bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The muzzle to target distance —staining inside different parts of the firearm barrel
Authors: Schyma Christian , Müller Rolf , Brünig Julia , Zieger Martin , Utz Silvia , Grabmüller Melanie
Published: December 2023

Biological traces inside firearm barrels were observed as a result of contact shots to the head. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of the muzzle to target distance on staining inside the anterior and posterior part of firearm barrels. Ninety-nine shots were fired to so-called reference cubes (10% gelatine, 12 cm edge length, embedded paint-blood-pad) using three current handguns. Shot range was varied from contact to 50 cm distance. High-speed cameras recorded external backspatter. Endoscopic examination assessed visible staining along the barrel. Each two swabbings were gathered from the anterior and the posterior part of the barrel. The first swabs were submitted to quantitative PCR, the second ones to DNA-RNA-co-extraction. Thorough mechanical and chemical cleaning was performed to avoid any contamination which was controlled by negative zero swabs after each cleaning. In single shots up to 50 cm distance, minimal, but DNA-positive sporadic traces were detected inside the barrel in vicinity of the muzzle. Visible complex staining varying in extent was observed in the anterior barrel part for 10 cm or less distance in dependence of the calibre. The posterior part showed detectable traces only after close range shots (< 5 cm). Generally staining inside the barrel decreased from the muzzle to the rear end, which correlated with the yield of DNA. Some contact shots did not cause any staining in the posterior part of the barrel despite massive external backspatter. Blood-specific miRNA was primarily found where DNA was detected. This experience encourages to take a second swab for RNA analysis. The amount of nucleic acids in the barrel at varying muzzle to target distances is subject to large variations between individual shots and therefore appears not suitable for a reliable determination of the shot distance in a particular case on its own. Instead, shot range estimation should also take into account morphology and distribution of traces inside the barrel.
Use of angioembolization, treatment modalities and mortality in association with blunt liver trauma in Germany — a data analysis of the TraumaRegister DGU®
Authors: Beltzer Christian , Imach Sebastian , Wafaisade Arasch , Lefering Rolf , Kölbel Benny ,   TraumaRegister DGU
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Angioembolization (ANGIO) is highly valued in national and international guideline recommendations as a treatment adjunct with blunt liver trauma (BLT). The literature on BLT shows that treatment, regardless of the severity of liver injury, can be accomplished with a high success rate using nonoperative management (NOM). An indication for surgical therapy (SURG) is only seen in hemodynamically instable patients. For Germany, it is unclear how frequently NOM $$\pm$$
±
ANGIO is actually used, and what mortality is associated with BLT.

Methods

A retrospective systematic data analysis of patients with BLT from the TraumaRegister DGU® was performed. All patients with liver injury AIS ≥ 2 between 2015 and 2020 were included. The focus was to evaluate the use ANGIO as well as treatment selection (NOM vs. SURG) and mortality in relation to liver injury severity. Furthermore, independent risk factors influencing mortality were identified, using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

A total of 2353 patients with BLT were included in the analysis. ANGIO was used in 18 cases (0.8%). NOM was performed in 70.9% of all cases, but mainly in less severe liver trauma (AIS ≤ 2, abbreviated injury scale). Liver injuries AIS ≥ 3 were predominantly treated surgically (64.6%). Overall mortality associated with BLT was 16%. Severity of liver injury ≥ AIS 3, age > 60 years, hemodynamic instability (INSTBL), and mass transfusion (≥ 10 packed red blood cells/pRBC) were identified as independent risk factors contributing to mortality in BLT.

Conclusion

ANGIO is rarely used in BLT, contrary to national and international guideline recommendations. In Germany, liver injuries AIS ≥ 3 are still predominantly treated surgically. BLT is associated with considerable mortality, depending on the presence of specific contributing risk factors.
Mutual information of multiple rhythms in schizophrenia
Authors: Ibáñez-Molina Antonio , Crespo Cobo Yasmina , Soriano Peña Maria Felipa , Iglesias-Parro Sergio , Ruiz de Miras Juan
Published: December 2023

Interactions between different cortical rhythms, such as slow and fast oscillations, have been hypothesized to underlie many cognitive functions. In patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, there is some evidence indicating that the interplay between slow and fast oscillations might be impaired or disrupted. In this study, we investigated multiple oscillatory interactions in schizophrenia using a novel approach based on information theory. This method allowed us to investigate interactions from a new perspective, where two or more rhythm interactions could be analyzed at the same time. We calculated the mutual information of multiple rhythms (MIMR) for EEG segments registered in resting state. Following previous studies, we focused on rhythm interactions between theta, alpha, and gamma. The results showed that, in general, MIMR was higher in patients than in controls for alpha–gamma and theta–gamma couplings. This finding of an increased coupling between slow and fast rhythms in schizophrenia may indicate complex interactions in the Default Mode Network (DMN) related to hyperactivation of internally guided cognition.
Prevalence and associated risk factors assessment of bovine fasciolosis in the Imbo Region, Burundi
Authors: Nkurunziza Sylvère , Nishemezwe Gérard , Ntirandekura Jean-Bosco , Niyokwizera Pascal , Nyabongo Lionel , Omore Amos , Odhiambo Rose
Published: December 2023

Fasciolosis is a zoonosis that limits the productivity of ruminants worldwide, but there is a lack of information on its occurrence in Burundi. Therefore, this study aimed to fill the information gap by determining the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine fasciolosis in the Imbo Region of Burundi. Two prevalence studies were conducted in parallel in the five communes of the five provinces in the Imbo region. In the first study, a total of 426 fecal samples were collected from randomly selected cattle farms and microscopically examined to determineFasciolaegg burden. Survey data on cattle husbandry were collected from owners of these cattle and analyzed to determine the risk factors for bovine fasciolosis. In the second study, 467 cattle were randomly selected in abattoirs and their livers were examined postmortem to determine liver fluke burdens. Data were entered separately into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using R software. The overall prevalence of bovine fasciolosis was 47.7% (42.9–52.4, 95% CI) for microscopic examination and 33.2% (28.9–37.5, 95% CI) for postmortem examinations. The majority of positive cattle (60.6%) had light intensity infections as determined by eggs per gram of feces (epg). Postmortem examinations corroborated these results and indicated that 80% of cattle had light intensity infections. Chi-square analysis showed a statistical association with the presence of bovine fasciolosis and the age, sex, and origin of cattle and the practices of cattle owners (P < 0.05).
Trade-offs between deer herbivory and nitrogen competition alter grassland forb composition
Authors: Furey George N. , Tilman David
Published: December 2023

Two of the major factors that control the composition of herbaceous plant communities are competition for limiting soil resources and herbivory. We present results from a 14-year full factorial experiment in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem that crossed nitrogen (N) addition with fencing to exclude white-tailed deer,Odocoileus virginianus, from half the plots. Deer presence was associated with only modest decreases in aboveground plant biomass (14% decrease; −45 ± 19 g m−2) with no interaction with N addition. N addition at 5.44 and 9.52 g N m−2 year−1led to increases in biomass. There were weak increases in species richness associated with deer presence, but only for no or low added N (1 and 2 g N m−2 year−1). However, the presence of deer greatly impacted the abundances of some of the dominant perennial forb species, but not the dominant grasses. Deer presence increased the abundance of the forbArtemisia ludovicianaby 34 ± 12 SE g m−2(94%) and decreased the forbSolidago rigidaby 32 ± 13 SE g m−2(79%). We suggest that these changes may have resulted from trade-offs in plant competitive ability for soil N versus resistance to deer herbivory. Field observations suggest deer acted as florivores, mainly consuming the flowers of susceptible forb species. The preferential consumption of flowers of forbs that seem to be superior N competitors appears to create an axis of interspecific niche differentiation. The overpopulation of white-tailed deer in many tallgrass reserves likely structures the abundance of forb species.
Estimating risk of rapid disease progression in pediatric patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a randomized trial of tolvaptan
Authors: Mekahli Djalila , Guay-Woodford Lisa M. , Cadnapaphornchai Melissa A. , Goldstein Stuart L. , Dandurand Ann , Jiang Huan , Jadhav Pravin , Debuque Laurie
Published: December 2023

Background

Tolvaptan preserves kidney function in adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) at elevated risk of rapid progression. A trial (NCT02964273) evaluated tolvaptan safety and pharmacodynamics in children (5–17 years). However, progression risk was not part of study eligibility criteria due to lack of validated criteria for risk assessment in children. As risk estimation is important to guide clinical management, baseline characteristics of the study participants were retrospectively evaluated to determine whether risk of rapid disease progression in pediatric ADPKD can be assessed and to identify parameters relevant for risk estimation.

Methods

Four academic pediatric nephrologists reviewed baseline data and rated participant risk from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) based on clinical judgement and the literature. Three primary reviewers independently scored all cases, with each case reviewed by two primary reviewers. For cases with discordant ratings (≥ 2-point difference), the fourth reviewer provided a secondary rating blinded to the primary evaluations. Study participants with discordant ratings and/or for whom data were lacking were later discussed to clarify parameters relevant to risk estimation.

Results

Of 90 evaluable subjects, primary reviews of 69 (77%) were concordant. The proportion considered at risk of rapid progression (final mean rating ≥ 3.5) by age group was: 15–17 years, 27/34 (79%); 12– < 15, 9/32 (28%); 4– < 12, 8/24 (33%). The panelists agreed on characteristics important for risk determination: age, kidney imaging, kidney function, blood pressure, urine protein, and genetics.

Conclusions

High ratings concordance and agreement among reviewers on relevant clinical characteristics support the feasibility of pediatric risk assessment.

Graphical abstract

A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information
Compassionate use of roxadustat for treatment of refractory renal anemia in an infant
Authors: Yang Yan , Chen Yan , Yang Yang , Bai Haitao , He Bizi , Liu Dengli
Published: December 2023

Background

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have played an important role in the treatment of renal anemia in children, but cannot improve hemoglobin to target level in some cases. Roxadustat, a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, can stimulate endogenous erythropoietin production and regulate iron metabolism even in patients with kidney failure. However, roxadustat has not yet been approved for use in children.

Case–diagnosis/Treatment

We report a case of refractory renal anemia in an 80-day-old boy, who was hyporesponsive to ESAs even in combination with iron supplementation and transfusion. Compassionate use of roxadustat successfully corrected the intractable anemia. Hyperkalemia is a manageable adverse event of concern during follow-up.

Conclusion

The successful experience in this case may inform the clinical utility of roxadustat for refractory renal anemia in children, which should be further confirmed by well-designed prospective clinical trials.
Multivariate motion patterns and applications to rainfall radar data
Authors: Fischer Svenja , Oesting Marco , Schnurr Alexander
Published: December 2023

The classification of movement in space is one of the key tasks in environmental science. Various geospatial data such as rainfall or other weather data, data on animal movement or landslide data require a quantitative analysis of the probable movement in space to obtain information on potential risks, ecological developments or changes in future. Usually, machine-learning tools are applied for this task, as these approaches are able to classify large amounts of data. Yet, machine-learning approaches also have some drawbacks, e.g. the often required large training sets and the fact that the algorithms are often hard to interpret. We propose a classification approach for spatial data based on ordinal patterns. Ordinal patterns have the advantage that they are easily applicable, even to small data sets, are robust in the presence of certain changes in the time series and deliver interpretative results. They therefore do not only offer an alternative to machine-learning in the case of small data sets but might also be used in pre-processing for a meaningful feature selection. In this work, we introduce the basic concept of multivariate ordinal patterns and the corresponding limit theorem. A simulation study based on bootstrap demonstrates the validity of the results. The approach is then applied to two real-life data sets, namely rainfall radar data and the movement of a leopard. Both applications emphasize the meaningfulness of the approach. Clearly, certain patterns related to the atmosphere and environment occur significantly often, indicating a strong dependence of the movement on the environment.
Comparing the responses of grain-fed feedlot cattle under moderate heat load and during subsequent recovery with those of feed-restricted thermoneutral counterparts: blood cells and inflammatory markers
Authors: Wijffels G. , Sullivan M. L. , Stockwell S. , Briscoe S. , Pearson R. , Li Y. , Macs A. M. , Sejian V. , McCulloch R. , Olm J. C. W. , Cawdell-Smith J. , Gaughan J. B.
Published: December 2023

Given the climate projections for livestock rearing regions globally, understanding the inflammatory status of livestock under various heat loads will be informative to animal welfare and management. A survey of plasma inflammatory markers was conducted, and blood leucocyte counts followed to investigate the capacity of the ~ 500 kg grain fed Black Angus steer to respond to and recover from a moderate heat load challenge. Two sequential cohorts of 12 steers were housed in climate-controlled rooms (CCR) for 18 days. A thermally challenged (TC) group (n = 2 × 6) experienced five consecutive periods: PreChallenge, Challenge, and Recovery within the CCR, and 40 days in outdoor pens (PENS and Late PENS). PreChallenge (5 days) and Recovery (7 days) delivered thermoneutral conditions, whereas in Challenge the TC steers experienced a diurnal temperature range of 28–35 °C. A feed-restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) treatment (n = 2 × 6) was run concurrently to differentiate between responses to reduced feed intake alone and moderate heat stress. Blood neutrophil counts were particularly sensitive to moderate heat load with higher numbers during Challlenge and in PENs. The plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL-1β were depressed in the TC group compared to the FRTN counterparts and remained so for 40 days after Challenge. Linear relationships of the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-10, and haptoglobin with rumen temperature or dry matter intake detected in the FRTN group were altered or absent in the TC group. The findings suggest significant impacts of moderate heat load on the inflammatory status of feedlot cattle.
Genetic analysis of the causal relationship between gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration: a two-sample Mendelian randomized study
Authors: Zheng Daqiang , Wu Zhiming , Li Lu , Cheng Sichao , Chang Jianjun
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Several recent studies have reported a possible association between gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration; however, no studies have shown a causal relationship between gut microbiota and disc degeneration. This study was dedicated to investigate the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration and the presence of potentially bacterial traits using two-sample Mendelian randomization.

Methods

A two-sample Mendelian randomization study was performed using the summary statistics of the gut microbiota from the largest available genome-wide association study meta-analysis conducted by the MiBioGen consortium. Summary statistics of intervertebral disc degeneration were obtained from the FinnGen consortium R8 release data. Five basic methods and MR-PRESSO were used to examine causal associations. The results of the study were used to examine the causal association between gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration. Cochran's Q statistics were used to quantify the heterogeneity of instrumental variables.

Results

By using Mendelian randomization analysis, 10 bacterial traits potentially associated with intervertebral disc degeneration were identified: genus Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, genus Lachnoclostridium, unknown genus id.2755, genus Marvinbryantia, genus Ruminococcaceae UCG003, family Rhodospirillaceae, unknown genus id.959, order Rhodospirillales, genus Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 grou, genus Eubacterium brachy group.

Conclusion

This Mendelian Randomization study found a causal effect between 10 gut microbiota and intervertebral disc degeneration, and we summarize the possible mechanisms of action in the context of existing studies. However, additional research is essential to fully understand the contribution of genetic factors to the dynamics of gut microbiota and its impact on disc degeneration.
The response of forested upland micro-watersheds to extreme precipitation in a precipitation abundant year
Authors: Hemr Ondřej , Kupec Petr , Čech Petr , Deutscher Jan
Published: December 2023

We performed a comparative paired catchment study of three headwater upland forest micro-catchments with different forest types in the precipitation-abundant year 2020. The analysis was based on baseflow separation and resulting baseflow index (BFI). The year 2020 was intentionally chosen as a way to reflect the expected effects of climate change in the region where more extreme hydroclimatic events are expected. Our team demonstrated that in case of hydroclimatic extremes, there are significant differences in the runoff response from these catchments, depending especially on the tree species composition in the forest stands. Three forest types with the predominance of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and mixed forest were analyzed. The observed different values of BFI were interpreted in relation to the ability of forest stands to retain water and slow runoff in extreme runoff events determined by the stormflow component as an indication of their flood control efficiency. A significantly worse flood control efficiency and an overreaction of runoff response to precipitation events were observed in the spruce catchment. This also suggests that the spruce catchment is more prone to suffer from drought since twice as much water was lost from the system during extreme hydroclimatic events as opposed to the other two with less spruce in the stands and less water is thus available for groundwater recharge.
High-level characterisation and mapping of key climate-change hazards in European coastal cities
Authors: Laino Emilio , Iglesias Gregorio
Published: December 2023

Sea-level and temperature rise due to climate change exacerbate existing climate-related hazards in coastal areas. In this work, an approach based on Coastal City Living Labs is developed to carry out a high-level characterisation of key climate-related hazards for ten European coastal cities. The Coastal City Living Labs are conceived as physical and virtual spaces in which stakeholders meet for collaboration, co-creation and co-ideation to solve the challenges posed by climate-related hazards. The information on past extreme climate events and local knowledge thus obtained are combined to identify the main hazards for each city. Subsequently, these hazards are categorised based on the recommendations of the recent Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The main climate-related hazards are found to be storms, coastal and land flooding, and coastal erosion. Importantly, significant differences are found between the specific cities as to the main hazards of concern. Even within the same coastal city, relevant differences are found in respect of the main hazards, depending on the area considered. It follows that granularity in the characterisation of the hazards is fundamental in designing mitigation measures. To clarify the spatial extent of the different hazards in each coastal city, bespoke maps are produced through GIS software. In addition to the interest of the results for the specific cities investigated, this work provides a methodology to assess climate-related hazards in coastal areas using Coastal City Living Labs, which can be applied elsewhere.
Leadership and technostress: a systematic literature review
Authors: Rademaker Tim , Klingenberg Ingo , Süß Stefan
Published: December 2023

With the growing use of digital technologies at work, employees are facing new demands. Digital technologies are also changing how leaders and followers interact. Leadership must adapt to these changes and find ways to reduce the demands of digital work for their followers so they maintain their capacity for and motivation to work. Against this background, we analyze the impact leadership has on technostress by conducting a systematic literature review. An electronic search was based on 13 databases (ACM Digital, AIS eLibrary, APA PsychInfo, EBSCO, Emerald Insight, Jstor, Pubmed, SAGE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Taylor & Francis Online, WISO, and Web of Science) and was carried out in October 2023. We identified 1725 articles—31 of which met the selection criteria. Thirteen more were identified in a backward search, leaving 44 articles for analysis. The conceptual analysis reveals that empowering and supportive leadership can decrease follower technostress. Leadership that emphasizes high availability expectations, task orientation and control can increase technostress and technostress-related outcomes. Furthermore, leadership’s impact on follower technostress is influenced by how ICTs are being used to convey leadership. We synthesize seven analytical themes of leadership among the technostress literature and derive them into the three aggregated dimensions which serve as the foundation of a conceptual model of leadership’s impact on follower technostress: technostress-increasing leadership, technostress-decreasing leadership, and technology-enabled leadership. Furthermore, we formulate avenues for future research.
Models for Implant-Induced Capsular Contracture Post Breast Cancer Surgery
Authors: Dyck Cheryl , Isaac Kathryn V. , Edelstein-Keshet Leah
Published: December 2023

Capsular contracture is a painful deformation of scar-tissue that may form around an implant in post-breast cancer reconstruction or cosmetic surgery. Inflammation due to surgical trauma or contamination in the tissue around the implant could account for recruitment of immune cells, and transdifferentiation of resident fibroblasts into cells that deposit abnormally thick collagen. Here we examine this hypothesis using a mathematical model for interacting macrophages, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and collagen. Our model demonstrates that cellular response can, together with inflammatory cell recruitment, account for prognoses.
Inline closed-loop control of bending angles with machine learning supported springback compensation
Authors: Molitor Dirk Alexander , Arne Viktor , Kubik Christian , Noemark Gabriel , Groche Peter
Published: December 2023

Closed-loop control of product properties is becoming increasingly important in forming technology research and enables users to counteract unavoidable uncertainties in semi-finished product properties and process environments. Therefore, closed-loop controlled forming processes are considered to have the potential to reduce tolerances on desired product properties, resulting in consistent qualities. The achievement of associated increases in robustness and reliability is linked to enormous requirements, which in particular include the inline recording of the product properties to be controlled and the subsequent adaptation of the process control through the targeted derivation of manipulated variables. The present paper uses the example of an air bending process to show how the bending angle can be controlled camera-based and how springback can be compensated within a stroke by recording force signals and subsequently predicting the loaded bending angle using machine learning algorithms. The results show that the combined application of camera-based control and machine learning assisted springback compensation leads to highly accurate bending angles, whereby the results strongly depend on the machine learning algorithms and associated data transformation processes used.
Purposefully purple: understanding the technological transition from late Medieval green to purple glazed Humber wares
Authors: Perry Gareth , Watson Tom , Jackson Caroline
Published: December 2023

The rise of purple glazed pottery in fifteenth-century England represented a major change in the character of domestic material culture. These wares typically evolved from the orange bodied, green glazed pottery of the later medieval period and were produced by a number of centres. This paper examines the technological advancements made by potters working at West Cowick (East Yorkshire) as they navigated the transition from green to purple glazed Humber wares. While it well known that recipes and firing regimes can be manipulated by potters to modify and enhance their colour pallet, the change exacted by West Cowick’s potters has been overlooked, dismissed by archaeologists as the result of over-firing. Through a range of analytical techniques (thin section petrology, scanning electron microscopy microstructural analysis, chemical characterisation of fabric and glaze by portable X-ray fluorescence analysis and scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive spectroscopy), we reconstruct the glazing practices employed by these potters, revealing innovative artisans, skilled in controlling glaze recipes and firing regimes, and able to effect major intentional changes in their product.
Intra-site spatial approaches based on taphonomic analyses to characterize assemblage formation at Pleistocene sites: a case study from Buena Pinta Cave (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid, Spain)
Authors: Mielgo Clara , Huguet Rosa , Laplana César , Martín-Perea David M. , Moclán Abel , Márquez Belén , Arsuaga Juan Luis , Pérez-González Alfredo , Baquedano Enrique
Published: December 2023

Buena Pinta Cave (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid) has been interpreted as a hyena den with sporadic occupations of Homo neanderthalensis in the western part of the site (level 23). In order to identify the different formation processes in this area of the site, spatial analyses have been carried out with GIS and spatial statistics based on the taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains. Based on the vertical and sectional analyses of the assemblage, it has been possible to determine that level 23 actually corresponds to three archaeological levels with well-differentiated characteristics: a lower level with few faunal remains and fossil-diagenetic alterations related to humid environments associated with clays; an intermediate level with a high percentage of remains with water-related modifications and evidences of transport; and an upper level delimited mainly thanks to by a paraconformity evidenced by the concentration of weathered remains in this area and a significant reduction in remains with water-related alterations above. The results obtained show the necessity to redefine field layers and the usefulness of integrating taphonomic data and spatial studies.
Numerical Simulation and Design of All-Thin-Film Homojunction Perovskite/c-Si Tandem Solar Cells
Authors: Saif Omar M. , Shaker Ahmed , Abouelatta Mohamed , Zekry Abdelhalim , Elogail Yasmine
Published: December 2023

Double-junction solar devices featuring wide-bandgap and narrow-bandgap sub-cells are capable of boosting performance and efficiency compared to single-junction photovoltaic (PV) technologies. To achieve the best performance of a double-junction device, careful selection and optimization of each sub-cell is crucial. This work presents the investigation of an all-thin-film two-terminal (2T) monolithic homojunction perovskite (PVK)/c-Si tandem cell using Silvaco TCAD simulation. The front sub-cell utilizes homojunction PVK that has a bandgap of 1.72 eV, whereas the rear sub-cell uses thin c-Si with a bandgap of 1.12 eV. Both cells are connected via a p++/n++ silicon tunnel diode. Experimental calibration of the heterojunction PVK and c-Si cells yields power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 18.106% and 17.416%, respectively. When integrated into an initial PVK/c-Si tandem, the resulting cell achieves a PCE of 29.38%. To compare the performance, the heterojunction PVK layer is replaced with an n-p homojunction PVK layer, revealing the impact of the absence of a surplus built-in electric field in the perovskite film as a strong limiting factor. Further, a thorough investigation of four distinct structures for the n-p homojunction PVK cell is conducted. The four structures include a complete cell, electron transport layer (ETL)-free, hole transport layer (HTL)-free, and carrier transport layer (CTL)-free structures. The results show that the CTL-free structure has significant potential after applying certain optimization techniques that result in reducing surface recombination, enhancing the built-in electric field, and improving light absorption. With the current-matching condition achieved, the tandem efficiency reaches 36.37%.
Digital Despotism and Aristotle on the Despotic Master–Slave Relation
Authors: Bhorat Ziyaad
Published: December 2023

This paper analyzes a contemporary conception of digital despotism through themes drawn from classical Greek philosophy. By taking as a measure some of the most radically excluded categories of human existence, Aristotle’s slave and slavish types, I offer a way to understand digital despotism as a syndrome of overlapping risks to human impairment, brought about by the advent of automated data processing technologies, which dispossesses people along i) ontological and ii) cognitive dimensions. This conception aims to balance the appeal to the language of slavery in recent global historical, Marxist, republican, and postcolonial discourses on digital technology, while distinguishing itself from the coercive, material violence involved in the experiences of slavery itself. Unlike prior conceptions, this thematic idea of digital despotism moreover suggests political vulnerability to forms of despotic rule and integrates various risk factors that can therefore be better recognized in both policy intervention, and individual and/or collective resistance.
Modeling the Effects of River Inflow Dynamics on the Deep Layers of Lake Biwa, Japan
Authors: Koue Jinichi
Published: December 2023

Climate change-induced extreme weather events, including prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, exert a significant influence on river inflows. These inflows act as vital conduits for nutrient transport, water quality modulation, and the regulation of thermal dynamics in lakes and oceans. In this context, this study conducts a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted effects stemming from river water characteristics, snowmelt water influence, and shifts in precipitation patterns on the stratification dynamics of Lake Biwa in Japan. To facilitate these investigations, a hydrodynamic model was developed to simulate thermal stratification in Lake Biwa. The results demonstrate that an increase in precipitation and river water flow, specifically doubling these factors, leads to noticeable cooling of the lake’s surface layer and a consequent destabilization of stratification during the stratification period. Conversely, halving these factors stabilizes stratification. Furthermore, elevating river water temperature by 5 °C raises water temperature near the upper thermocline, encouraging vertical mixing within the surface layer. Conversely, a 5 °C decrease induces significant temperature fluctuations and an unstable stratification extending from the surface to deeper layers. Notably, the spatial variance in water temperature within Lake Biwa is profoundly influenced by fluctuations in river water temperature. This study underscores the critical importance of considering river plumes in the study of material circulation, stratification dynamics, and ecological well-being in lakes and oceans. Given the mounting concerns related to eutrophication and the prevalence of anoxia in aquatic ecosystems, this research provides invaluable insights into assessing the impacts of river plumes on Lake Biwa’s stratification structure and seasonal dynamics.
Transition control of the blasius boundary layer using linear robust control theory
Authors: Damaren Christopher J.
Published: December 2023

The paper considers control system design for linearized three-dimensional perturbations about a nominal laminar boundary layer over a flat plate (the Blasius profile). The objective is prevention of the laminar to turbulent transition using appropriate inputs, outputs, and feedback controllers. They are synthesized with a view to reducing transient energy growth, a known precursor to important transition scenarios. The linearized Navier–Stokes equations are reduced to the Orr–Sommerfeld and Squire equations with wall-normal velocity actuation entering through the boundary conditions on the wall. The sensor output is taken to be the wall-normal derivative of the wall-normal vorticity measured on the plate. Several multivariable output controllers are examined, including simple constant gain output feedback, loop transfer recovery, and $$H_{\infty }$$

H
∞

loop shaping. Reduced order compensators are developed using balanced truncation and analyzed for robustness using the gap metric between reduced order models and full order models. It is demonstrated that the level of minimum transient energy growth that can be achieved is similar for these diverse controller methodologies but falls short of that which can be achieved using optimal state feedback.
Digital Pathology Scanners and Contextual Integrity
Authors: Sorell Tom , Li Ricky Z.
Published: December 2023

We aim to bring both digital pathology in general and computational pathology in particular within the scope of Helen Nissenbaum’s theory of appropriate information transfer as contextual integrity. In Section 1, the main lines of the theory of contextual integrity are introduced, and reasons are given why it is not properly speaking a theory of privacy, but rather a theory of morally permissible information transfer in general. Then the theory is applied to uses of digitised pathology images for (a) patient-by-patient analysis (Section 2); and (b) computational pathology (Sections 3 and 4). Although big data exercises involving personal data are sometimes seen by Nissenbaum and colleagues as particular threats to existing data-sharing norms and other social norms, we claim that patient-by-patient digital pathology is riskier, at least in forms it has taken during the pandemic. At the end, we consider some risks in computational pathology that are due to the interaction between health institutions, particularly in the public sector, and commercial algorithm developers.
LFEA-Net: semantic segmentation for urban point cloud scene via local feature extraction and aggregation
Authors: Zeng Ziyin , Zhou Jian , Li Bijun , Tang Youchen , Yan Maosheng
Published: December 2023

Considering the increasing prominence of 3D real city construction technology, 3D urban point cloud scene data merit further investigation. However, achieving finegrained semantic segmentation of urban scenes remains highly challenging due to the natural orderlessness and unstructured nature of acquired point clouds, along with their large-scale points and non-uniform distributions. In this study, we present LFEA-Net, a novel neural network specifically designed for semantic segmentation of large-scale urban point cloud scenes. The network comprises two main components: (1) The local feature extraction (LFE) module, which fully exploits local spatial, color and semantic information to enhance and preserve crucial information, consisting of bilateral feature encoding unit and multidimensional feature encoding unit. (2) The local feature aggregation (LFA) module, designed to bridge the semantic gap between local information and emphasize both local significant features and the entire local neighbor, consisting of soft cross operation and united pooling operation. We have evaluated the performance of LFEA-Net with state-of-the-art networks using the photogrammetric point cloud dataset SensatUrban, achieving 61.6 of mIoU score. The results demonstrate the superior efficacy of LFEA-Net in accurately segmenting and classifying large-scale urban point cloud scenes, highlighting its potential to advance environmental information perception.
How inflation affects Japan’s “quantitatively eased” economy
Authors: Pope Chris G.
Published: December 2023

This article argues that the Bank of Japan is caught in a bind owing to both its quantitative easing policies of the last two decades and chronic inflation. In response to quantitative tightening abroad, the Bank of Japan is under pressure to raise interest rates and/or allow yields on ten-year government bonds to rise. This is because the response to inflation among G7 nations has undermined the yen, which have made clear the flaws of the Bank of Japan’s approach to restoring economic growth, namely quantitative easing as any attempt to adapt to international efforts to address inflation, using monetary methods, runs the risk of triggering a cascade of loan defaults due to illiquidity issues both at home and in foreign markets. To demonstrate this, the article evaluates Japanese quantitative easing measures, including the Bank of Japan’s yield curve control policy, and assesses the problems it faces due to inflation and the responses to it, including monetary tightening abroad.
Influence of the abrasive shape-position characteristic on the grinding thermo-mechanical coupling
Authors: Sun Cong , Zhang He , Xu Chunwei , Hong Yuan , Xiu Shichao
Published: December 2023

Grinding is a generally utilized method, removing excess materials through effective abrasives. The grinding abrasives with multiple shape-position characteristics play a dominant role in determining the thermo-mechanical coupling, which may influence the surface quality directly. To investigate this correlated influence mechanism, this paper focuses on the abrasive shape and position characteristic on the grinding thermo-mechanical process with the analytic single abrasive interaction force model by considering the abrasive shape and its distribution information. It can be found that the mapped dynamic grinding temperature is actually discretized on the workpiece surface, which is on account of the diversity of the abrasive shape and its distribution. Moreover, higher spherical and conical abrasive particles, as well as lower pyramid shaped abrasive particle ratios, can generate greater specific grinding energy with a discretized temperature distribution, when compared with a higher proportion of pyramid shaped abrasive. The study can be utilized to provide valuable theoretical foundation for engineering practice by preparing structural wheel and its grinding property.
Prevalence of reported penicillin allergy and associations with perioperative complications, length of stay, and cost in patients undergoing elective cancer surgery
Authors: Grossmann Nico Christian , Kersting Yves , Affentranger Andres , Antonelli Luca , Aschwanden Fabian Joel , Baumeister Philipp , Müllner Gerhard , Rossi Marco , Mattei Agostino , Fankhauser Christian Daniel
Published: December 2023

Objective:

Up to 10% of patients report penicillin allergy (PA), although only 1% are truly affected by Ig-E-mediated allergies. PA has been associated with worse postoperative outcomes, but studies on the impact of reported PA in cancer patients are lacking, and especially in these multimorbid patients, a non-complicated course is of utmost importance.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective oncological surgery at a tertiary reference center. Data on surgical site infections (SSI), postoperative complications (measured by Clavien-Dindo classification and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI)), hospitalization duration, and treatment costs were collected.

Results:

Between 09/2019 and 03/2020, 152 patients were identified. 16/152 patients (11%) reported PA, while 136/152 (89%) did not. There were no differences in age, BMI, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and smoking status between groups (p > 0.4). Perioperative beta-lactam antibiotics were used in 122 (89.7%) and 15 (93.8%) patients without and with reported PA, respectively. SSI and mean numbers of infections occurred non-significantly more often in patients with PA (p = 0.2 and p = 0.47). The median CCI was significantly higher in PA group (26 vs. 51; p = 0.035). The median hospitalization duration and treatment costs were similar between non-PA and PA groups (4 vs 3 days, p = 0.8; 16’818 vs 17’444 CHF, p = 0.4).

Conclusions:

In patients undergoing cancer surgery, reported PA is common. Failure to question the unproven PA may impair perioperative outcomes. For this reason, patient and provider education on which reactions constitute a true allergy would also assist in allergy de-labeling. In addition, skin testing and oral antibiotic challenges can be performed to identify the safe antibiotics and to de-label appropriate patients.
Aggregation strategies to improve XAI for geoscience models that use correlated, high-dimensional rasters
Authors: Krell Evan , Kamangir Hamid , Collins Waylon , King Scott A. , Tissot Philippe
Published: December 2023

Complex machine learning architectures and high-dimensional gridded input data are increasingly used to develop high-performance geoscience models, but model complexity obfuscates their decision-making strategies. Understanding the learned patterns is useful for model improvement or scientific investigation, motivating research in eXplainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods. XAI methods often struggle to produce meaningful explanations of correlated features. Gridded geospatial data tends to have extensive autocorrelation so it is difficult to obtain meaningful explanations of geoscience models. A recommendation is to group correlated features and explain those groups. This is becoming common when using XAI to explain tabular data. Here, we demonstrate that XAI algorithms are highly sensitive to the choice of how we group raster elements. We demonstrate that reliance on a single partition scheme yields misleading explanations. We propose comparing explanations from multiple grouping schemes to extract more accurate insights from XAI. We argue that each grouping scheme probes the model in a different way so that each asks a different question of the model. By analyzing where the explanations agree and disagree, we can learn information about the scale of the learned features. FogNet, a complex three-dimensional convolutional neural network for coastal fog prediction, is used as a case study for investigating the influence of feature grouping schemes on XAI. Our results demonstrate that careful consideration of how each grouping scheme probes the model is key to extracting insights and avoiding misleading interpretations.
The state role in civilising childcare – comparing policy intentions with childcare in Brazil and Denmark
Authors: Møller Marie Østergaard , Lotta Gabriela , Thomazinho Gabriela , Schvartzman Yonatan , Hill Michael
Published: December 2023

It has become universal to claim a relationship between social cohesion and quality public childcare. The more we invest in our children, the better the return later in life. We explore how childcare is used to strengthen social life by comparing the state role in civilising childcare as described in policy and educational guidelines. At one level, we find that policy intentions are framed by the idea of using childcare to reduce inequalities between people and social groups, and at another by the idea of civilising children to adapt to existing social structures. The analysis unfolds these two sets of intentions by showing how pedagogical ideas of child development become linked to the ways two very different states – Brazil and Denmark – formulate and organise ECEC policies as well as using childcare to bridge between people and social groups, and to civilising children to adapt to existing social structures.
The sandpaper theory of flow–topography interaction for homogeneous shallow-water systems
Authors: Radko Timour
Published: December 2023

Recent studies reveal the dramatic impact of seafloor roughness on the dynamics and stability of broad oceanic flows. These findings motivate the development of parameterizations that concisely represent the effects of small-scale bathymetric patterns in theoretical and coarse-resolution numerical circulation models. The previously reported quasi-geostrophic ‘sandpaper’ theory of flow–topography interaction a priori assumes gentle topographic slopes and weak flows with low Rossby numbers. Since such conditions are often violated in the ocean, we now proceed to formulate a more general model based on shallow-water equations. The new version of the sandpaper model is validated by comparing roughness-resolving and parametric simulations of the flow over a corrugated seamount.
Health Inequities Among People Who Use Drugs in a Post-Dobbs America: The Case for a Syndemic Analysis
Authors: Carroll Jennifer J. , Ostrach Bayla , El-Sabawi Taleed
Published: December 2023

Punitive policy responses to substance use and to abortion care constitute direct attacks on personal liberty and bodily autonomy. In this article, we leverage the concept of “syndemics” to anticipate how the already synergistic stigmas against people who use drugs and people who seek abortion services will be further compounded the Dobbs decision.