In fact, BOA is a popular swarm-based metaheuristic optimization algorithm that has only recently found success. While BOA has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks, including a smaller population and an increased likelihood of getting stuck in a local optimum. In this paper, a new methodology is proposed to improve the performance of BOA, called chaotic-based butterfly optimization algorithm. Finally, these selected features are used to feed the proposed classification model through CM. During CM, Hybrid Classification Model (HCM) is proposed. HCM consists of two stages, which are binary classification stage using Naïve Bayes (NB) and multi-class classification stage using enhanced multi-layer perceptron. According to the experimental results, the proposed system FDC outperforms the most recent methods. FDC introduced 98.2%, 89.23%, 87.2%, 87.9%, 87.55%, and 88.20% in terms of accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, g-mean, and f-measure in the same order.
The Quadratic Minimum Spanning Tree Problem: Lower Bounds via Extended Formulations
Authors: Sotirov Renata , Verchére Zoe
Published: May 2024

The quadratic minimum spanning tree problem (QMSTP) is the problem of finding a spanning tree of a graph such that the total interaction cost between pairs of edges in the tree is minimized. We first show that the bounding approaches for the QMSTP in the literature are closely related. Then, we exploit an extended formulation for the minimum spanning tree problem to derive a sequence of relaxations for the QMSTP with increasing complexity and quality. The resulting relaxations differ from the relaxations in the literature. Namely, our relaxations have a polynomial number of constraints and can be efficiently solved by a cutting plane algorithm. Moreover our bounds outperform most of the bounds from the literature.
Polarized consensus-based dynamics for optimization and sampling
Authors: Bungert Leon , Roith Tim , Wacker Philipp
Published: May 2024

In this paper we propose polarized consensus-based dynamics in order to make consensus-based optimization (CBO) and sampling (CBS) applicable for objective functions with several global minima or distributions with many modes, respectively. For this, we “polarize” the dynamics with a localizing kernel and the resulting model can be viewed as a bounded confidence model for opinion formation in the presence of common objective. Instead of being attracted to a common weighted mean as in the original consensus-based methods, which prevents the detection of more than one minimum or mode, in our method every particle is attracted to a weighted mean which gives more weight to nearby particles. We prove that in the mean-field regime the polarized CBS dynamics are unbiased for Gaussian targets. We also prove that in the zero temperature limit and for sufficiently well-behaved strongly convex objectives the solution of the Fokker–Planck equation converges in the Wasserstein-2 distance to a Dirac measure at the minimizer. Finally, we propose a computationally more efficient generalization which works with a predefined number of clusters and improves upon our polarized baseline method for high-dimensional optimization.
Mortality models ensemble via Shapley value
Authors: Bimonte Giovanna , Russolillo Maria , Shang Han Lin , Yang Yang
Published: May 2024

Model averaging techniques in the actuarial literature aim to forecast future longevity appropriately by combining forecasts derived from various models. This approach often yields more accurate predictions than those generated by a single model. The key to enhancing forecast accuracy through model averaging lies in identifying the optimal weights from a finite sample. Utilizing sub-optimal weights in computations may adversely impact the accuracy of the model-averaged longevity forecasts. By proposing a game-theoretic approach employing Shapley values for weight selection, our study clarifies the distinct impact of each model on the collective predictive outcome. This analysis not only delineates the importance of each model in decision-making processes, but also provides insight into their contribution to the overall predictive performance of the ensemble.
Pastoralism and Resulting Challenges for National Parks in Afar, Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Samson , Melaku Hamere , Kidanu Ashenafi GebreGiorgis , Tschopp Rea
Published: May 2024

Pastoralists and national parks are key stakeholders in the management and conservation of natural and protected habitats. In Ethiopia, Afar pastoralists migrate seasonally with their livestock in search for grazing and water areas. Livestock are also a source of infectious diseases that can spread into wildlife populations when pastoralists encroach into unfenced national parks. The interactions between pastoralists and national parks, as well as the subsequent impacts, remain insufficiently understood in Afar. Two structured questionnaire surveys were conducted in 2021, including 300 pastoralist households in seven woredas of Afar, and 58 staff from three national parks (Awash, Alidegi and Yangudi Rassa). They captured pastoralist movements and livestock diseases as well as the perception of national park staff regarding challenges resulting from pastoral encroachment into parks. Among the pastoralists, 74.7% migrated with their livestock for a mean 3.5 months per year, during which time, 90% of respondents reported contact with other livestock herds, and over 80% with wildlife. A third (34.2%) reported disease outbreaks in their village prior to migration. Pastoralists traveled long distances, crossing woreda, regional or national boundaries. All 58-park respondents reported pastoralists with livestock inside their park and their close contact with wildlife. Additionally, 69% reported the presence of domestic dogs. Wildlife displacement, habitat loss and dog attacks on wildlife were perceived as the main threat caused by the presence of pastoralists, whereas diseases were only mentioned by 15.5%. Overall, park staff showed poor disease knowledge. They reported poor disease surveillance and no disease response. Within pastoral contexts, improved collaboration between wildlife and livestock authorities regarding land use, disease awareness and surveillance is needed to balance the needs of both wildlife and pastoralist’s livestock development and mitigate threats to wildlife habitats.
Resonant Ring with a Gain of 36 for Use with a 1 MW 110 GHz Gyrotron
Authors: Claveau Elliot L. , Shapiro Michael A. , Temkin Richard J.
Published: May 2024

A 110 GHz quasi-optical ring resonator, designed for use with a 1 MW pulsed gyrotron, has been built and successfully tested using a 100 mW solid-state source. A low reflectance (2.4%) input coupler and a low-loss, four-mirror ring demonstrated a compression ratio, defined as the ratio of output to input power, of 36. The 6 ns output pulses were generated from the 2 m length ring using a silicon laser-driven semiconductor switch (LDSS). The quasi-optical ring resonator was designed with large waist sizes so that input pulses of up to 1 MW will stay under the 35 kV/cm electric field limit for ionization in ambient air. Maximum compression gain was achieved by matching the input coupling fraction to the round trip loss in the ring, achieving close to critical coupling. The experimental output pulse shape obtained after firing the LDSS was modeled using the reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance of the switch vs. time and vs. laser pulse fluence, with good agreement found with theory. The timing for the peak energy efficiency of 32% was found and the main loss mechanism limiting that efficiency was found to be the absorptance in the silicon wafer.
GPINN with Neural Tangent Kernel Technique for Nonlinear Two Point Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Jha Navnit , Mallik Ekansh
Published: May 2024

Neural networks as differential equation solvers are a good choice of numerical technique because of their fast solutions and their nature in tackling some classical problems which traditional numerical solvers faced. In this article, we look at the famous gradient descent optimization technique, which trains the network by updating parameters which minimizes the loss function. We look at the theoretical part of gradient descent to understand why the network works great for some terms of the loss function and not so much for other terms. The loss function considered here is built in such a way that it incorporates the differential equation as well as the derivative of the differential equation. The fully connected feed-forward network is designed in such a way that, without training at boundary points, it automatically satisfies the boundary conditions. The neural tangent kernel for gradient enhanced physics informed neural networks is examined in this work, and we demonstrate how it may be used to generate a closed-form expression for the kernel function. We also provide numerical experiments demonstrating the effectiveness of the new approach for several two point boundary value problems. Our results suggest that the neural tangent kernel based approach can significantly improve the computational accuracy of the gradient enhanced physics informed neural network while reducing the computational cost of training these models.
ACKR3 Antagonism Enhances the Repair of Demyelinated Lesions Through Both Immunomodulatory and Remyelinating Effects
Authors: Pouzol Laetitia , Sassi Anna , Tunis Mélanie , Zurbach Anaïs , Baumlin Nadège , Gnerre Carmela , Strasser Daniel S. , Marrie Julia , Vezzali Enrico , Martinic Marianne M.
Published: May 2024

Addressing inflammation, demyelination, and associated neurodegeneration in inflammatory demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) remains challenging. ACT-1004-1239, a first-in-class and potent ACKR3 antagonist, currently undergoing clinical development, showed promise in preclinical MS models, reducing neuroinflammation and demyelination. However, its effectiveness in treating established disease and impact on remyelination after the occurrence of demyelinated lesions remain unexplored. This study assessed the therapeutic effect of ACT-1004-1239 in two demyelinating disease models. In the proteolipid protein (PLP)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, ACT-1004-1239 administered upon the detection of the first signs of paralysis, resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in EAE disease severity, concomitant with diminished immune cell infiltrates in the CNS and reduced demyelination. Notably, efficacy correlated with elevated plasma concentrations of CXCL11 and CXCL12, two pharmacodynamic biomarkers of ACKR3 antagonism. Combining ACT-1004-1239 with siponimod, an approved immunomodulatory treatment for MS, synergistically reduced EAE severity. In the cuprizone-induced demyelination model, ACT-1004-1239 administered after 5 weeks of cuprizone exposure, significantly accelerated remyelination, already quantifiable one week after cuprizone withdrawal. Additionally, ACT-1004-1239 penetrated the CNS, elevating brain CXCL12 concentrations. These results demonstrate that ACKR3 antagonism significantly reduces the severity of experimental demyelinating diseases, even when treatment is initiated therapeutically, after the occurrence of lesions. It confirms the dual mode of action of ACT-1004-1239, exhibiting both immunomodulatory effects by reducing neuroinflammation and promyelinating effects by accelerating myelin repair. The results further strengthen the rationale for evaluating ACT-1004-1239 in clinical trials for patients with demyelinating diseases.
Entwicklung, Pretestung und Erprobung von Selbstbewertungsinstrumenten zur Erhebung der organisationalen Gesundheitskompetenz in Einrichtungen der Gesundheitsversorgung
Authors: László Emese , Spatzier Denis , Rathmann Katharina
Published: May 2024

Hintergrund

Im Projekt „Entwicklung der Gesundheitskompetenz in Einrichtungen der Gesundheitsversorgung“ (EwiKo) wurden fünf Selbstbewertungsinstrumente (Selbstchecks) zur Erfassung der organisationalen Gesundheitskompetenz (OGK) in Einrichtungen der Gesundheitsversorgung (Krankenhaus, Einrichtungen der (Alten‑)Pflege und Eingliederungshilfe sowie in Leichter Sprache) entwickelt, gepretestet und in Piloteinrichtungen erprobt.

Ziel

Ziel des Beitrags ist es, den mehrstufigen, partizipativen Entwicklungsprozess der Selbstchecks zu beschreiben sowie die Anpassungen an den deutschsprachigen Kontext und an die genannten Einrichtungsarten im Projekt „EwiKo“ darzustellen.

Methodik

Auf Basis des „International Self-Assessment Tool for Organizational Health Literacy of Hospitals v1.0“ (SAT-OHL-Hos-v1.0; n = 8 Standards, n = 21 Substandards, n = 155 Items) wurden fünf Selbstchecks (für das Krankenhaus, Einrichtungen der (Alten‑)Pflege, Eingliederungshilfe und in Leichter Sprache für Menschen mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen) entwickelt. Die Selbstchecks wurden von n = 9 Expert*innen aus n = 7 Gesundheitseinrichtungen gepretestet. Nach den Pretests wurde das Instrument überarbeitet und im Projekt „EwiKo“ mit n = 43 Vertreter*innen in n = 6 Piloteinrichtungen erprobt. Die Änderungsbedarfe der Piloteinrichtungen wurden in Fokusgruppeninterviews erfasst und die Selbstchecks nach der Pilotphase (15–18 Monate) angepasst.

Ergebnisse

Vor den Pretests umfassten die Selbstchecks (Ausnahme: Leichte Sprache) n = 8 Standards der OGK, n = 21 Substandards, n = 102 Items. Nach den Pretests wurden die Selbstchecks gekürzt und enthielten n = 8 Handlungsfelder (HF) der OGK, n = 20 Substandards und n = 77–89 Items. Nach der Erprobung der Instrumente wünschten sich die Piloteinrichtungen eine differenziertere Ausformulierung der Items. Die Bezeichnung „Standards“ wurde zu „Handlungsfelder der OGK“ umbenannt. Nach der Überarbeitung umfassten die Selbstschecks n = 8 HF der OGK, n = 21 Substandards und n = 81–93 Items. Der Selbstcheck in Leichter Sprache wurde erstmalig entwickelt, dem Pretest unterzogen und enthielt in der pilotierten Version 20 Items.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Erfassung der OGK in Einrichtungen der Gesundheitsversorgung mit validierten Instrumenten ist unabdingbar, um Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der GK bedarfsspezifisch zu planen und umsetzen zu können. Mit den Selbstchecks ist es künftig möglich, die OGK nach Einrichtungsart zu erfassen und den Erfolg der durchgeführten Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der OGK – im Sinne eines Monitorings – kontinuierlich zu überprüfen.
Möglichkeiten und Grenzen digitaler Resilienztrainings
Authors: Göritz Anja S. , Bührle Robin , Wimmer Jeffrey
Published: May 2024

Die durch Digitalisierung gesteigerte Flexibilität und Effizienz im Beruf haben ihren Preis in
Form digitalen Stresses, welcher u.a. durch ständige Erreichbarkeit und eine stetige Anpassung an
den Stand der Technik entsteht. In ihrer Doppelgesichtigkeit ist die Digitalisierung zugleich Quelle gesteigerter
und verminderter Resilienz von Arbeitenden. Digitale Resilienztrainings stärken individuelle Resilienz,
indem sie über das WWW, per App oder in anderen virtuellen Umgebungen psychische Fertigkeiten und Haltungen
der Arbeitnehmenden wie Achtsamkeit, Optimismus und Selbstwirksamkeit schulen. Der Beitrag bespricht exemplarisch
ein auf Optimismus abzielendes digitales Resilienztraining, das in einem Unternehmen durchgeführt und
evaluiert wurde, und setzt es mit den Grenzen und Herausforderungen digitaler Resilienztrainings allgemein
in Beziehung.
Role of tranexamic acid in reducing peri-operative blood loss in open spine surgeries
Authors: Kanhangad Madhava Pai , Ramachandra Theja V. , Bhat Shyamasunder N.
Published: May 2024

Spine surgeries are associated with significant blood loss due to the extensive soft tissue dissection, bony decompression, and prolonged surgical time. Excessive bleeding may require blood transfusions and thereby increase the risk of adverse transfusion reactions. Therefore, minimizing peri-operative bleeding is important for spine surgeons to reduce post-operative morbidity. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a synthetic anti-fibrinolytic drug, which helps in reducing perioperative blood loss in major surgeries. The evidence on the efficacy of this agent in all manner of spine surgeries is not sufficient. Hence this study was conducted to determine the efficacy of TXA on perioperative blood loss in major spinal surgeries. In a prospective study, two groups of patients with similar surgical profiles who were posted for all manner of open spine surgeries were included. One group received one gram of intravenous TXA while the others did not. Intra- and post-operative assessments included noting levels of surgery, duration of surgery, assessment of blood loss, intra- and/or post- operative blood transfusion, and blood collected in surgical drain at the end of 24 h. The intra-operative blood loss, frequency of intra-operative blood transfusion, post-operative Hemoglobin drop, and surgical drain output were found to be significantly lower in patients who received TXA. In spine surgeries, TXA was found to be effective in reducing intra-operative blood loss, need for intra-operative blood transfusion and post-operative Hb drop. Also, TXA had reduced surgical drain output significantly between the two groups.
Ionic Liquid Processing of Residual Wood Powder into Additive-Free Wood Composites
Authors: Barr Meredith Rose , Lee Koon-Yang
Published: May 2024

This work presents a novel process for production of additive-free wood composites by ionic liquid treatment of wood powder involving extraction of lignin followed by precipitation onto particle surfaces, and hot pressing to form a cellulose-reinforced lignin biocomposite. Physicochemical properties of lignin-coated wood powders, as well as their degree of fusion upon hot pressing, were evaluated with the aim of optimising ionic liquid treatment and hot-pressing conditions. Optimal conditions to achieve complete fusion while minimising process energy demand were determined using response surface methodology, and mechanisms of process parameter effects investigated using gas pycnometry, electron microscopy, image analysis, thermogravimetry, and calorimetry. These novel materials, derived solely from waste with only reusable reagents, represent a sustainable alternative to existing engineered wood products, which rely on petrochemical additives that release toxic volatile compounds, offering a means to reduce environmental and health hazards associated with production and use of composites from wood waste.
Discussing Conflicting Explanatory Approaches in Flexibility Training Under Consideration of Physiology: A Narrative Review
Authors: Warneke Konstantin , Behm David G. , Alizadeh Shahab , Hillebrecht Martin , Konrad Andreas , Wirth Klaus
Published: May 2024

The mechanisms underlying range of motion enhancements via flexibility training discussed in the literature show high heterogeneity in research methodology and study findings. In addition, scientific conclusions are mostly based on functional observations while studies considering the underlying physiology are less common. However, understanding the underlying mechanisms that contribute to an improved range of motion through stretching is crucial for conducting comparable studies with sound designs, optimising training routines and accurately interpreting resulting outcomes. While there seems to be no evidence to attribute acute range of motion increases as well as changes in muscle and tendon stiffness and pain perception specifically to stretching or foam rolling, the role of general warm-up effects is discussed in this paper. Additionally, the role of mechanical tension applied to greater muscle lengths for range of motion improvement will be discussed. Thus, it is suggested that physical training stressors can be seen as external stimuli that control gene expression via the targeted stimulation of transcription factors, leading to structural adaptations due to enhanced protein synthesis. Hence, the possible role of serial sarcomerogenesis in altering pain perception, reducing muscle stiffness and passive torque, or changes in the optimal joint angle for force development is considered as well as alternative interventions with a potential impact on anabolic pathways. As there are limited possibilities to directly measure serial sarcomere number, longitudinal muscle hypertrophy remains without direct evidence. The available literature does not demonstrate the necessity of only using specific flexibility training routines such as stretching to enhance acute or chronic range of motion.
Pharmacogenomic Testing to Guide Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Khorassani Farah , Jermain Mandy , Cadiz Christine
Published: May 2024

Purpose of review

Major depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric illness associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden worldwide. Despite the widespread use of antidepressants, remission rates among those treated with antidepressants remain low. Opportunities to personalize medication choices and doses and optimize clinical outcomes using pharmacogenomic testing have been evaluated.

Recent findings

Several prospective clinical trials and a recent meta-analysis have evaluated the impact of PGx-guided prescribing compared to treatment as usual and found no difference in clinical outcomes for patients with MDD.

We performed a systematic review of all prospective trials evaluating the effect of pharmacogenomic-guided prescribing on clinical outcomes of patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsychINFO databases for articles in English published from January 2010 to December 2022. Studies that did not report any patient-level outcomes were excluded. A total of 2489 studies were screened for eligibility. Full-text screening for 315 yielded 293 exclusions; thus, 22 studies were included. Sixteen of the 22 studies were randomized-controlled trials with durations varying from 90 days to 52 weeks. The findings of this systematic review suggest widespread routine pharmacogenomic testing may not yield significant changes in clinical outcomes when compared to treatment as usual. These results may or may not be generalizable to all persons taking antidepressants given guideline recommendations for pharmacogenomic-guided prescribing in patients on specific antidepressants. Future studies are warranted evaluating the utility of such testing in these subpopulations.
ACGND: towards lower complexity and fast solution for dynamic tensor inversion
Authors: Ye Aiping , Xiao Xiuchun , Xiao Hua , Jiang Chengze , Lin Cong
Published: May 2024

Dynamic Tensor Inversion (DTI) is an emerging issue in recent research, prevalent in artificial intelligence development frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch. Traditional numerical methods suffer significant lagging error when addressing this issue. To address this, Zeroing-type Neural Dynamics (ZND) and Gradient-type Neural Dynamics (GND) are employed to tackle the DTI. However, these two methods exhibit inherent limitations in the resolution process, i.e. high computational complexity and low solution accuracy, respectively. Motivated by this technology gap, this paper proposes an Adaptive Coefficient Gradient Neural Dynamics (ACGND) for dynamically solving the DTI with an efficient and precise manner. Through a series of simulation experiments and validations in engineering applications, the ACGND demonstrates advantages in resolving DTI. The ACGND enhances computational efficiency by circumventing matrix inversion, thereby reducing computational complexity. Moreover, its incorporation of adaptive coefficients and activation functions enables real-time adjustments of the computational solution, facilitating rapid convergence to theoretical solutions and adaptation to non-statinary scenarios. Code is available at https://github.com/Maia2333/ACGND-Code-Implementation.
Effects of CuCr1Zr contamination on the tensile properties and microstructure of stainless steel 316L produced via laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Tucker Michael R. , Deillon Léa , Forner Robin , Bambach Markus
Published: May 2024

Copper contamination has a negative effect on the tensile properties of certain stainless steel grades due to a weakening of grain boundaries via liquid metal embrittlement. This is especially problematic given current trends in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) that elevate contamination risks, such as multi-material processing or the use of recycled materials. As such, it is critical to establish composition limits for use in standard specifications. This study investigates the changes in tensile properties and cracking behavior in stainless steel alloy 316L contaminated with copper alloy CuCr1Zr at concentrations of 0–10 particle percent (pt.%) in horizontal, diagonal, and vertical build orientations. It is found that microcracks are already present at 1 pt.% Cu alloy and increase in density with contamination. The cracks are generally vertically oriented along columnar grain boundaries and are associated with high local Cu content, thus exacerbating the anisotropy of the as-built material. The contamination decreases the elastic modulus, yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and uniform elongation, eventually transitioning from ductile to brittle fracture modes. The build orientation relative to the tensile loading axis is shown to be a critical design parameter due to the preferential crack initiation and growth direction. The fracture surfaces at 10 pt.% contamination show regularly spaced, smooth brick-like cleavage patterns that correspond to the columnar grain dimensions. Even so, the measured YS and UTS exceeded the ASTM F3184-16 standard for CuCr1Zr contaminations up to 5 pt.%. As a conservative limit, it is proposed that a maximum content of 1 wt% Cu be specified for L-PBF SS316L.
Patterns of stability in complex contagions
Authors: Reisinger Daniel , Tschofenig Fabian , Adam Raven , Kogler Marie Lisa , Füllsack Manfred , Veider Fabian , Jäger Georg
Published: May 2024

Contagions refer to the spread or transmission of diseases, behaviors, beliefs, or emotions. While some contagions easily propagate throughout entire populations, others seem to be more constrained and propagate only within specific parts of the population. This arises not just because of different transmission rates but because of qualitative differences in the mechanisms with which contagions propagate throughout a network. Diseases typically propagate through single connections, while behaviors and beliefs often necessitate multiple connections for further propagation, termed complex contagions. In this paper, we propose a graph reduction method to reduce a network to include only connections immediately relevant to the propagation of a complex contagion. Through repeated application, we obtain structures that remain stable under the reduction, allowing us to define and measure for any given network, (i) strongly contagious components, (ii) weakly contagious components, and (iii) bridge components. Information about the size and location of these components can be used as a meaningful basis to assess and prevent the potential spread of harmful contagions as well as incentivize the spread of beneficial contagions.
Standalone Regulatory Agreements for Product-Development Collaborations in the Medical Products Industry
Authors: Wilhelm Mary E , Pire-Smerkanich Nancy , Richmond Frances J
Published: May 2024

Background

Medical-product companies often outsource research and manufacturing needs to contracting or partnering organizations but then must manage a challenging patchwork of regulatory activities. A standalone regulatory agreement could clarify the relationships and responsibilities between companies working jointly on a single regulated product. This study explored the need for and current use of standalone regulatory agreements.

Methods

A survey instrument was developed using an implementation framework and disseminated to mid- to senior-level employees and consultants for sponsor and vendor companies in the medical products sector.

Results

Of 294 respondents, about half, primarily from companies with more than 200 employees, were familiar with standalone regulatory agreements, and half of this subgroup had moved forward to implement them. Such agreements were considered beneficial to clarify regulatory roles and responsibilities, standardize regulatory expectations between the companies, and stimulate earlier discussion about joint regulatory strategies. However, the development of regulatory agreements appears challenged by the fact that such agreements are not required by regulatory agencies overseeing medical products and have no standardized templates, agency or industry guidance. Respondents whose organizations do not now use regulatory agreements either had not considered or did not see a need for a standalone agreement.

Conclusions

Standalone regulatory agreements are becoming more common but are not yet implemented fully by most companies. Their usefulness and content appeared to depend upon the type of partner, the complexity of the relationship and the availability of internal expertise and support.
Examining spatial and socioeconomic disparities in internet resilience during extreme weather events: a case study of Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri
Authors: Gupta Yuvraj , Liu Zhewei , Mostafavi Ali
Published: May 2024

The resilience of internet service is crucial for ensuring consistent communication, situational awareness, facilitating emergency response in our digitally-dependent society. However, due to empirical data constraints, there has been limited research on internet service disruptions during extreme weather events. To bridge this gap, this study utilizes observational datasets on internet performance to quantitatively assess the extent of internet disruption during two recent extreme weather events. Taking Harris County in the United States as the study region, we jointly analyzed the hazard severity and the associated internet disruptions in the context of two extreme weather events. The results show that the hazard events significantly impacted regional internet connectivity. There exists a pronounced temporal synchronicity between the magnitude of disruption and hazard severity: as the severity of hazards intensifies, internet disruptions correspondingly escalate, and eventually return to baseline levels post-event. The spatial analyses show that internet service disruptions can happen even in areas that are not directly impacted by hazards, demonstrating that the repercussions of hazards extend beyond the immediate area of impact. This interplay of temporal synchronization and spatial variance underscores the complex relationships between hazard severity and Internet disruption. Furthermore, the socio-demographic analysis suggests that vulnerable communities, already grappling with myriad challenges, face exacerbated service disruptions during these hazard events, emphasizing the need for prioritized disaster mitigation strategies and interventions for improving the resilience of internet services. To the best of our knowledge, this research is among the first studies to examine the Internet disruptions during hazardous events using a quantitative observational dataset. The insights obtained hold significant implications for city administrators, guiding them towards more resilient and equitable infrastructure planning.
Prophylactic Rights
Authors: Dasgupta Simanti
Published: May 2024

Based on ethnographic work with Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee in Sonagachi, the iconic red-light district in Kolkata, Prophylactic Rights examines the emergence of labour rights at the intersection of HIV/AIDS and anti-trafficking. The primary disciplinary contribution of this book lies in bridging medical and legal anthropology through a corporeal understanding of sex work rights. It addresses the following questions: How does the labour rights narrative emerge through everyday negotiations with an epidemic and the law and what congeries of history, public health policies, legal regimes, and techniques of subjection and subversion impede and impel the labour movement? The book will fill a gap in existing research by investigating what it means to be a sex worker in Sonagachi struggling for labour rights based on their lived experiences and bring focus to their struggles for rights and acknowledgement as equal members of society.
The international dimensions of the Metapolitefsi, 1974–1976: a reassessment
Authors: Chalkos Ioannis
Published: May 2024

This article approaches the Metapolitefsi as an international event and seeks to historicize the perceptions and concepts that drove Greek and Western policy-making after the fall of the junta. Its main argument is that from 1974 to 1976 and in conjunction with domestic democratization, a parallel process developed when it came to Greece's external relations, which entailed a significant reformulation of Greek foreign policy. The year 1974, then, should be seen as an important turning point not only in Greek domestic politics but in Greece's external relations as well. These two processes were mutually reinforcing and closely interdependent.
The Member States in the EU Food System: National Regulatory Options for Sustainable Food Offer, Food Consumption and Food Environments
Authors: Schebesta Hanna
Published: May 2024

The Framework for Sustainable Food Systems law will either not be published at all or after a long delay. Whereas the first part of the article constructs an empirical and theoretical underpinning about why the EU Member States should therefore act on food sustainability, the second part focuses on what legal measures Member States can take.

In the first part, leaning on food systems thinking, we argue that in the absence of EU action in the matter, the Member States remain the most potent lever for taking regulatory action on addressing sustainability in the food system.

In the second part, the article provides an exploratory study of potential national legal instruments for making domestic food systems more sustainable, with an emphasis on the regulation of offer and consumption of foods and food environments. The article discusses the following legal instruments in the context of EU law and Member States’ room for action, with examples from a comparative perspective: public procurement purchasing by governments, product composition requirements, fiscal measures, non-fiscal pricing instruments, labelling & certification, marketing, and the regulation of private and public food environments. The article further concludes that it may prove useful to better enshrine the food sustainability paradigm in law at national level.
Hegel's Philosophy of History and the Postcolonial Realization of Concrete Bildung
Authors: Hofmann Christian
Published: May 2024

Hegel's Philosophy of History can be characterized as Eurocentric and one finds in it many problematic passages, and even racist statements, as well as a legitimization of colonialism which is presented as a means of education (Bildung). Nevertheless, this article argues that it is possible to reject such judgements and at the same time hold on to the basic intention of Hegel's theories of freedom and Bildung. While the concept of freedom as self-determination is certainly applied in a Eurocentric manner by Hegel in his Philosophy of History, this concept is not Eurocentric at its core. To understand this ‘core’, one has to go back to Hegel's logic of the concept, which finally leads me to a concept of ‘concrete Bildung’. The struggles for self-determination of the colonized peoples must be understood in terms of a further development of the realization of the concept of freedom. If one wants to think Hegel's Philosophy of History meaningfully beyond Hegel's own time, one is inevitably led to the necessity of a liberation of the colonized, for there is a need for a further extension of the consciousness of freedom that actually is inclusive. This demand is contained in Hegel's thought itself, but it still remains abstract with him and must therefore be developed beyond him.
Dividends of the Colour Line: Slaveholder Indemnities and the Philosophy of Right
Authors: Cross Ciaran
Published: May 2024

In notes to Hegel's Rechtsphilosophie lectures, written around the time of Haiti's 1825 ‘ransom’—the 150 million francs demanded by France to indemnify former slave and plantation owners—we find an uncanny remark. Hegel appears to report on a different ransom, a compensated abolition of slavery in North America that never happened, anticipating an application of the Fifth Amendment's takings clause that US legal scholarship routinely fails to mention. In view of Alan Brudner's enlistment of Hegel as the philosopher ‘uniquely’ able to understand the Fifth Amendment's requirement for compensation for expropriations—a ‘constitutional essential for liberalism’—this paper explores the meaning of these passages in the historical context of the legal abolitions of Hegel's time: feudalism and slavery. The slaveholder indemnities were clearly the unjust ‘dividends’ of the colour line, but their legal foundations and developments in US thought of the nineteenth century also usefully illustrate takings law's foreclosure of political and social transformation through the securitization of value. Reading these histories and Hegel's comments alongside the critical interventions of the black radical tradition, I suggest that Hegel's curious remarks on compensated takings suggest not only a critical divergence from Brudner's understanding of ‘dialogic community’, but a crucial limitation in his field of analysis which pivoted on the denigration of black sovereignty. This paper thus suggests an understanding of US takings law through the shifting understandings of the term ‘ransom’—which for abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass signified not a resolution of slavery, but rather the threat of its perpetuation—and Douglass's elaboration of the pathology of the colour line.
Past! Future! In Extreme!: Looking for Meaning in the “New Romantics,” 1978–82
Authors: Worley Matthew
Published: May 2024

First used in 1980, “new romantics” was a term applied to describe a British youth culture recognized initially for its sartorial extravagance and penchant for electronic music. Closely associated with the Blitz nightclub in London's Covent Garden (as well as milieus elsewhere in the UK), new romantics appeared to signal a break from the prescribed aesthetics and sensibilities of punk, rejecting angry oppositionism for glamour and aspiration. In response, cultural commentators have often sought to establish connections between new romantism and the advent of Thatcherism and “the 1980s.” This article challenges such an interpretation, offering a more complex analysis of new romanticism rooted in nascent readings of postmodernism. It also shifts our understandings of the periodization of postwar British history and the concept of “popular individualism,” arguing that youth culture provides invaluable insight both to broader processes of sociocultural change and to the construction of the (post)modern self.
Flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid in a slowly varying contraction: theoretical results for arbitrary values of Deborah number in the ultra-dilute limit
Authors: Boyko Evgeniy , Hinch John , Stone Howard A.
Published: May 2024

Pressure-driven flows of viscoelastic fluids in narrow non-uniform geometries are common in physiological flows and various industrial applications. For such flows, one of the main interests is understanding the relationship between the flow rate$q$and the pressure drop$\Delta p$, which, to date, is studied primarily using numerical simulations. We analyse the flow of the Oldroyd-B fluid in slowly varying arbitrarily shaped, contracting channels and present a theoretical framework for calculating the$q-\Delta p$relation. We apply lubrication theory and consider the ultra-dilute limit, in which the velocity profile remains parabolic and Newtonian, resulting in a one-way coupling between the velocity and polymer conformation tensor. This one-way coupling enables us to derive closed-form expressions for the conformation tensor and the flow rate–pressure drop relation for arbitrary values of the Deborah number ($De$). Furthermore, we provide analytical expressions for the conformation tensor and the$q-\Delta p$relation in the high-Deborah-number limit, complementing our previous low-Deborah-number lubrication analysis. We reveal that the pressure drop in the contraction monotonically decreases with$De$, having linear scaling at high Deborah numbers, and identify the physical mechanisms governing the pressure drop reduction. We further elucidate the spatial relaxation of elastic stresses and pressure gradient in the exit channel following the contraction and show that the downstream distance required for such relaxation scales linearly with$De$.
Do Physicians Have a Duty to Support Secondary Use of Clinical Data in Biomedical Research? An Inquiry into the Professional Ethics of Physicians
Authors: Jungkunz Martin , Köngeter Anja , Winkler Eva C. , Schickhardt Christoph
Published: May 2024

Secondary use of clinical data in research or learning activities (SeConts) has the potential to improve patient care and biomedical knowledge. Given this potential, the ethical question arises whether physicians have a professional duty to support SeConts. To investigate this question, we analyze prominent international declarations on physicians’ professional ethics to determine whether they include duties that can be considered as good reasons for a physicians’ professional duty to support SeConts. Next, we examine these documents to identify professional duties that might conflict with a potential duty of physicians to support SeConts.
Diversion to Treatment when Treatment is Scarce: Bioethical Implications of the U.S. Resource Gap for Criminal Diversion Programs
Authors: Arıtürk Deniz , Easter Michele M. , Swanson Jeffrey W. , Swartz Marvin S.
Published: May 2024

Précis

Despite significant scholarship, research, and funding dedicated to implementing criminal diversion programs over the past two decades, persons with serious mental illness and substance use disorders remain substantially overrepresented in United States jails and prisons. Why are so many U.S. adults with behavioral health problems incarcerated instead of receiving treatment and other support to recover in the community? In this paper, we explore this persistent problem within the context of “relentless unmet need” in U.S. behavioral health (Alegría et al., 2021).
Addressing Bioethical Implications of Implementing Diversion Programs in Resource-Constrained Service Environments
Authors: Korchmaros Josephine D. , Hall Kevin
Published: May 2024

The opioid epidemic demands the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative, research-informed practices such as diversion programs. Aritürk et al. have articulated important bioethical considerations for implementing diversion programs in resource-constrained service environments. In this commentary, we expand and advance Aritürk et al.’s discussion by discussing existing resources that can be utilized to implement diversion programs that prevent or otherwise minimize the issues of autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice identified by Aritürk et al.
A Public Option for Clinical Trials? Lessons from Convalescent Plasma
Authors: Roy Victor , Ross Joseph S. , Ramachandran Reshma
Published: May 2024

The case of clinical trials for convalescent plasma during COVID-19 illustrates important lessons for realizing public sector approaches to biomedical research and development. These lessons, centering on mission, transparency, and spillover effects, can be translated to wider efforts to develop a “public option” for clinical trials.
The Opioid Industry Documents Archive: Advancing Public Health Through Industry Document Disclosure
Authors: Caleb Alexander G. , Tasker Kate
Published: May 2024

More than twenty-five years after the first signs of potential harm, the US remains locked in the grip of an opioid epidemic, with more Americans dying from overdoses than ever before.1 Diversion of prescription opioids plays an important role in opioid-related harms. Much of the scientific and public health focus on diversion has been on end-users, given how commonly non-medical prescription opioid use occurs, as well as the proportion of individuals who report that their source of non-medical opioids was friends or family. However, diversion of opioids, as well as their rampant oversupply, can be discerned higher up the supply chain, including among wholesalers, pharmacies and rogue prescribers whose behavior may trigger well-described “flags” warranting further evaluation and action.