bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Basil functional and growth responses when cultivated via different aquaponic and hydroponics systems
Authors: Mourantian Anastasia , Aslanidou Maria , Mente Eleni , Katsoulas Nikolaos , Levizou Efi
Published: July 2023

Background

Aquaponics is an innovative farming system that combines hydroponics and aquaculture, resulting in the production of both crops and fish. Decoupled aquaponics is a new approach introduced in aquaponics research for the elimination of certain system bottlenecks, specifically targeting the optimization of crops and fish production conditions. The aquaponics-related literature predominantly examines the system’s effects on crop productivity, largely overlooking the plant functional responses which underlie growth and yield performance. The aim of the study was the integrated evaluation of basil performance cultivated under coupled and decoupled aquaponic systems compared with a hydroponic one, in terms of growth and functional parameters in a pilot-scale aquaponics greenhouse.

Methods

We focused on the efficiency of the photosynthetic process and the state of the photosynthetic machinery, assessed by instantaneous gas exchange measurements as well as photosynthetic light response curves, and in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence. Light use efficiency was estimated through leaf reflectance determination. Photosynthetic pigments content and leaf nutritional state assessments completed the picture of basil functional responses to the three different treatments/systems. The plant’s functional parameters were assessed at 15-day intervals. The experiment lasted for two months and included an intermediate and a final harvest during which several basil growth parameters were determined.

Results

Coupled aquaponics resulted in reduced growth, which was mainly ascribed to sub-sufficient leaf nutrient levels, a fact that triggered a series of negative feedbacks on all aspects of their photosynthetic performance. These plants experienced a down-regulation of PSII activity as reflected in the significant decreases of quantum yield and efficiency of electron transport, along with decreased photosynthetic pigments content. On the contrary, decoupled aquaponics favored both growth and photochemistry leading to higher light use efficiency compared with coupled system and hydroponics, yet without significant differences from the latter. Photosynthetic light curves indicated constantly higher photosynthetic capacity of the decoupled aquaponics-treated basil, while also enhanced pigment concentrations were evident. Basil functional responses to the three tested production systems provided insights on the underlying mechanisms of plant performance highlighting key-points for systems optimization. We propose decoupled aquaponics as an effective system that may replace hydroponics supporting high crops productivity. We suggest that future works should focus on the mechanisms involved in crop and fish species function, the elucidation of which would greatly contribute to the optimization of the aquaponics productivity.
A Finite-Element Method for Enhancement Issues of Frame of Battery Operated Ridge Planter with Drip Line Installer
Authors: Bhelave Kunal , Shrivastava Atul Kumar , Meena Balveer Singh
Published: July 2023

Using distinct partial differential equations, complicated structures breaks down into small elements using the computational approach known as finite element analysis (FEA). Engineers in agriculture can investigate the behavior of numerous input products using numerical simulation based on the FEA technique in order to enhance the design of any machine without constructing a prototype. The current study employed the FEA technique to develop and simulate the frame of a battery-operated ridge planter with a drip line installer. A static structural test was performed through using the FEA technique in the ANSYS version 15.0 workbench software, and a 3D-CAD model of the frame of a battery-operated ridge planter with drip line installer was made using the Solid Works software. To determine the force necessary in the universal testing machine and the applied forces, respectively, on the frame, a specific fixture has been generated.

Total deformation was measured at 23313 mm, and the simulation revealed that the maximum shear stress, equivalent stress, normal stress, stress intensity, and strain energy were, respectively, 8.40 MPa, 16.68 MPa, 16.4 MPa, 16.8 MPa, and 3.55 MPa at 1817.5 N of total load acting on the frame.

The stress values are within the material's yield strength, it was also observed. The FEA methodology was discovered to be a way for creating and simulating the frame of a battery-operated ridge planter with drip line installer that is very effective and scientific.
Reconstruction of the labia majora using a neurovascular pedicled pudendal thigh flap after extensive vulvectomy for primary extramammary Paget's disease: A case report
Authors: Cui Jiangbo , Zhang Yu , Yu Zhou , Fan Xing , Zhang Xi , Yang Li , Song Baoqiang , Li Yang
Published: July 2023

Key Clinical Message

A neurovascular pedicled pudendal thigh flap was used to reconstruct labial defect after extensive vulvectomy for primary extramammary Paget's disease. The flap was reliable for the superior skin and ideal for large labial defect reconstruction.

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD), a rare type of intraepidermal carcinoma, predominantly affects the genitalia. Generally, the treatment for primary EMPD is wide surgical excision; however, large tissue defects after resection necessitate customized reconstruction. Previously, several reconstruction techniques have been outlined, such as local skin flaps (V‐Y flaps), skin grafts, pedicled flaps, and free flaps. However, the complexity of EMPD management is due to the multiple flaps and techniques. In this case report, we applied a neurovascular pedicled pudendal thigh flap to reconstruct a labial defect in a 68‐year‐old woman using the technique of elevation and particularly the insetting of the flap. This pedicled flap was robust and reliable, producing a labium that was natural in appearance with good‐quality skin cover and a protective sensation. The patient was satisfied with both the cosmetic appearance and normal sensation of the reconstructed labia. Additionally, the linear scar at the donor site was located along the inguinal fold, and the flap was accepted by the patient as an ideal tissue for reconstruction of the large labial defect.
Academic application of trade‐off studies to support a CubeSat project
Authors: Honoré‐Livermore Evelyn , Rovik Runar G. , Haskins Cecilia
Published: July 2023

Academic CubeSat projects offer students and researchers hands‐on engineering experience and can deliver cutting‐edge research data. The CubeSat projects are highly multidisciplinary and require teamwork skills as well as engineering expertise. A challenge for academic CubeSat projects is the high turnover of graduating students, which makes knowledge management complicated. Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) offers functionality that can address many of the challenges academic CubeSat teams experience. This paper presents a trade‐off study using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to select an MBSE software for use by students. Literature on academic application of formal trade‐off studies in student teams is limited. The case study described here shows how tangible and intangible factors are addressed using the AHP method, and a discussion of the process and results is provided.
Space Habitats Should Be 1 g Shielded Space Platforms, Not on Low Gravity, Radiation Exposed Moon or Mars
Authors: Jones Harry W.
Published: July 2023

Previous missions have subjected astronauts to confined space, weightlessness, and increased radiation. These impair astronaut comfort, performance, and future health. The exploration and future settlement of space will depend on the long‐term presence of individual humans. This requires the development of space platforms where humans can work and live in health for many years, perhaps generations. A livable space platform must provide adequate volume, gravity, and radiation shielding. This seems easier to do in deep space or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) than on the surface of the moon or Mars. Permanently habitable deep space platforms will enable scientific and technical research, space tourism, space mission preparation, space industry development, and military surveillance and operations. The first fully habitable space station would probably be in LEO for convenience and lower cost.
Oversimplification of Systems Engineering Goals, Processes, and Criteria in NASA Space Life Support
Authors: Jones Harry W.
Published: July 2023

This paper investigates the oversimplification of the inherently complex systems engineering process in space life support. The standard systems engineering process steps are described. The International Space Station (ISS) life support system is explained with its goals and performance criteria. Although it is not usually emphasized, the essential function of developing a hierarchy of systems and subsystems is to simplify the design process. The System Complexity Metric (SCM) shows how this divide‐and‐conquer approach also reduces the system complexity. The complete systems engineering process has many detailed steps. It is often simplified because of the effort required and the human limitations on working memory and decision span. Systems analysis demands slow, logical, and focused thinking but is often bypassed in favor of quick, intuitive, subconscious “gut feel.” A study of 100 system designs found examples of 12 specific mental mistakes, such as ignoring stakeholder needs, and these mistakes are essentially oversimplifications of the systems engineering process. An analysis of space life support goals, options, criteria, and processes found 11 examples of oversimplifications in systems engineering, such as neglecting safety and cost. All these 11 oversimplifications could be traced to one or more of the 12 previously identified mental mistakes or other well‐known ones, such as ignoring sunk costs. Oversimplification of the systems engineering process is rarely noticed but is a common and harmful problem. A study of failures in 50 different space systems found that problems in systems engineering caused failures and often led to errors in design, development, and test that further contributed to failure. It seems that more diligent systems engineering could prevent many project problems and failures, but projects seem to be more guided by “gut feel” based on tradition, authority, and consensus than on the logical, rational systems engineering approach.
Red‐Teaming as a Research Validation Method for Systems Engineering Thesis Students
Authors: Ferris Timothy L.J. , Camelia Fanny , Mattsson Tuomas , Machado Rogério C.
Published: July 2023

All research projects need a forward path method for performing the investigation, making findings and reaching conclusions. In addition, project methodology must include methods that test the truth of the knowledge claimed to have been developed through the project. We address the specific issue of validation in thesis projects in systems engineering (SE) programs where the intended outcome is either an application of SE method or an investigation of a topic in SE. We present red‐teaming (RTing) as a validation method for results of SE research. We discuss two case studies of thesis projects which used a RTing method to evaluate a proposed method for doing something. From this we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the RTing method in thesis projects and provide guidelines for use of RTing as a project outcomes evaluation method. We conclude RTing is a useful method to evaluate a thesis project which generates a design or a method because it uses a method not directly influenced by the student's assumptions in the design of the project. The RTing method is constrained by the challenges of finding willing red‐team (RT) members, project schedule, and the RT member's knowledge of the subject.
Managing Complexity through Collaborative Intelligence
Authors: Maa Mary EI , Derkatsch Alexander IN , DeTurris Dianne J
Published: July 2023

Systems engineering needs new ways to visualize where and how the increasing complexity found in large‐scale aerospace programs affects development processes. Following sensemaking principles provides a vector for comprehending confusing or roadblock events by enhancing communication and decision making to improve the organizational management of complexity. The sensemaking process can be applied through collaborative intelligence, an example being collaborative engineering principles that can guide team dynamics as a method of visualizing complexity. The use of applied sensemaking can document personal interaction in beneficial ways. Communication styles are largely captured in a collaborative intelligence technique called thinking talents. Utilizing the collective thinking talents of the people who work within a team enables communication to be more effective for both the individual and the organization. Thinking talents are a simple organizational development tool that has been incorporated in a suggested implementation strategy with sensemaking. Using thinking talent data enables a collaborative engineering environment that is proactive in focusing collective attention on uncovering potential failure earlier in the development process as a way to manage complexity.
Enabling the Systems Engineering Education Ecosystem (SEEE)
Authors: Wade Jon , Collopy Arianne , Dagli Cihan , Gerardo Hortense , Wood Kristin
Published: July 2023

System engineering education is challenged to address the need posed by rapidly changing technology epitomized by Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation. In particular, there are relatively slow and inaccurate feedback mechanisms between the needs of employers, students and universities at the level of educational program content development. To address this issue, the Systems Engineering Education Ecosystem (SEEE) was established to create and assess the feedback mechanisms by which educators, students and employers can communicate their specific educational capabilities, desires and needs, in order to provide the dynamic feedback necessary to accelerate the evolution of graduate Systems Engineering (SE) educational programs, clearly communicate the characteristics of existing programs, provide access to relevant educational materials, and create a dynamic self‐evolving educational system. This paper describes the vision, objectives, design and development process, current status and future developments, with the intention to support a global systems engineering education ecosystem.
Natural Language Understanding of Systems Engineering Artifacts
Authors: Kulcsár Géza , Constant Olivier , Pruvost Gaëtan , Ráth István , Füzesi Máté , Harmath Dénes
Published: July 2023

This paper examines in close relation two fields of growing importance: model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) and natural language processing (NLP). System models provide a structured description of engineering data, whose inherent semantics often remains hard to explore. Natural language understanding, (i.e., the machine analysis of texts produced by humans) an important field of NLP, focuses on semantic text comprehension but cannot directly account for structured information sources.

In this paper, we investigate natural language understanding of MBSE artifacts as they appear in industrial scenarios. In this context, the wide and heterogeneous knowledge space and user base calls for novel techniques to facilitate information retrieval from complex system models.

We thus propose to leverage domain‐specific text generators to transform models into a descriptive text corpus on which we apply state‐of‐the‐art semantic search and analysis techniques.

We illustrate the approach on relevant MBSE examples by performing a qualitative evaluation of intuitive text search and comprehension in textual descriptions obtained from system models.
Hemochromatosis Genetic Variants and Musculoskeletal Outcomes: 11.5‐Year Follow‐Up in the UK Biobank Cohort Study
Authors: Banfield Lucy R. , Knapp Karen M. , Pilling Luke C. , Melzer David , Atkins Janice L.
Published: July 2023

The iron overload disorder hemochromatosis is primarily caused by the homozygous HFE p.C282Y variant, but the scale of excess related musculoskeletal morbidity is uncertain. We estimated hemochromatosis‐genotype associations with clinically diagnosed musculoskeletal outcomes and joint replacement surgeries in the UK Biobank community cohort. A total of 451,143 European ancestry participants (40 to 70 years at baseline) were followed in hospital records (mean 11.5‐years). Cox proportional hazards models estimated HFE p.C282Y and p.H63D associations with incident outcomes. Male p.C282Y homozygotes (n = 1294) had increased incidence of osteoarthritis (n = 52, hazard ratio [HR]: 2.12 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.61 to 2.80]; p = 8.8 × 10−8), hip replacement (n = 88, HR: 1.84 [95% CI: 1.49 to 2.27]; p = 1.6 × 10−8), knee replacement (n = 61, HR: 1.54 [95% CI: 1.20 to 1.98]; p = 8.4 × 10−4), and ankle and shoulder replacement, compared to males with no HFE mutations. Cumulative incidence analysis, using Kaplan–Meier lifetable probabilities demonstrated 10.4% of male homozygotes were projected to develop osteoarthritis and 15.5% to have hip replacements by age 75, versus 5.0% and 8.7% respectively without mutations. Male p.C282Y homozygotes also had increased incidence of femoral fractures (n = 15, HR: 1.72 [95% CI: 1.03 to 2.87]; p = 0.04) and osteoporosis (n = 21, HR: 1.71 [95% CI: 1.11 to 2.64]; p = 0.02), although the latter association was limited to those with liver fibrosis/cirrhosis diagnoses. Female p.C282Y homozygotes had increased incidence of osteoarthritis only (n = 57, HR: 1.46, [95% CI: 1.12 to 1.89]; p = 0.01). Male p.C282Y/p.H63D compound heterozygotes experienced a modest increased risk of hip replacements (n = 234, HR: 1.17 [95% CI: 1.02 to 1.33], p = 0.02), but this did not pass multiple testing corrections. In this large community cohort, the p.C282Y homozygote genotype was associated with substantial excess musculoskeletal morbidity in males. Wider HFE genotype testing may be justified, including in orthopedic clinics serving higher HFE variant prevalence populations. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The Addition of an Ultra‐Small Amount of Black Phosphorous Quantum Dots Endow Self‐Healing Polyurethane with a Biomimetic Intelligent Response
Authors: Zhong Jia‐Hui , Zhou Yan , Tian Xin‐Xin , Sun Ying‐Lu , Shi Bi‐Ru , Zhang Zhen‐Yu , Zhang Wen‐Hua , Liu Xiang‐Dong , Yang Yu‐Ming
Published: July 2023

This study explores new applications of black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) by adding them to self‐healing material systems for the first time. Self‐healing polyurethane with an ultra‐small amount of BPQDs has biomimetic intelligent responsiveness and achieves balance between its mechanical and self‐healing properties. By adding 0.0001 wt% BPQDs to self‐healing polyurethane, the fracture strength of the material increases from 3.0 to 12.3 MPa, and the elongation at break also increases from 750% to 860%. Meanwhile, the self‐healing efficiency remains at 98%. The addition of BPQDs significantly improves the deformation recovery ability of the composite materials and transforms the surface of self‐healing polyurethane from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, making it suitable for applications in fields such as electronic skin and flexible wearable devices. This study provides a simple and feasible strategy for endowing self‐healing materials with biomimetic intelligent responsiveness using a small amount of BPQDs.
Characterising individual variability in associations between self‐monitoring and weight change during and after a behavioral weight management program
Authors: Arroyo Kelsey M. , Ross Kathryn M.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Greater self‐monitoring of caloric intake and weight has been associated with success at both initial weight loss and long‐term maintenance. Given the existence of wide variability in weight loss outcomes and the key role of self‐monitoring within behavioral weight management interventions, this study examined individual variability in associations between self‐monitoring and weight change and whether demographic factors could predict who may best benefit from self‐monitoring.

Methods

Participants were 72 adults with overweight or obesity (mean ± SD, age = 50.6 ± 10.3; body mass index = 31.2 ± 4.5 kg/m2; 71%Female; 83%White) enrolled in a 12‐week weight loss program followed by a 40‐week observational maintenance period. Participants were encouraged to self‐monitor caloric intake and weight daily and to report these data via a study website each week. Multilevel mixed models were used to estimate week‐to‐week associations between self‐monitoring and weight change, by individual and linear regressions and ANOVAs were used to explore demographic differences in these associations.

Results

Most participants (68%) demonstrated statistically significant negative associations between self‐monitoring of either caloric intake or weight and weight change. Of these, 76% benefited from self‐monitoring both caloric intake and weight, 18% from self‐monitoring caloric intake only, and 6% from self‐weighing only. The magnitude of associations between self‐monitoring and weight change did not significantly differ by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, or income, all ps > 0.05.

Conclusions

Differences in the effectiveness of self‐monitoring for weight loss were not observed by demographic characteristics. Future research should examine if other factors may predict the effectiveness of self‐monitoring.
A case of bilateral pneumothorax following computer‐tomography guided transthoracic biopsy in a woman with suspected pulmonary cancer
Authors: Hansen Erik Sören Halvard , Bouazzi Meyya , Larsen Klaus Richter , Abield‐Nielsen Annemette , Dalsgaard Oli Jacob , Eibye Kasper
Published: July 2023

Computer‐tomography‐guided needle biopsies are useful for diagnosing, staging, and classification of peripheral pulmonary nodules. However, the procedure carries a risk of iatrogenic pneumothorax. This report describes a patient‐case where a woman had undergone a computer‐tomography guided biopsy. Approximately 4 hours following discharge the patient was admitted to the emergency ward with severe chest pain and dyspnea. Chest x‐ray revealed bilateral pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema at the biopsy site. Pleural drainage was administered on the patient's right side. Another chest x‐ray following drainage showed regression of pneumothorax on both sides thus indicating communicating pleural cavities. Medical history revealed that the patient had been thymectomized 2 years earlier and a computer tomography visualized that the patient lacked mediastinal separation of the two pleural cavities. It is possible that patients with a history of mediastinal or thoracic surgery should be observed longer following procedures carrying risk of iatrogenic pneumothorax.
On Successive Approximations for Compact-Valued Nonexpansive Mappings
Authors: Medjic Emir
Published: July 2023

We show that for a given initial point the typical, in the sense of Baire category, nonexpansive compact valued mappingFhas the following properties: there is a unique sequence of successive approximations and this sequence converges to a fixed point ofF. In the case of separable Banach spaces we show that for the typical mapping there is a residual set of initial points that have a unique trajectory.
Dietary Copper Intake and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: a Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Zeng Zhaohao , Cen Yanmei , Xiong Lijiao , Hong Guo , Luo Yu , Luo Xiaoguang
Published: July 2023

Copper is an essential trace element for the human body. The epidemiological evidence for the association of dietary intake of copper with the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is limited. We conducted an evaluation of the cross-sectional data gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys spanning from 2007 to 2018, which comprised a total of 17,948 participants. To discern the distinct characteristics of the participants, we performed a univariate analysis and utilized a 1:2 ratio propensity score matching method to minimize the effects of selection bias. We employed weighted univariate as well as three multivariate logistic regression models both prior to and following matching, with the aim of examining the association between dietary copper intake and PD risk. Finally, we used the restricted cubic spline (RCS) methodology in order to investigate possible non-linear relationships. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was undertaken to elicit further understanding concerning the association between copper intake and PD. A negative correlation resulted between dietary copper intake and PD risk in both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, prior to and following matching. Our findings demonstrate that there is a nonlinear, dose-dependent relationship between copper intake and PD, according to our RCS analysis. In subgroup analysis, copper intake was identified as an important protective factor for individuals who were non-Hispanic White, unmarried, and had completed higher education. Dietary copper intake was associated with the risk of PD. Supplementation of dietary copper may have potentially beneficial effects.
Experimental study and analysis of an air-cooled condenser with the fouling on the heat exchange surface for small-scale commercial refrigeration systems
Authors: Morozyuk Larisa , Sokolovska-Yefymenko Viktoriia , Moshkatiuk Andrii , Ierin Volodymyr , Basov Anatolii
Published: July 2023

The paper presents the results of a theoretical and experimental study aimed at improving the efficiency of commercial refrigeration systems and taking into account the external negative impact on heat transfer and aerodynamics of an air-cooled condenser. The issues of the impact of solid fouling on the outer heat transfer surface of the air-cooled condenser as a factor that worsens its energy efficiency and operational reliability have been studied. A small-scale commercial refrigeration machine has been used for carrying out the study. To create external real conditions in the experimental bench, a climatic chamber and a thermostatic chamber are provided. Three types of solid fouling have been used: dust, fluff, and sand. The fouling has been collected from real operating air-cooled condensers which are identical to the experimental heat exchanger. The experimental study has been carried out with a variable mass of fouling, which made it possible to simulate various real operating conditions for the air-cooled condenser. As a result of the experiment, it has been found that out of a set of fouling roadsides, the dust has the greatest negative impact on the characteristics of the refrigeration machine as a whole, and sand has the greatest negative effect on the internal characteristics of the air-cooled condenser. Recommendations are made to determine the moment of cleaning the surface of the air-cooled condenser based on energy-saving parameters. It is proposed to fix the moment of cleaning using computer software using the permissible air mass velocity as a key parameter and the refrigeration machine operation interval under this condition.
The Publications of The Bedfordshire Historical Record Society Volume XVIII
Authors: Denny Henry L. L.
Published: July 2023

Includes 'The Civil War Papers of Sir Will. Boteler, 1642-1655', edited by G. Herbert Fowler (Calendar).

 'The Ship-money Papers of Henry Chester and Sir Will. Boteler, 1637-1639', edited by F. G. and Margaret Emmison (Assessments, lists of arrears, and correspondence for Bedfordshire.).

'Notes on the Family of Coke, of Newbury, co. Beds', by Sir Henry L. L. Denny, bart (1480-1664).
Ratemaking in a changing environment
Authors: Okine A. Nii-Armah
Published: July 2023

In pricing insurance contracts based on the individual policyholder’s aggregate losses for non-life insurers, the literature has mainly focused on using detailed information from policies and closed claims. However, the information on open claims can reflect shifts in the distribution of the expected claim payments better than closed claims. Such shifts may be needed to be reflected in the ratemaking process earlier rather than later, especially when insurers are experiencing environmental changes. In practice, actuaries use ad hoc techniques to adjust data to current levels to determine premiums. This paper presents an intuitive ratemaking model, employing a marked Poisson process framework, which ensures that the multivariate risk analysis is done more routinely using all reported claims and makes an adjustment for Incurred But Not Reported claims. Utilizing data from the Wisconsin Local Government Property Insurance Fund, we find that by determining rates based on current data, the proposed ratemaking model leads to better alignment of premiums and provides insurers with a more financially sound portfolio.
The Significance of Conscience in Community: Rethinking the ‘Hands Off Religion’ Doctrine
Authors: Schlesinger Chagai
Published: July 2023

When evaluating religious accommodation claims, courts refrain from examining the relationship between the specific claim and the common religious practice of the relevant religion. This paper rethinks this doctrine. I argue that it stems from understanding religious accommodation as a protection of conscience. This idea itself suffers from conceptual and practical challenges, which can be mitigated if we understand religion as a communal function of conscientious actions. The communal aspect bears practical and moral significance, and I explore three dimensions of it: the epistemic implications; its effect on constituting moral obligations toward others; and its importance as part of one’s culture. A communal-conscientious approach to religion can mitigate many challenges that confront conscience accommodation. This suggests that the relationship between the individual’s claim and their communal practice is crucial and should be evaluated by courts. I conclude by outlining the main considerations for creating a new, nuanced doctrine.
We know what stops you from thinking forever: A metacognitive perspective
Authors: Ackerman Rakefet , Morsanyi Kinga
Published: July 2023

This commentary addresses omissions in De Neys's model of fast-and-slow thinking from a metacognitive perspective. We review well-established meta-reasoning monitoring (e.g., confidence) and control processes (e.g., rethinking) that explain mental effort regulation. Moreover, we point to individual, developmental, and task design considerations that affect this regulation. These core issues are completely ignored or mentioned in passing in the target article.
Open Science in Italy: Lessons Learned En Route to Opening Scholarship
Authors: Ciriminna Rosaria , Pagliaro Mario
Published: July 2023

Following the analysis of the slow uptake of open science in Italy, we identify four main lessons learned that may be useful to scholars and research policy makers engaged in promoting the uptake of open science culture and practices in their own countries.
Why Do People Use Informal Justice? Experimental Evidence from Kosovo
Authors: Krakowski Krzysztof , Kursani Shpend
Published: July 2023

Why do some people resolve disputes through the state, while others use religious or customary justice? We address this question by conducting a vignette experiment in Kosovo. We design hypothetical situations in which fictitious characters are involved in disputes regarding inheritance, debt, domestic violence, and murder. We vary information concerning (i) vignette characters’ resources, (ii) their beliefs about the efficiency of state justice, and (iii) dispute settlement customs in the characters’ communities. Survey respondents assess whether a vignette character is likely to seek informal justice, given the described circumstances. We find that respondents associate informal justice with characters who believe that the state would resolve their disputes very slowly, and whose other community members would not use state justice. These findings generalize to respondents’ own justice preferences and patterns of actual informal dispute settlement in Kosovo and beyond. Our article highlights efficiency concerns and local conventions as explanations of informal justice.
The association between growth differentiation factor-15, erythroferrone, and iron status in thalassemic patients
Authors: Youssry Ilham , Samy Rania M. , AbdelMohsen Mohamed , Salama Niveen M.
Published: July 2023

Background

Iron overload can result in grave consequences in thalassemic patients, despite the availability of iron chelators. Therefore, alternative pathways aiming to reduce iron toxicity are currently investigated. Among which, reduction of iron absorption through control of hepcidin production appears to be promising. In this study, we investigated growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) and erythroferrone (ERFE) as potential suppressors of hepcidin.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 61 thalassemic patients and 60 healthy controls. The frequency of GDF15 gene polymorphism (rs4808793) (-3148C/G), serum level of GDF15 and erythroferrone were measured and correlated with those of hepcidin and serum ferritin.

Results

The presence of GDF15 gene mutations were significantly higher in the patients’ group compared to controls (P value 0.035). Also, thalassemia patients had significantly higher levels of GDF15 and ERFE and lower hepcidin levels than controls (P value < 0.001). Serum hepcidin level showed significantly negative correlations with GDF15, ERFE, reticulocyte count, LDH level, and serum ferritin. Contrarily, it had highly significant positive correlation with hemoglobin.

Conclusions

High level of GDF15 and/or ERFE may inhibit hepcidin production and increase iron load in patients with thalassemia; therefore, medications that suppress their actions may provide new therapeutic potentials for iron toxicity.

Impact

Iron overload continues to be a major contributor to high morbidity and mortality in patients with thalassemia.

New strategies together with proper chelation, need to be developed to minimize the effect of iron toxicity.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) and erythroferrone (ERFE) inhibit hepcidin production and increase iron levels in conditions with ineffective erythropoiesis.

Medications that suppress the production or interfere with the action of GDF15 or ERFE may represent new therapeutic potentials for iron toxicity.

Prevention of iron toxicity will significantly reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life of thalassemia patients.
Nutritional redundancy in the human diet and its application in phenotype association studies
Authors: Wang Xu-Wen , Hu Yang , Menichetti Giulia , Grodstein Francine , Bhupathiraju Shilpa N. , Sun Qi , Zhang Xuehong , Hu Frank B. , Weiss Scott T. , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: July 2023

Studying human dietary intake may help us identify effective measures to treat or prevent many chronic diseases whose natural histories are influenced by nutritional factors. Here, by examining five cohorts with dietary intake data collected on different time scales, we show that the food intake profile varies substantially across individuals and over time, while the nutritional intake profile appears fairly stable. We refer to this phenomenon as ‘nutritional redundancy’ and attribute it to the nested structure of the food-nutrient network. This network enables us to quantify the level of nutritional redundancy for each diet assessment of any individual. Interestingly, this nutritional redundancy measure does not strongly correlate with any classical healthy diet scores, but its performance in predicting healthy aging shows comparable strength. Moreover, after adjusting for age, we find that a high nutritional redundancy is associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in adults with diabetes in China
Authors: Hou Xuhong , Wang Limin , Zhu Dalong , Guo Lixin , Weng Jianping , Zhang Mei , Zhou Zhiguang , Zou Dajin , Ji Qiuhe , Guo Xiaohui , Wu Qiang , Chen Siyu , Yu Rong , Chen Hongli , Huang Zhengjing , Zhang Xiao , Wu Jiarui , Wu Jing , Jia Weiping ,   for the China National Diabetic Chronic Complications (DiaChronic) Study Group
Published: July 2023

The current epidemic status of diabetic retinopathy in China is unclear. A national prevalence survey of diabetic complications was conducted. 50,564 participants with gradable non-mydriatic fundus photographs were enrolled. The prevalence rates (95% confidence intervals) of diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy were 16.3% (15.3%–17.2%) and 3.2% (2.9%–3.5%), significantly higher in the northern than in the southern regions. The differences in prevalence between those who had not attained a given metabolic goal and those who had were more pronounced for Hemoglobin A1c than for blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The participants with vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy had significantly higher proportions of visual impairment and blindness than those with non-vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. The likelihoods of diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy were also associated with education levels, household income, and multiple dietary intakes. Here, we show multi-level factors associated with the presence and the severity of diabetic retinopathy.
Detecting shortcut learning for fair medical AI using shortcut testing
Authors: Brown Alexander , Tomasev Nenad , Freyberg Jan , Liu Yuan , Karthikesalingam Alan , Schrouff Jessica
Published: July 2023

Machine learning (ML) holds great promise for improving healthcare, but it is critical to ensure that its use will not propagate or amplify health disparities. An important step is to characterize the (un)fairness of ML models—their tendency to perform differently across subgroups of the population—and to understand its underlying mechanisms. One potential driver of algorithmic unfairness, shortcut learning, arises when ML models base predictions on improper correlations in the training data. Diagnosing this phenomenon is difficult as sensitive attributes may be causally linked with disease. Using multitask learning, we propose a method to directly test for the presence of shortcut learning in clinical ML systems and demonstrate its application to clinical tasks in radiology and dermatology. Finally, our approach reveals instances when shortcutting is not responsible for unfairness, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to fairness mitigation in medical AI.
CellSighter: a neural network to classify cells in highly multiplexed images
Authors: Amitay Yael , Bussi Yuval , Feinstein Ben , Bagon Shai , Milo Idan , Keren Leeat
Published: July 2023

Multiplexed imaging enables measurement of multiple proteins in situ, offering an unprecedented opportunity to chart various cell types and states in tissues. However, cell classification, the task of identifying the type of individual cells, remains challenging, labor-intensive, and limiting to throughput. Here, we present CellSighter, a deep-learning based pipeline to accelerate cell classification in multiplexed images. Given a small training set of expert-labeled images, CellSighter outputs the label probabilities for all cells in new images. CellSighter achieves over 80% accuracy for major cell types across imaging platforms, which approaches inter-observer concordance. Ablation studies and simulations show that CellSighter is able to generalize its training data and learn features of protein expression levels, as well as spatial features such as subcellular expression patterns. CellSighter’s design reduces overfitting, and it can be trained with only thousands or even hundreds of labeled examples. CellSighter also outputs a prediction confidence, allowing downstream experts control over the results. Altogether, CellSighter drastically reduces hands-on time for cell classification in multiplexed images, while improving accuracy and consistency across datasets.
Quantification of 37 glucocorticoids in chicken muscle by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS with parallel reaction monitoring
Authors: Pan Xiao-Dong , Han Jian-Long , Xu Xiao-Min
Published: July 2023

The quantification capability of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has received increasing interest from analysts.
Ce1−xZrxO2 nanoparticles in bacterial cellulose, bio-based composites with self-regenerating antioxidant capabilities
Authors: van Gent Johanna , Roig Anna
Published: July 2023

Nanocomposite antioxidant effectiveness depends on the Ce3+/Ce4+ equilibrium population.
Models of Classical Cadence Perception
Authors: Duane Ben
Published: July 2023

This chapter explores the nature of cadence perception through the lens of computational models trained on various corpora. It constructs various computational models of cadence perception that extract from the musical surface a set of features reflecting information that a human listener could also be expected to apprehend. These features are then provided to a classifier that attempts to identify cadences based on the features. These can be interpreted as simulations of human cadence perception. Later, the author describes results from such simulation trials in which cadences are identified using various musical features, including linear patterns in the melody and bass, information content of individual notes, and harmonic functions inferred from scale-degree counts.
Ethical Evaluation of Research Risks and Potential Benefits
Authors: Rid Annette
Published: July 2023

A reasonable risk-benefit profile is a key ethical requirement for research with human participants. In this chapter, the author provides a critical overview of how the content of this requirement has been specified in the context of clinical research. After clarifying basic concepts, the author presents and evaluates three systematic ethical frameworks for risk-benefit evaluations and argues that the “net risks” framework is superior to the existing alternatives. The author then highlights open questions about all of these frameworks that could make a practical difference in how research risks and potential benefits are being evaluated. The author closes by exploring briefly to what extent the existing literature on the reasonable risk-benefit requirement in clinical research can inform discussions about this requirement in other research involving human participants, notably social scientific research.
The Ukrainian Underground
Authors: Hundorova Tamara
Published: July 2023

This chapter presents a broad panorama of Ukrainian underground culture from the 1960s to the Perestroika period (late 1980s–early 1990s), focusing predominantly on literature but also including visual art and music. Several generations of Ukrainian nonconformists (the Sixtiers, the generation of the Seventies) and diverse cultural locales (Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv) overlap with the spectrum of artistic strategies shaping a multi-dimensional typology of Ukrainian catacomb culture. This chapter highlights such trends/circles as the dissident underground of the Sixtiers, with its focus on national revival and protest against political repressions; the hermetic art of the “displaced generation” (post-Sixtiers, or the Kyiv School of Poetry), including their contacts with the New York circle of Ukrainian poets; the Lviv underground embracing modernist poets and prose-writers (authors of the self-published magazine Skrynia) in the 1970s. The 1980s witnessed the birth of postmodernist aesthetics, with a strong presence of the carnivalesque grotesque and Conceptualism, as exemplified by the performance group “Bu-Ba-Bu” and the Kyiv circle of ironic and absurdist writers. The conclusion demonstrates the continuity between the legacy of the underground and radical tendencies in post-communist Ukrainian culture.
NSSI in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Kiekens Glenn , Hasking Penelope , Claes Laurence
Published: July 2023

This chapter considers why adolescence and emerging adulthood are the most sensitive life periods for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and summarizes the knowledge about the course and developmental risk and protective factors of NSSI. This includes a literature review on the associations between NSSI and early life trauma, personality and identity development, emotion regulation, cognitive vulnerabilities, mental disorders, parenting and family relationships, and peer relationships. The authors then evaluate the possible consequences of engaging in NSSI as an adolescent or emerging adult and discuss how we can intervene to address NSSI among young people. Finally, the authors formulate recommendations to further our understanding as we move into the next decade of research. One of the main suggestions is to consider developmental variation in future prospective studies as well as an increased focus on prevention and intervention.
Yeats in Fascist Italy
Authors: Arrington Lauren
Published: July 2023

Yeats’s visits to Rapallo, Italy, between 1928 and 1934 coincided with the consolidation of the Italian fascist regime. Unlike Pound, who wholly embraced Mussolini and his government, Yeats’s proximity to the increasing totalitarianism of the regime resulted in his turning away from overtly fascist political structures, even while ‘aesthetic fascism’ continued to inform his work for the rest of his life. A close study of Yeats’s interest in Italian fascism shows the fluidity of his attitude to Mussolini and the regime as well as the steadfastness of his authoritarian commitment in his aesthetics. While he dismissed Italian fascism’s ‘dry sticks’, Yeats remained interested in totalizing mythologies, not only the System in A Vision but also in the theatre. Although Yeats ultimately rejected Italian fascism as a political model in its party-political manifestation and his conversations in Rapallo about fascist political thought, it remained a powerful presence in Yeats’s late work.
Planets
Authors: Parsons Cóilín
Published: July 2023

This chapter looks forward from Yeats to the discourse of planetarity that has swept through certain corners of literary and cultural criticism in the twenty-first century, from environmental humanities to postcolonial studies and beyond. It shows Yeats’s lifelong interest in trying to figure the size and shape of our imagined and material universe, and about how we have imagined the planet since the beginning of the twentieth century. In other words, this chapter asks what planetary thinking looks like when glimpsed squarely through the lens of what we now know as modernism, and how Yeats invested in the philosophical, spiritual, and political implications of thinking about and with the planet and the stars.
Lady Gregory
Authors: Grene Nicholas
Published: July 2023

Yeats and Lady Gregory’s relationship was never exactly that of equals but existed within a complex and shifting power dynamic of status and authority. When they first met, Gregory had an established social position; at the same time, Yeats’s genius as a writer (of which she was convinced) gave him a sort of superiority. Her patronage was given in the cause of his work and to this she was prepared to subordinate her own interests. That may have been one of the reasons she did not claim full credit for her share of the writings she co-authored with him. It was his career, his reputation which were all important. This chapter tracks the changing pattern of relationship between Yeats and Gregory from patronage through collaboration to mythopoeia.