bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the effect of occupational stress on sleep quality in firefighters: the modulating role of depression and burnout
Authors: Khoshakhlagh Amir Hossein , Sulaie Saleh Al , Cousins Rosanna , Yazdanirad Saeid , Laal Fereydoon
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Sleep quality of firefighters can be negatively affected by occupational stressors. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted to understand how work-related stress, post-traumatic stress, burnout and depression collectively contribute to sleep quality.

Methods

Professional firefighters in Northern Iran completed a survey comprised of demographic information, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, HSE’s Stress Indicator Tool, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Maslach’s Burnout Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory during a work rest break. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Results

Mean age of the 2339 firefighters who completed the survey was 32.30 (5.74) years. Most experienced poor sleep quality, scoring above the established cut-off of 5. Levels of work-related stress, post-traumatic stress, burnout and depression were high. Fit indices of the final theoretical model were all adequate: the obtained and adjusted goodness-of-fit indices were 0.925 and 0.917 respectively. Comparative, and incremental fit indices were 0.946 and 0.948 respectively. Root mean squared error of approximation was 0.061. Post-traumatic stress was directly and indirectly related to sleep quality through eight paths, modulated by burnout variables and depression. Work-related stress was negatively related to sleep quality through four paths modulated, by burnout variables and depression.

Conclusions

The findings illustrate the complex relationships of work-related stress and post-traumatic stress and sleep quality. High levels of poor sleep quality in this occupation emphasise the need to develop targeted and sustainable interventions to manage occupational stressors, burnout and depression to improve sleep quality in firefighters.
Counterfactuals in fuzzy relational models
Authors: Al-Hmouz Rami , Pedrycz Witold , Ammari Ahmed
Published: October 2024

Given the pressing need for explainability in Machine Learning systems, the studies on counterfactual explanations have gained significant interest. This research delves into this timely problem cast in a unique context of relational systems described by fuzzy relational equations. We develop a comprehensive solution to the counterfactual problems encountered in this setting, which is a novel contribution to the field. An underlying optimization problem is formulated, and its gradient-based solution is constructed. We demonstrate that the non-uniqueness of the derived solution is conveniently formalized and quantified by admitting a result coming in the form of information granules of a higher type, namely type-2 or interval-valued fuzzy set. The construction of the solution in this format is realized by invoking the principle of justifiable granularity, another innovative aspect of our research. We also discuss ways of designing fuzzy relations and elaborate on methods of carrying out counterfactual explanations in rule-based models. Illustrative examples are included to present the performance of the method and interpret the obtained results.
Mountains host significantly more data deficient and threatened bat species than lowlands
Authors: Chakravarty Rohit , Radchuk Viktoriia , Suryawanshi Kulbhushansingh , Voigt Christian C.
Published: October 2024

Mountains harbour one third of the world’s biodiversity and much of it is under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Yet, global assessments of the occurrence, and threat status of most mountain taxa, especially elusive ones are lacking, thereby hindering conservation and research prioritisation. In this study, we synthesise the distribution and conservation status of bats, a species rich taxon on mountains. By using data on geographical and elevational distribution ranges from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we examined bat species richness on mountains, species that predominantly occur in mountains (‘mountain dwelling species’), and those restricted to upper montane and alpine regions within mountains (‘highland dwelling species’). We also used published trait datasets to investigate the traits that are associated with mountain dwelling in bats. Globally, we identified 148 mountain dwelling and 46 highland dwelling bat species. Bat diversity is highest in the Northern Andes and Guiana Highlands. The mountain dwelling nature of bat species was found to be significantly associated with biogeographic realm. Importantly, our results show that mountain dwelling species are proportionately more data deficient than species that predominantly occur in lowlands. Additionally, highland dwelling species are proportionately more threatened than lowland species. Our results highlight a significant dearth of knowledge on mountain dwelling bat species. We conclude that more research is needed for bats specialised on mountain ecosystems. Our results draw attention towards improving the knowledge and protection of bat species that occur predominantly at high elevations across the world.
Intracranial EEG-Based Directed Functional Connectivity in Alpha to Gamma Frequency Range Reflects Local Circuits of the Human Mesiotemporal Network
Authors: Novitskaya Yulia , Schulze-Bonhage Andreas , David Olivier , Dümpelmann Matthias
Published: October 2024

To date, it is largely unknown how frequency range of neural oscillations measured with EEG is related to functional connectivity. To address this question, we investigated frequency-dependent directed functional connectivity among the structures of mesial and anterior temporal network including amygdala, hippocampus, temporal pole and parahippocampal gyrus in the living human brain. Intracranial EEG recording was obtained from 19 consecutive epilepsy patients with normal anterior mesial temporal MR imaging undergoing intracranial presurgical epilepsy diagnostics with multiple depth electrodes. We assessed intratemporal bidirectional functional connectivity using several causality measures such as Granger causality (GC), directed transfer function (DTF) and partial directed coherence (PDC) in a frequency-specific way. In order to verify the obtained results, we compared the spontaneous functional networks with intratemporal effective connectivity evaluated by means of SPES (single pulse electrical stimulation) method. The overlap with the evoked network was found for the functional connectivity assessed by the GC method, most prominent in the higher frequency bands (alpha, beta and low gamma), yet vanishing in the lower frequencies. Functional connectivity assessed by means of DTF and PCD obtained a similar directionality pattern with the exception of connectivity between hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus which showed opposite directionality of predominant information flow. Whereas previous connectivity studies reported significant divergence between spontaneous and evoked networks, our data show the role of frequency bands for the consistency of functional and evoked intratemporal directed connectivity. This has implications for the suitability of functional connectivity methods in characterizing local brain circuits.
Surprise in Science: A qualitative study
Authors: Ivanova Milena , Vaidyanathan Brandon
Published: October 2024

A growing literature in philosophy of science focuses on the role of surprise in scientific practice. The aesthetic dimension of science is also gaining momentum in very recent discussions. While surprising results have been recognised as playing an important epistemic role in science, the literature so far has primarily focused on establishing the power of simulations and thought experiments as compared to experiments and the epistemic superiority of novel predictions over accommodations. In this paper we offer the first empirical analysis of the role of surprise as an aesthetic response, drawing from in-depth interviews with 215 scientists in four countries. We identify what roles scientists assign to surprising results, show that surprise is often experienced as an aesthetic response and identify properties, triggers, and outcomes of surprise in science.
Generative adversarial networks for whispered to voiced speech conversion: a comparative study
Authors: Wagner Dominik , Baumann Ilja , Bocklet Tobias
Published: October 2024

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have demonstrated promising results as end-to-end models for whispered to voiced speech conversion. Leveraging non-autoregressive systems like GANs capable of performing conditional waveform generation eliminates the need for separate models to estimate voiced speech features, and leads to faster inference compared to autoregressive methods. This study aims to identify the optimal GAN architecture for the whispered to voiced speech conversion task by comparing six state-of-the-art models. Furthermore, we present a method for evaluating the preservation of speaker identity and local accent, using embeddings obtained from speaker- and language identification systems. Our experimental results show that building the speech conversion system based on the HiFi-GAN architecture yields the best objective evaluation scores, outperforming the baseline by $$\sim$$
∼
 9% relative using frequency-weighted Signal-to-Noise Ratio and Log Likelihood Ratio, as well as by $$\sim$$
∼
 29% relative using Root Mean Squared Error. In subjective tests, HiFi-GAN yielded a mean opinion score of 2.9, significantly outperforming the baseline with a score of 1.4. Furthermore, HiFi-GAN enhanced ASR performance and preserved speaker identity and accent, with correct language detection rates of up to $$\sim$$
∼
 98%.
An Assessment of an Inpatient Robotic Nurse Assistant: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Lim Yee Wei , Tan Shi Wei , Tan Cherylanne Yan Bing , Lee Dong Hee Michael , Siow Wen Ting , Heng Doreen Gek Noi , Mukhopadhyay Amartya , Lim Joo Cheng , Sivadas Sunil , Teo Ee Lin Kimberly , Ho Lawrence Khek Yu , Phua Jason
Published: October 2024

The worldwide nursing shortage has led to the exploration of using robotics to support care delivery and reduce nurses’ workload. In this observational, mixed-method study, we examined the implementation of a robotic nurse assistant (RNA) in a hospital ward to support vital signs measurements, medication, and item delivery. Human–robot interaction was assessed in four domains: usability, social acceptance, user experience, and its societal impact. Patients in a general medicine ward were recruited to participate in a one-time trial with the RNA and a post-trial 75-question survey. Patients’ interactions with the RNA were video recorded for analysis including patients’ behaviours, facial emotions, and visual attention. Focus group discussions with nurses elicited their perceptions of working with the RNA, areas for improvement, and scalability. Sixty-seven patients aged 21–79 participated in the trial. Eight in 10 patients reported positive interactions with the RNA. When the RNA did not perform to expectations, only 25% of patients attributed fault to the RNA. Video analysis showed patients at ease interacting with the RNA despite some technical problems. Nurses saw potential for the RNA taking over routine tasks. However, they were sceptical of real time savings and were concerned with the RNA’s ability to work well with older patients. Patients and nurses suggested greater interactivity between RNA and patients. Future studies should examine potential timesaving and whether time saved translated to nurses performing higher value clinical tasks. The utility of improved RNA’s social capability in a hospital setting should be explored as well.
Observation of an Extraordinary Type V Solar Radio Burst: Nonlinear Evolution of the Electron Two-Stream Instability
Authors: Benz Arnold O. , Huber Clemens R. , Timmel Vincenzo , Monstein Christian
Published: October 2024

Solar type V radio bursts are associated with type III bursts. Several processes have been proposed to interpret the association, electron distribution, and emission. We present the observation of a unique type V event observed by e-CALLISTO on 7 May 2021. The type V radio emission follows a group of U bursts. Unlike the unpolarized U bursts, the type V burst is circularly polarized, leaving room for a different emission process. Its starting edge drifts to higher frequency four times slower than the descending branch of the associated U burst. The type V processes seem to be ruled by electrons of lower energy. The observations conform to a coherent scenario where a dense electron beam drives the two-stream instability (causing type III emission) and, in the nonlinear stage, becomes unstable to another instability, previously known as the electron firehose instability (EFI). The secondary instability scatters some beam electrons into velocities perpendicular to the magnetic field and produces, after particle loss, a trapped distribution prone to electron cyclotron masering (ECM). A reduction in beaming and the formation of an isotropic halo are predicted for electron beams continuing to interplanetary space, possibly observable by Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Fibromatosis/Fasciitis-Like/Desmoid-Type Stroma: Case Report of a Rare Subtype with Cytological and Molecular Study
Authors: Benghashir Hosamadean , Petkar Mahir , Goyal Rajen
Published: October 2024

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with fibromatosis/fasciitis-like/desmoid-type stroma is a rare subtype of PTC,characterized by two distinct components: a classic papillary carcinoma component and a spindle cell proliferationresembling fibromatosis or nodular fasciitis. This stromal component adds a unique dimension to the tumor'spathology, making diagnosis more challenging and potentially leading to misclassification.

Case presentation

We present a case of this rare entity which contributes to the growing body of literature by providing additionalmolecular data, which may shed light on the biological behaviour of the fibromatosis-like stroma and its relationshipwith the papillary carcinoma component. This case underscores the importance of recognizing this subtype, as itsspindle cell proliferation could be mistaken for a separate neoplasm or reactive process, resulting in inappropriatemanagement.

Conclusions

Increased awareness of this entity will help pathologists avoid diagnostic pitfalls and guide clinicians in developingmore precise treatment plans, addressing both the malignant papillary component and the unique stromal features.This case further enriches the current understanding of the heterogeneity of PTC and highlights the need fortailored management strategies in rare subtypes.
Machinability Performance of Single Coated and Multicoated Carbide Tools During Turning Ti6Al4V Alloy
Authors: Ali Ahsen , Younas Muhammad , Khan Mushtaq , Jaffery Syed Husain Imran , Khan Zarak
Published: October 2024

This paper presents the machinability performance of uncoated, single-coated, and multicoated carbide tools during turning of Grade 5 (Ti6Al4V) Titanium alloy, which is challenging to machine due to its distinctive material properties. Coated tools with single-coated Titanium Aluminium Nitride (TiAlN) and multi-coated layer of Titanium Aluminium Nitride with Aluminium Chromium Nitride (TiAlN + AlCrN) coated inserts were utilized to assess surface roughness (Ra), tool wear rate (R), and chip morphologies under various cutting conditions using dry machining. Analysis of the used tools revealed that coated tools exhibited improved tool life and surface quality compared to uncoated tools across all cutting conditions. Multi-coated tools of TiAlN + AlCrN demonstrated a tool life increase of up to 15% compared to uncoated and single-coated tools, with surface roughness improvements ranging from 30 to 45% depending on cutting speed. Chip morphology analysis indicated an increase in the chip reduction coefficient with higher cutting speeds for all tool types. Coated tools exhibited the lowest chip-reduction coefficient due to the presence of TiAlN and AlCrN coatings, which control the tool chip contact length. Conversely, uncoated chip morphology resulted in larger chip thickness values compared to coated tools, particularly at cutting speeds above 100 m/min, attributed to poor heat dissipation and chemical reactions at the tool chip interface. Energy dispersive X-ray scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDXS) analysis of worn uncoated inserts revealed a higher tendency towards Titanium adhesion compared to coated tools. The proposed multi-layer coatings of (TiAlN + AlCrN) used for dry machining proved highly beneficial for achieving economic machining objectives and may reduce the need for lubrication when processing Ti6Al4V alloys.
Singular and dark-singular straddled solitons in magneto-optic waveguides with generalized anti-cubic form of self-phase modulation
Authors: Jawad Anwar Ja’afar Mohamad , Yildirim Yakup , Hussein Layth , Biswas Anjan , Rawal Bharat
Published: October 2024

This paper recovers optical soliton solutions in magneto-optic waveguides that maintain the generalized version of anti-cubic form of nonlinear self-phase modulation structure. The csch method as well as the tanh–coth approach recovers the singular and dark-singular straddled optical solitons in such forms of magneto-optic waveguide. The existence criteria of such solitons are also presented.
On the Hardy number of Koenigs domains
Authors: Contreras Manuel D. , Cruz-Zamorano Francisco J. , Kourou Maria , Rodríguez-Piazza Luis
Published: October 2024

This work studies the Hardy number of hyperbolic planar domains satisfying Abel’s inclusion property, which are usually known as Koenigs domains. More explicitly, we prove that the Hardy number of a Koenings domains whose complement is non-polar is greater than or equal to 1/2, and this lower bound is sharp. In contrast to this result, we provide examples of general domains whose Hardy numbers are arbitrarily small. Additionally, we outline the connection of the aforementioned class of domains with the discrete dynamics of the unit disc and obtain results on the range of Hardy number of Koenigs maps, in the hyperbolic and parabolic case.
A Global Estimation of Potential Climate Change Effects on Pollinator-Dependent Crops
Authors: Rahimi Ehsan , Jung Chuleui
Published: October 2024

Climate change poses a threat to global food security by significantly affecting agricultural products, both directly and indirectly. This study aims to assess the impact of climate change on the climate suitability of 61 pollinator-dependent crops worldwide under different climate change scenarios. Utilizing species distribution models (SDMs), we predicted climate suitability maps for these crops in the present and projected conditions for 2070. Our findings indicate that under the most pessimistic climate change scenario in 2070 (SSP585), 16, 31, 34, 29, 29, and 31 crops in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America, respectively, may experience a decrease in their suitable habitats. On average, crops in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America are expected to see a decrease of − 14.5%, − 11.2%, − 26.2%, − 4.7%, 5.5%, and − 14.4% in their suitability by 2070. Regional variations in the effects of climate change on crops highlight the vulnerability of certain areas, particularly Australia, where a substantial number of crops face a decline in suitable habitats. Conversely, North America may witness an increase in the distribution of specific products. Urgent action is needed to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including the development of more resilient crop varieties and improvements in agricultural practices, especially for highly vulnerable pollinator-dependent crops in Asia and Africa.
Competing strategies between public and private self: separation and diffusion of the entrepreneurial identity of solo entrepreneurs on social media
Authors: Bögenhold Dieter , Sawy Alina
Published: October 2024

Social media are gaining significance in organizations and their business strategies. Therefore, the self-presentation of solo entrepreneurs on social media requires a strategic analysis and concept due to their specific business structure. Solo entrepreneurs work on their own without having any employees in their company. In other words, they stay as the personification of a one-(wo)man-firm. The business structure of solo entrepreneurs is particular since they operate in the most decentralized form of a firm, which is a one-person firm. In some way, solo entrepreneurs can be regarded as independent (self-employed) laborers. When presenting themselves online, they must decide which characteristics of the private self should be emphasized and which should be incorporated into the entrepreneurial identity to be useful to the business. Our qualitative study conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with solo entrepreneurs to understand how they present themselves on social media and how the solo entrepreneur offered online differs from the private self. We have found that there are features of the personal self that are kept strictly out of the entrepreneurial sphere, but there are areas that make a mix of personal and entrepreneurial selves. Our results help to understand the group of solo entrepreneurs and their unique characteristics in an increasingly important field of digital media.
Young Black Women’s Breast Cancer Knowledge and Beliefs: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Ilodianya Chinenye , Williams Michelle S.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Black women under the age of 50 have a 111% higher breast cancer mortality rate than their White counterparts. The breast cancer mortality disparities among young Black women may be due in part to the fact that they are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage, invasive breast cancer tumors. Psychosocial factors, such as lack of perceived risk for breast cancer, lack of awareness of breast cancer risk factors, and ambiguity about breast cancer screening guidelines are areas that are under investigated among young Black women. The purpose of this study was to identify young Black women’s cancer beliefs and level of breast cancer risk knowledge.

Methods

A sequential explanatory mixed methods study was conducted using quantitative data from the Health Information Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6) (n = 25) and qualitative data from interviews with young Black female college students (n = 13). The results of the quantitative data analysis were used to guide the development of the qualitative interview guide. Data regarding participants’ cancer beliefs, cancer risk factor knowledge, perceived cancer risk, and ambiguity about cancer screening behaviors were analyzed.

Results

The findings indicated young Black women have low perceived risk of developing cancer. Most participants were not aware of cancer recommendations that were targeted towards women under the age of 40. In addition, knowledge about lifestyle behavior risk factors for breast cancer was relatively low.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the importance of developing, disseminating, and implementing breast cancer education interventions that are targeted towards young Black women.
Assessing the influence of the home on sustaining churchgoing among young Baptists in Canada: a replication study
Authors: Francis Leslie J. , MacArthur Amy Lean , McKenna Ursula , Fawcett Bruce G. , Pyke Dan
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the influence of the home on sustaining churchgoing among young Baptists in Canada. Data provided by 126 young Baptists between the ages of 12 and 18 years attending a week-long youth mission and service programme demonstrated that neither personal factors (age and sex) nor psychological factors (extraversion, sensing, thinking, and emotionality) were statistically significant after taking parental church attendance into account. Moreover, these data confirmed fathers' attendance as a statistically significant factor augmenting the effect of mothers’ attendance. The implications of these findings are discussed for pastoral practice. Within the current social context, churches concerned with recruiting and retaining young members may need to concentrate on nurturing and resourcing Christian households (including fathers as well as mothers) in supporting the religious faith and practices of their children. The support and example of both mothers and fathers is important for boys and for girls across the teenage years.
Rechts erziehen
Authors: Gess Nicola
Published: October 2024

Der Beitrag widmet sich der Schnittmenge zwischen Literaturpolitik und Erziehungsvorstellungen der deutschsprachigen Neuen Rechten. Am Beispiel zweier Autorinnen aus dem Antaios-Umfeld beschäftigt er sich im ersten Teil mit neurechten Erziehungskonzepten und im zweiten Teil mit neurechter Literaturpädagogik, mimetischer Lektüre und der Figur der lesenden Mutter.
La-Fe-Si magnetocaloric composite with anisotropic microstructure prepared by hot pressing
Authors: Shao Yanyan , Cheng Siyu , Guo Pengwei , Xu Feng
Published: October 2024

In this study, we have proposed an anisotropic microstructure in La-Fe-Si magnetocaloric composites for thermal management. This is vital to the rapid heat exchange and high working efficiency in magnetic refrigerator system. We demonstrate the anisotropic microstructure in composites can be fabricated via powder metallurgy in this work. By adjusting the particle size of the 1:13 phase, the introduced reinforcing phase with rheological property can effectively deform and anisotropic microstructure can be obviously observed. This can be attributed to the tailored stress distribution in cubic-anvil-type pressure apparatus. The element diffusion between the two phases was also discussed in this paper, taking into account the influence of particle size. Such anisotropic microstructure causes some other anisotropic physical properties in the composite, such as mechanical strength. The compressive measurements along the axial direction exhibit superior mechanical properties (~ 3.5% for strain and ~ 350 MPa for strength) compared to those along the radial direction. Attributed to the stress buffer-effect provided by the introduced ductile phase, magnetocaloric effect (magnetic entropy change ~ 7.8 J/kg K) can be maintained in the La-Fe-Si composite.
Wood-based biochars produced at low pyrolysis temperatures are good carriers for a Trichoderma-based biopesticide
Authors: Debode Jane , Viaene Jarinda , Maenhout Kristof , Joos Lisa , França Soraya C. , Cuypers Ann , Vandecasteele Bart
Published: October 2024

The goal was to investigate biochars’ potential as carrier for commercial Trichoderma-based biopesticides, facilitating their application in soil or growing media. Thirty-five biochars produced from various feedstocks and pyrolysis temperatures were chemically characterized. Incubation and cold storage tests using a commercial Trichoderma-based biopesticide were done. Properties leading to good Trichoderma carrier capacity (TCC) are wood-based feedstocks and low pyrolysis temperatures (p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression showed that TCC = exp (23.0 (± 2.21)–1.03 (± 0.25) *pH-H2O–0.94 (± 0.32) *inorganic carbon–0.10 (± 0.02) *total phosphorus + 0.0005 (± 0.0002) *water-soluble carbon).

Graphical Abstract
Review on Application of Sustainability, Circular and Digital Economy on Bioplastics Production
Authors: Senosha Maphuti Pinkie , Matheri Anthony Njuguna , Mohamed Belaid
Published: October 2024

Digitalization is creating and driving a sustainable data driven production and consumption of materials and energy. The goal of this research was to outline circular economy and employ machine learning algorithms in the industry 4.0-environmental social and governance (ESG) for the bioplastic properties. The paper review sustainability, circular and digital economy and potential of biomasses on bioplastics production, tensile strength and degradation. Sustainability and circular economy are very crucial to adaptation and mitigation of climate change and social-economic responsibilities of the environmental and human health. It was found that most studies covered sustainability, few embed circular and digital economy. It was important to investigate the end-of life of a product, to know its effect to the environment and human health. There were limited studies on bioplastics production with the digital economy. It was discovered that machine learning approaches have the potential to improve quality control and optimization in industrial processes.
A data-driven regression model for predicting thermal plant performance under load fluctuations
Authors: Prokhorskii Gleb , Rudra Souman , Preißinger Markus , Eder Elias
Published: October 2024

The global energy demand is still primarily reliant on fossil-fueled thermal power plants. With the growing share of renewables, these plants must frequently adjust their loads. Maintaining, or ideally increasing operational efficiency under these conditions is crucial. Increasing the efficiency of such systems directly reduces associated greenhouse gas emissions, but it requires sophisticated models and monitoring systems. Data-driven models have proven their value here, as they can be used for monitoring, operational state estimation, and prediction. However, they are also sensitive to (1) the training approach, (2) the selected feature set, (3) and the algorithm used. Using operational data, we comprehensively investigate these model parameters for performance prediction in a thermal plant for process steam generation. Specifically, four regression algorithms are evaluated for the prediction of the highly fluctuating live steam flow with two training approaches and three feature subsets of the raw dataset. Furthermore, manual and automatic clustering methods are used to identify different states of operation regarding the fuel amounts used in the combustion chamber. Our results show that the live steam flow is predicted with excellent accuracy for a testing period of one month (R2=0.994 and NMAE=0.55%) when using a dynamic training approach and a comprehensive feature set comprised of 48 features representing the combustion process. It is also seen that the statically trained model predicts various load changes with strong accuracy and that the accuracy of the dynamically trained model can be approached by incorporating the cluster information into the static model. These models reflect the plant’s physical intricacies under varying loads, where deviations from the predicted live steam flow indicate unwanted long-term drifts. They can be directly implemented to help operators detect inefficiencies and optimize plant performance.
Assessment of vehicle exhaust PM emissions using high-resolution on-road measurements in Seoul, Korea
Authors: Son Jihwan , Kim Yeosook , Lee Heesun , Seo Minjeong , Choi Yuri , Park JinA , Choi Yongsuk , Park Ju-Sung , Lee Gangwoong
Published: October 2024

In megacities, road traffic is a major source of particulate matter (PM), requiring a critical understanding of effective air pollution control. Despite existing methods to determine PM emission factors (EFs) of vehicles, accurate estimation of PM emissions under real driving conditions remains challenging. We aimed to assess the EFs of organic aerosol (OA) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) from vehicles through on-road measurements in Seoul, Korea, to understand real-world PM emissions. We used a mobile laboratory equipped with an aerosol mass spectrometer and an aethalometer to measure the composition of PM. On-road measurements were conducted in vehicle tunnels, urban roadways, and residential areas, and the characteristics of measurement points were compared and analyzed. Our results showed that concentrations of OA increased proportionally with the influence of vehicle exhaust, while oxidation states of the OA decreased. Mobile measurements revealed spatial heterogeneities in aerosols, highlighting distinct characteristics of fresh OA on vehicle roads and elevated oxidation state values in residential areas. Active nitrate formation near vehicles led to elevated NO3 concentrations on roads compared to residential areas. Our study shows that mobile PM measurements, including OA and eBC, are valuable for the direct evaluation of emission inventories. However, given that the calculated EFs may not be applicable to other cities due to differences in vehicle composition and traffic conditions, the development of city-specific EFs will be necessary in the future. Furthermore, it is recommended to integrate this methodology with conventional emission inventories to identify vehicle-type-specific emissions.

Graphical Abstract
Examination of the literature on SDG 14-IUU-trade and maritime security
Authors: Oral Ferhan
Published: October 2024

The capacity of coastal nations to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations is being impeded by the practice of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. There has also been an observed overlap between IUU fishing and other forms of transnational organized crime (TOC) at sea. One of the SDGs which are impacted by the unlawful trade in IUU fishing is SDG-14 (Life Below Water). Unsustainable and unregulated trade practices can result in overexploitation of marine resources, all of which are detrimental to SDG-14's goals. In this study, SDG-14 link with IUU, and maritime security is examined within the scope of its effect on maritime trade. The first research objective is to explore the link among those concepts by examining the literature via VOSviewer software and deducing and interpreting the results. The second objective is to examine and review the existing solutions proposed for addressing IUU and, consequently, SDG-14, with the assistance of MAXQDA software. In order to achieve the first objective, articles were sourced from the Web of Science (WoS) which indicated a correlation between SDG-14, IUU, trade and maritime security. In order to achieve the second objective, 12 articles were selected among those for analysis. This research addresses a gap as one of the studies purely focuses on the maritime security dimension of the implementation of SDG-14 -especially SDG-14.4- in terms of preventing IUU. It is concluded that there is a strong link between IUU-SDG-14 and maritime security and that prioritisation should be given among measures to tackle the fight against IUU fishing in order to achieve SDG-14 goals.
Optimizing psychotherapies for perinatal depressive symptom dimensions by strengthening social support networks: an exploratory mediation analysis approach
Authors: Waqas Ahmed , Sikander Siham , Malik Abid , Atif Najia , Rahman Atif
Published: October 2024

The Thinking Healthy Program (THP) is a multicomponent low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy-based psychosocial intervention. This intervention has been shown to be clinically effective in perinatal depression (PND) and feasible for implementation in low-resourced settings. It has also been shown to work universally for different phenotypes of PND. However, the mechanism through which THP resolves different phenotypes of PND are unclear. The present investigation presents secondary mediation analyses of a dataset curated from a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in Pakistan assessing the effectiveness of the THP. Women aged 16–45 years in their third pregnancy trimester, with a diagnosis of PND, underwent 16 sessions of the intervention. The severity of depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). 2-1-1 mediation models revealed that social support exerted significant mediation in driving the intervention effects for improving the severity of depressive symptoms on the HDRS [B (SE) = 0.45 (0.09), 95% CI: 0.30–0.60] and its symptom dimensions of core emotional symptoms [B (SE) = 0.27 (0.06), 95% CI: 0.18–0.37], somatic symptoms [B (SE) = 0.24 (0.04), 95% CI: 0.16–0.31] and insomnia symptoms [B (SE) = 0.04 (0.02), 95% CI: 0.02–0.07].
Cognitive social capital and geriatric depression: A community-based case-control study among the rural elderly people of Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Ziaul , Prue Ely , Farjana Sharmin , Al Fidah Md. Fuad , Efa Syeda Sumaiya
Published: October 2024

Background

Geriatric depression results in additional difficulties for older people and their residing society. The case-control study intended to assess the association between cognitive social capital and depression in rural older people.

Methods

We conducted this study from January to December 2020 among 420 rural tenants aged ≥60 years in Bangladesh. We enrolled 210 older persons with depression as cases and another 210 without depression as controls. We used a semi-structured questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and a cluster sampling technique to collect data through face-to-face interviews. We performed quality control checks and followed all ethics guidelines.

Findings

Geriatric depression had a significant association with gender (p = 0.006), marital status (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), occupation (p = 0.001), family type (p < 0.001), family size (p < 0.001), number of family members (p < 0.001), and monthly family income (p < 0.001) of the rural older adults. Both interpersonal trust (p < 0.001) and reciprocity (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with geriatric depression. The older adults who didn’t believe in interpersonal trust (OR = 6.8, p = 0.002) and who disagreed with reciprocity (OR = 31.1, p < 0.001) were more likely to have depression.

Implications

The study findings can contribute to formulating cognitive social capital policy and interventions to promote the psychological well-being of rural older people by alleviating geriatric depression.
Vaccine Procurement: The Changes Needed to Close Access Gaps and Achieve Health Equity in Routine and Pandemic Settings
Authors: Harmon Shawn H.E. , Kholina Ksenia , Graham Janice E.
Published: October 2024

Vaccines are not the only public health tool, but they are critical in routine and emergency settings. Achieving optimal vaccination rates requires timely access to vaccines. However, we have persistently failed to secure, distribute, and administer vaccines in a timely, effective, and equitable manner despite an enduring rhetoric of global health equity.
What I Talk about When I Talk about Charity Scott
Authors: Weeks Elizabeth
Published: October 2024

I applied to law school as a means to an end. To “fix the system,” to make a difference, to advocate for meaningful change that improves health and well-being of others. Charity Scott accomplished, in her academic career, what I have not. At least thus far, I have chosen to follow a different path, dipping in and out of my original mission. Charity, by contrast, was focused and centered, never deviating from her integrity, purpose, kindness, advocacy, and brilliance. She gracefully married the intellectual enterprise of legal education with an unwavering mission to improve individual lives — of students, colleagues, clients, practitioners, and public servants. She was among pioneers in the health law field. She pioneered the medical-legal partnership model. She made a difference.
The States’ Hodgepodge of Physician Licensure Regulations
Authors: Sklar Tara , Robertson Christopher
Published: October 2024

The end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023, marked a pivotal shift in the landscape of telehealth regulation in the US. Kwan, Jolin, and Shachar analyze the implications of this transition by exposing inconsistencies in access to care. We agree that we now face a “convoluted patchwork of permanent and temporary changes to telehealth law and policy.”1
A Proposed Research Agenda for Ethical, Legal, Social, and Historical Studies at the Intersection of Infectious and Genetic Disease
Authors: Cholette François , McLaren Paul J.
Published: October 2024

Over the past two decades there has been a rapid expansion in our understanding of how human genetic variability impacts susceptibility and severity of disease. Through applications of genome-wide association studies, genome and exome sequencing, researchers have made thousands of discoveries of genetic variants that impact risk of common and rare disorders affecting millions of people. Although these techniques have been primarily applied to highly prevalent chronic disorders such as diabetes1 and cardiovascular disease2, infectious diseases have proven to not be immune to genome-wide association, with studies of Tuberculosis3, HIV4 and SARS-CoV25, to name but a few, identifying host susceptibility loci across the genome. Unlike non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases have the unique element of impacting not only the affected the host, but those who may be most vulnerable to acquiring the infection. Thus, genetic variants that impact one individual’s susceptibility to and severity of an infection may also have broader implications to public health, as was brought into keen focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, as we begin to apply the knowledge gained from genomic studies in the clinic or into policy, there are unique ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) at the intersection of infectious diseases and human genomics. In this issue of the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, Jose et al attempt to address this need by proposing a research agenda for ELSI studies at what they term the “blurred boundaries” of infectious and genetic diseases.6
Supreme Court Impacts in Public Health Law: 2023-2024
Authors: Hodge James G. , Piatt Jennifer L. , White Erica N. , Barraza Leila F. , Berthiaume Kyrah M.
Published: October 2024

In a “mixed bag” 2023-2024 session, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a series of decisions both favorable and antithetical to public health and safety. Taking on tough constitutional issues implicating gun control, misinformation, and homelessness, the Court also avoided substantive reviews in favor of procedural dismissals in key cases involving reproductive rights and government censorship.
Medical-Legal Partnerships and Legal Regimes: A Health Justice Perspective
Authors: Bhatnagar Prashasti
Published: October 2024

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) attempt to integrate the social determinants of health into health care delivery to eliminate health inequities. Yet, MLPs have not fully adapted to identify and address structural racism, one of the root causes of health inequities. This article provides a health justice perspective on the role of MLPs to challenge legal regimes to address structural racism and reimagine systems rooted in joy, safety, and collective liberation.
“A Double-Edged Sword”: A Brief History of Genomic Data Governance and Genetic Researcher Perspectives on Data Sharing
Authors: Spector-Bagdady Kayte , Ryan Kerry A. , McGuire Amy L. , Krenz Chris D. , Trinidad M. Grace , Jaffe Kaitlyn , Greene Amanda , Denard Thomas J. , Kent Madison , Morain Stephanie , Wilborn David , Scott Roberts J.
Published: October 2024

As the federal government continues to expand upon and improve its data sharing policies over the past 20 years, complex challenges remain. Our interviews with U.S. academic genetic researchers (n=23) found that the burden, translation, industry limitations, and consent structure of data sharing remain major governance challenges.
Patent Claim Scope and Biosimilar Competition in the US and EU
Authors: Bloomfield Doni , Kesselheim Aaron S.
Published: October 2024

The US has found it hard to establish competition in the market for biologics, which are therapeutics derived from living cells. In the case of small-molecule drugs, the emergence of direct competition from generic drugs at the end of the exclusivity period has provided the impetus for price competition, leading to lower spending. In 2010, to spur competition in the biologics market, Congress created a simplified pathway for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve comparable versions of biologic drugs called biosimilars. Biosimilar competition in the US has nonetheless remained weaker than in European peer countries. For example, as of August 2020, there were 52 biosimilars available in Germany, and only 15 in the US.1 An important contributor to this “biosimilar gap” has been the fact that biosimilars to biologic blockbusters such as adalimumab (Humira) and etanercept (Enbrel) were only (or will only become) commercially available in the US several years after receiving FDA approval, while they were available in Europe years earlier.2 Through the end of 2021, it took biosimilars a median of 301 days between receiving FDA approval and becoming available for use.3 In one recent study, the median length of time between when a biologic drug was approved and when its first biosimilar was made available to US patients was 21.5 years.4 This paucity of competition has contributed to high US spending on biologics. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in 2022 41% of US drug expenditures was spent on biologics, which represented 16% of US prescriptions.5
Medical-Legal Partnership Education Impacts Resident Physician Competencies Relating to Social Drivers of Health
Authors: Swallow Madisen A. , Kala Shashwat , O’Malley Shannon , Rosenthal Alice , Fenick Ada M.
Published: October 2024

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) support patients and clinicians by streamlining legal and medical care and helping identify and address a subset of social drivers of health (SDOH). Less is known on the effect of MLPs on the competency of residents regarding SDOH. The aim of this study was to identify how integration of an MLP into a pediatric residency training program affected residents’ experience understanding and addressing SDOH.
Charity Scott, Bioethics, and Health Law
Authors: Lombardo Paul A.
Published: October 2024

As Steve Kaminshine said in his comments at the symposium honoring Charity Scott, I was recruited to come to Georgia State University as a “Law and Bioethics” scholar who had spent more than sixteen years shuttling between an office in a hospital and another in a law school. But when I first visited Georgia State Law, I did not know that more than ten years earlier Charity Scott had spent the better part of an academic year living and breathing clinical ethics at Grady Memorial Hospital.1 Because of her usual habit of immersion in all learning experiences, in that year Charity gained more insight into how hospitals work and how physicians behave when they are knee deep in their professional milieu of life and death decision-making than many full-time bioethics academics do in a career. For the rest of her career Charity kept one foot well planted in the medical context, as an advisor in problems of research ethics, as a teacher in her own medical-legal partnership structured around real-life clinical problems, and as an ethical analyst who could never be accused of mouthing a mantra of phrases, the “vacuous incantation of abstract principles”2 that might pass for bioethics discourse in some circles.
Ethical and Legal Issues in COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing: A Case Study of A Large Academic Public Health Partnership
Authors: White Lexi C. , Meyer Laura G. , Jehn Megan
Published: October 2024

In an effort to respond to the large surge in COVID-19 cases in Arizona that began between May and July 2020, the Arizona State University (ASU) Student Outbreak Response Team (SORT) formed a remote, volunteer-based case investigation team that worked in partnership with a local public health department through delegated public health authority.
We Have All the Time in the World: The Law and Ethics of Time-Limited Interventions in Clinical Care
Authors: Johnson Samantha R. , Sivertsen Elizabeth
Published: October 2024

The authors consider the legal and ethical considerations of offering a time-limited trial of a potentially non-beneficial intervention in the setting of patient or surrogate requests to pursue aggressive treatment. The likelihood of an intervention’s success is rarely a zero-sum game, and an intervention’s risk-to-benefit ratio may be indiscernible without further information (often, a matter of time).