bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Accuracy of Epilepsy-dedicated MRI with Post-processing
Authors: Urbach Horst , Scheiwe Christian , Shah Muskesh J. , Nakagawa Julia M. , Heers Marcel , San Antonio-Arce Maria Victoria , Altenmueller Dirk-Matthias , Schulze-Bonhage Andreas , Huppertz Hans-Juergen , Demerath Theo , Doostkam Soroush
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of epilepsy-dedicated 3 Tesla MRI including post-processing by correlating MRI, histopathology, and postsurgical seizure outcomes.

Methods

3 Tesla-MRI including a magnetization-prepared two rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP2RAGE) sequence for post-processing using the morphometric analysis program MAP was acquired in 116 consecutive patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy undergoing resection surgery. The MRI, histopathology reports and postsurgical seizure outcomes were recorded from the patient’s charts.

Results

The MRI and histopathology were concordant in 101 and discordant in 15 patients, 3 no hippocampal sclerosis/gliosis only lesions were missed on MRI and 1 of 28 focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II associated with a glial scar was considered a glial scar only on MRI. In another five patients, MRI was suggestive of FCD, the histopathology was uneventful but patients were seizure-free following surgery. The MRI and histopathology were concordant in 20 of 21 glioneuronal tumors, 6 cavernomas, and 7 glial scars. Histopathology was negative in 10 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, 4 of them had anteroinferior meningoencephaloceles. Engel class IA outcome was reached in 71% of patients.

Conclusion

The proposed MRI protocol is highly accurate. No hippocampal sclerosis/gliosis only lesions are typically MRI negative. Small MRI positive FCD can be histopathologically missed, most likely due to sampling errors resulting from insufficient harvesting of tissue.
A parametric geometry model of the aortic valve for subject-specific blood flow simulations using a resistive approach
Authors: Pase Giorgia , Brinkhuis Emiel , De Vries Tanja , Kosinka Jiří , Willems Tineke , Bertoglio Cristóbal
Published: March 2023

Cardiac valves simulation is one of the most complex tasks in cardiovascular modeling. Fluid–structure interaction is not only highly computationally demanding but also requires knowledge of the mechanical properties of the tissue. Therefore, an alternative is to include valves as resistive flow obstacles, prescribing the geometry (and its possible changes) in a simple way, but, at the same time, with a geometry complex enough to reproduce both healthy and pathological configurations. In this work, we present a generalized parametric model of the aortic valve to obtain patient-specific geometries that can be included into blood flow simulations using a resistive immersed implicit surface (RIIS) approach. Numerical tests are presented for geometry generation and flow simulations in aortic stenosis patients whose parameters are extracted from ECG-gated CT images.
Autoimmune diseases and gut microbiota: a bibliometric and visual analysis from 2004 to 2022
Authors: Zhang Youao , Peng Yongzheng , Xia Xu
Published: March 2023

Many studies have shown that gut microbiota is closely related to autoimmune diseases (ADs). Studies on gut microbiota and ADs have also increased significantly, but no bibliometric analysis has summarized the association between gut microbiota and ADs. This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric and visual analysis of published studies on gut microbiota and ADs. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection SCI-expanded database, we utilize Excel 2019 and visualization analysis tools VOSviewer and co-occurrence13.2 (COOC13.2) for analysis. A total of 2516 related kinds of literature were included, and the number of papers presented an overall increasing trend. The country/region with the most publications is the USA, the institution is the Harvard Medical School, and the author is Mikael Knip from the USA. Hot research areas include intestinal regulation (such as dysbiosis, short chain fatty acids, and probiotics), multisystem ADs (such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease), and immune-related cells (such as T cells, and dendritic cells). Psoriasis, dysbiosis, autoimmune liver disease, and fecal microbiota transplantation may be the future research direction. Our research results can help researchers grasp the current status of ADs and gut microbiota research and find new research directions in the future.
Using Lagrangian relaxation to locate hydrogen production facilities under uncertain demand: a case study from Norway
Authors: Štádlerová Šárka , Jena Sanjay Dominik , Schütz Peter
Published: March 2023

Hydrogen is considered a solution to decarbonize the transportation sector, an important step to meet the requirements of the Paris agreement. Even though hydrogen demand is expected to increase over the next years, the exact demand level over time remains a main source of uncertainty. We study the problem of where and when to locate hydrogen production plants to satisfy uncertain future customer demand. We formulate our problem as a two-stage stochastic multi-period facility location and capacity expansion problem. The first-stage decisions are related to the location and initial capacity of the production plants and have to be taken before customer demand is known. They involve selecting a modular capacity with a piecewise linear, convex short-term cost function for the chosen capacity level. In the second stage, decisions regarding capacity expansion and demand allocation are taken. Given the complexity of the formulation, we solve the problem using a Lagrangian decomposition heuristic. Our method is capable of finding solutions of sufficiently high quality within a few hours, even for instances too large for commercial solvers. We apply our model to a case from Norway and design the corresponding hydrogen infrastructure for the transportation sector.
Zwillingsschwangerschaften nach natürlicher Konzeption: wie stark ist die erbliche Komponente?
Authors: Michaelis Silke A. M.
Published: March 2023

Die Faszination, die von Zwillingen, Zwillingsschwangerschaften und deren Ätiologie ausgeht, ist über die Jahrhunderte unverändert groß geblieben. Beim Menschen sind Zwillinge nach natürlicher Konzeption ein relativ häufiges Ereignis. Aufgrund des steigenden maternalen Alters und der reproduktionsmedizinischen Technologien hat die Anzahl an Zwillingen in der industrialisierten Gesellschaft seit den 1980er-Jahren stetig zugenommen. Dank des besseren Verständnisses und der Fortschritte in der Pränataldiagnostik, klinischen Genetik, Molekulargenetik und Entwicklungsbiologie ist es mittlerweile ersichtlicher geworden, warum und wie Zwillingsschwangerschaften beim Menschen entstehen. Man unterscheidet zwei Arten von Zwillingen: monozygote („eineiige“) und dizygote („zweieiige“) Zwillinge, jede dieser Formen mit unterschiedlichen Inzidenzen, Häufungen und Ursachen. Die Tendenz, dizygote Zwillinge nach natürlicher Konzeption zu empfangen, ist ein komplexes Geschehen, das erheblichen geografischen, ethnischen, saisonalen und familiären Einflüssen unterliegt und eine klare genetische Komponente aufweist. Die Rate an monozygoten Zwillingen ist weltweit relativ konstant, wobei die Ursache noch nicht gänzlich geklärt ist. Wie man jetzt weiß, spielen auch bei dieser Entität erbliche Ursachen eine Rolle.
Bedeutung der Gesetzgebung zur Luftreinhaltung in der Prävention umweltbedingter Erkrankungen
Authors: Kutlar Joss Meltem , Probst-Hensch Nicole
Published: March 2023

Die Luftverschmutzung beispielsweise durch Feinstaub (PM, particulate matter), Stickoxide oder Ozon ist schädlich für die Gesundheit. Bestehende Lungenkrankheiten können sich durch kurzfristig erhöhte Luftbelastung verschlimmern. Langfristige Luftbelastung trägt insbesondere zur Entstehung von kardiorespiratorischen Erkrankungen bei. In Deutschland starben im Jahr 2019 53.000 Menschen vorzeitig aufgrund der Feinstaubbelastung. Die Luftreinhaltung ist eine politische Aufgabe mit großem gesundheitlichem Potenzial. Sie hat in den letzten Jahren wesentlich zur Verbesserung der Luftqualität und damit der Gesundheit beigetragen. In Anbetracht der neuen stringenteren Luftqualitätsleitlinien der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) sind die Behörden und Politiker nun weltweit mit der Frage der Anpassung der Luftreinhalteziele konfrontiert. In Europa prägt die EU-Direktive die Luftreinhalteziele der Mitgliedstaaten. Die Festlegung der Richtwerte obliegt dem EU-Parlament und dem Rat der EU. Das Nichterreichen der gesetzten Ziele ist mit Strafen verbunden. Deshalb besteht die Gefahr, dass erreichbare und weniger ambitionierte Ziele gesetzt werden. Bereits heute liegen die EU-Richtwerte wesentlich höher als jene in den USA oder der Schweiz. Während „nur“ 11 % der Bevölkerung in der EU einer Belastung über dem EU-Grenzwert für Feinstaub PM10 im Jahr 2020 ausgesetzt waren, sind bei Anwendungen der neuen WHO-Leitlinie 71 % der Bevölkerung übermäßigen und gesundheitsgefährdenden Feinstaubwerten ausgesetzt. Zur wichtigsten und erfolgreichsten Maßnahme der Luftreinhaltung zählt die Reduktion der Luftschadstoffe an der Quelle: die Emissionsbegrenzung. Trotz der Energiekrise dürfen Ziele bezüglich Luftreinhaltung und Klimaschutz nicht aus den Augen verloren werden. Wichtig ist, dass der Gesundheitsschutz nicht dem Einzelnen überlassen werden kann. Gesundheitsfachleute haben in der Beratung empfindlicher Patienten im Umgang mit kurzfristig erhöhter Luftschadstoffbelastung eine wichtige klinische Funktion, aber darüber hinaus ist ihre beratende Rolle in der Politik sehr bedeutsam.
“For Example” Formulations and the Interactional Work of Exemplification
Authors: Lee Yeji , Mlynář Jakub
Published: March 2023

Members in society make ubiquitous use of examples as a resource to engage in their everyday and specialized activities. This paper takes the resourcefulness of exemplification as a topic of inquiry by focusing on the formulative phrase “for example,” investigating its interactional work within the analytic framework of ethnomethodology and conversation analysis. The data used consists of 11 h of video-recordings of English as a Foreign Language classroom lessons over a semester. We conceptualize exemplification as a holistic configuration (gestalt) where its work consists in the production and recognition of a pair, namely the exemplifying component and the exemplified component. We demonstrate how the teacher and students position the formulative phrase as a recognizable practice for the organization of two distinct actions: accounting for one’s opinion and confirming an understanding. Our findings also present the different forms of exemplification, including elaborate narrative constructions, single terms or phrases, and specimen performances.
Design and Implementation of an Einsteinian Energy Learning Module
Authors: Boublil Shachar , Blair David , Treagust David F.
Published: March 2023

The most famous equation in physics, E = mc2, is rarely introduced in middle school physics curricula. Recent research has shown that teaching Einsteinian concepts at the middle school level is feasible and beneficial. This paper analyses an Einsteinian energy teaching module for Year 8 students (13–14 years old), which encompasses the two fundamental energy formulas in modern physics, E = mc2 and E = hf. In the context of activity-based learning, the Einsteinian energy module relates to all the forms of energy in traditional school curricula. This study uses a design-based research approach within the Model of Educational Reconstruction framework. Modern experiments, historical events, and educational research helped us identify relevant Einsteinian energy concepts, activities, and assessments. The study included 22 students who participated in nine in-class Einsteinian energy lessons. Analysing results in the post-test showed a 31% mean increase from the pre-test, a clear and significant positive change in students’ conceptual understanding. The results demonstrated students’ ability to deal with very large and small constants of proportionality and physical concepts involved in the module.
Immigrants’ Enforcement Experiences and Concern about Accessing Public Benefits or Services
Authors: Chen Lei , Young Maria-Elena De Trinidad , Rodriguez Michael A. , Kietzman Kathryn
Published: March 2023

Although exclusionary immigration policies are associated with fear of deportation and avoidance of public benefits, relationships between immigration enforcement policy and public charge policies are largely unknown. Using a California population-based survey of 1103 Asian and Latinx immigrants in 2018, we tested the relationship between immigrants’ experiences with law enforcement and their concern about public charge. Direct encounters with various forms of law enforcement, including being asked to show proof of citizenship by law enforcement, staying inside to avoid police or immigration officials, and having known someone who had been deported, were associated with immigrants’ avoidance of public benefits due to public charge concerns. Latinx immigrants were more likely to be concerns about public charge than Asians. Intersections among immigration policies deserve further consideration. There is a need to provide accurate and reliable information to immigrant communities about public benefits and advocate for inclusive immigration policies.
Role of oncostatin-M in ECM remodeling and plaque vulnerability
Authors: Patel Parth , Rai Vikrant , Agrawal Devendra K.
Published: March 2023

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease characterized by the development of plaque formation leading to occlusion of the vessel and hypoxia of the tissue supplied by the vessel. Chronic inflammation and altered collagen expression render stable plaque to unstable and increase plaque vulnerability. Thinned and weakened fibrous cap results in plaque rupture and formation of thrombosis and emboli formation leading to acute ischemic events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Inflammatory mediators including TREM-1, TLRs, MMPs, and immune cells play a critical role in plaque vulnerability. Among the other inflammatory mediators, oncostatin-M (OSM), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, play an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, however, the role of OSM in plaque vulnerability and extracellular matrix remodeling (ECM) is not well understood and studied. Since ECM remodeling plays an important role in atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability, a detailed investigation on the role of OSM in ECM remodeling and plaque vulnerability is critical. This is important because the role of OSM has been discussed in the context of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and regulation of cytokine expression but the role of OSM is scarcely discussed in relation to ECM remodeling and plaque vulnerability. This review focuses on critically discussing the role of OSM in ECM remodeling and plaque vulnerability.
Novel ultra-energy-efficient reversible designs of sequential logic quantum-dot cellular automata flip-flop circuits
Authors: Alharbi Mohammed , Edwards Gerard , Stocker Richard
Published: March 2023

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is a technological approach to implement digital circuits with exceptionally high integration density, high switching frequency, and low energy dissipation. QCA circuits are a potential solution to the energy dissipation issues created by shrinking microprocessors with ultra-high integration densities. Current QCA circuit designs are irreversible, yet reversible circuits are known to increase energy efficiency. Thus, the development of reversible QCA circuits will further reduce energy dissipation. This paper presents novel reversible and irreversible sequential QCA set/reset (SR), data (D), Jack Kilby (JK), and toggle (T) flip-flop designs based on the majority gate that utilizes the universal, standard, and efficient (USE) clocking scheme, which allows the implementation of feedback paths and easy routing for sequential QCA-based circuits. The simulation results confirm that the proposed reversible QCA USE sequential flip-flop circuits exhibit energy dissipation less than the Landauer energy limit. Irreversible QCA USE flip-flop designs, although having higher energy dissipation, sometimes have floorplan areas and delay times less than those of reversible designs; therefore, they are also explored. The trade-offs between the energy dissipation versus the area cost and delay time for the reversible and irreversible QCA circuits are examined comprehensively.
Statistics as Figleaves
Authors: Bräuer Felix
Published: March 2023

Recently, Jennifer Saul (“Racial Figleaves, the Shifting Boundaries of the Permissible, and the Rise of Donald Trump”, 2017; “Racist and Sexist Figleaves”, 2021) has explored the use of what she calls “figleaves” in the discourse on race and gender. Following Saul, a figleaf is an utterance that, for some portion of the audience, blocks the conclusion that some other utterance, R, or the person who uttered R is racist or sexist. Such racial and gender figleaves are pernicious, says Saul, because, among other things, they can shift the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable to think or say. This paper expands on Saul’s picture in a threefold way: It is first argued that appeals to statistics can function as figleaves. It is then argued that—as far as figleaves go—there is reason to believe that statistics-as-figleaves are especially pernicious. Finally, the paper explores some strategies for counterspeech.
Parental Obesity Predisposition and Age of Onset Associate with Poor Response to Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
Authors: Fink Mira , Herrmann Stephan , Fink Jodok , Lässle Claudia , Marjanovic Goran , Fagnocchi Luca , Pospisilik J. Andrew , Fichtner-Feigl Stefan , Seifert Gabriel
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Parental predisposition and age of onset may be independently associated with 1-year total weight loss (TWL) failure (< 20%) after metabolic–bariatric surgery (MBS).

Methods

This cohort study includes all cases of the German StuDoQ|MBE register (2015–2019) with data on parental predisposition, obesity onset, and at least 1-year follow up after primary MBS procedures (n = 14,404). We provide descriptive statistics of the cohort in terms of the main outcome and 1-year TWL failure, and provide characteristics of surgery type subgroups. Finally, we provide a multivariate logistic regression model of 1-year TWL failure.

Results

58.8% and 45.7% of patients reported maternal and paternal predisposition for obesity, respectively. Average onset of obesity was 15.5 years and duration of disease 28.3 years prior to MBS. SG is the most frequently performed procedure (47.2%) followed by RYGB (39.7%) and OAGB (13.1%). Mean 1-year TWL is 32.7 ± 9.3%, and 7.8% (n = 1,119) of patients show TWL failure (< 20%). Multivariate analysis shows independent association of early onset of obesity (< 18 years), male sex, age at operation, pre-operative BMI, pre-operative weight loss, sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with 1-year TWL failure (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The proportions of MBS patients that report on paternal and maternal predisposition for obesity are 45.7% and 58.8% respectively, and average age at onset is 15.5 years. 7.8% of patients do not meet current target criteria of successful response to surgery at 1 year. Early onset, male sex, age at operation, pre-operative BMI, pre-operative weight loss, SG, and T2D are independently associated with weight loss failure.

Graphical abstract
Phase Relations in the CaO-Nd2O3-Al2O3 System in Application for Rare Earth Recycling
Authors: Ilatovskaia M. , Lonski O. , Löffler M. , Blenau L. , Charitos A. , Fabrichnaya O.
Published: March 2023

Phase relations in the CaO-Al2O3-Nd2O3 system were investigated in the temperature range between 1330°C and 1600°C using equilibration technique followed by characterization using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). Melting relations were investigated using differential thermal analysis followed by microstructure study using SEM/EDX. It was found that CaNdAlO4 (τ1) compound melted congruently at 1808°C, while CaNdAl3O7 (τ2) compound melted incongruently at 1766°C. The sample in the stability fields adjacent to lowest eutectic in the CaO-Al2O3 system (CaAl2O4 + Ca3Al2O6) and τ2 as well as samples in the stability field τ2 + CaAl2O4 + CaAl4O7 and τ1 + τ2 + Ca3Al2O6 were completely melted at 1600°C. The Ca12Al14O33 phase considered as not stable in anhydrous atmosphere was found instead of Ca3Al2O6 phase after heat treatment at 1330°C. After melting Ca12Al14O33 formed glass. The obtained results are important for selection of conditions for process of rare earth recycling from waste permanent NdFeB magnets.
Impact of partner phubbing on negative emotions: a daily diary study of mitigating factors
Authors: Frackowiak Michal , Hilpert Peter , Russell Pascale Sophie
Published: March 2023

Interactions between romantic partners may be disturbed by a co-present mobile phone use when a partner ignores their interaction partner in favor of a smartphone. This common practice, called phubbing, promotes social rejection and exclusion, hence the partner who gets phubbed may report negative emotional experiences. However, these experiences may be buffered by a cognitive perception mechanism, when the partner’s behavior is still perceived as responsive (i.e., understanding or validating). Thus, we hypothesize that feeling understood or validated moderate the link between phubbing intensity and negative emotions. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a daily diary study over seven days, using a sample of N = 133 participants living with their partner. Multilevel modeling was applied, to examine between- and within-person processes. The findings indicate that perception of the partner as understanding and validating, despite the co-present mobile phone use, reduces the negative emotional experiences during phubbing, and the interaction effects indicate nuances between phubbing and understanding and validation by partner, which extend our theoretical comprehension and distinguish between the two as separate relationship-related constructs. Our research provides a unique insight into how mechanisms related to couple interactions may reduce negative experiences, a finding that may be useful in future interventions and couples' therapy.
Qualitative Behaviour of Stochastic Integro-differential Equations with Random Impulses
Authors: Kasinathan Ravikumar , Kasinathan Ramkumar , Sandrasekaran Varshini , Nieto Juan J.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study the existence and some stability results of mild solutions for random impulsive stochastic integro-differential equations (RISIDEs) with noncompact semigroups in Hilbert spaces via resolvent operators. Initially, we prove the existence of mild solution for the system is established by using Mönch fixed point theorem and contemplating Hausdorff measures of noncompactness. Then, the stability results includes continuous dependence of solutions on initial conditions, exponential stability and Hyers–Ulam stability for the aforementioned system are investigated. Finally, an example is proposed to validate the obtained results.
Artificial intelligence and robotics on the frontlines of the pandemic response: the regulatory models for technology adoption and the development of resilient organisations in smart cities
Authors: Lauri Cristiana , Shimpo Fumio , Sokołowski Maciej M.
Published: March 2023

Smart cities do not exist without robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). As the case of the COVID-19 pandemic shows, they can assist in combating the novel coronavirus and its effects, and preventing its spread. However, their deployment necessitate the most secure, safe, and efficient use. The purpose of this article is to address the regulatory framework for AI and robotics in the context of developing resilient organisations in smart cities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study provides regulatory insights necessary to re-examine the strategic management of technology creation, dissemination, and application in smart cities, in order to address the issues regarding the strategic management of innovation policies nationally, regionally, and worldwide. To meet these goals, the article analyses government materials, such as strategies, policies, legislation, reports, and literature. It also juxtaposes materials and case studies, with the help of expert knowledge. The authors emphasise the imminent need for coordinated strategies to regulate AI and robots designed for improving digital and smart public health services globally.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation for Torsional Behavior of UHPFRC Shallow and Deep Beams
Authors: Yousef Ahmed M. , Marami Nagat A. , Tahwia Ahmed M.
Published: March 2023

With increasing the use of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) in recent years, torsional design of UHPFRC beams has become of great importance. This paper presents an experimental and numerical study to investigate the torsional behavior of UHPFRC shallow and deep beams with fcu equal to 190.2 MPa. Ten UHPFRC beams with steel fibers volume fraction of 1.5% subjected to pure torsion were investigated. The provided torsional web reinforcement ratio, the area of longitudinal bars and the tested span to total height ratio (L/h = 6.0, 4.0, 2.0 and 1.0) were the studied parameters. A numerical model has been proposed to predict the torsional response of tested beams. Experimental results showed that increasing stirrups’ spacing for the beams of the same L/h ratio (to be 235% of the maximum given by ACI 318-2019 code), reduced the experimental ultimate torsional strength by only 6.7%. The torsional web reinforcement ratio of UHPFRC shallow and deep beams can be safely taken to be 40% of the minimum required by ACI 318-2019. The maximum stirrups spacing can be safely taken the lesser of twice the beam width or 300 mm. The equation used by ACI 318-2019 and ECP-203-2020 for calculating the cracking strength in torsion has been modified to be suitable for UHPFRC beams by taking into consideration the L/h ratio and steel fibers percent. The proposed 3-D numerical model showed good predictions for the torsional strength of tested UHPFRC shallow and deep beams.
Takanga ‘enau fohe: a scoping review of the educational successes and challenges of Pacific learners in Australia 2010–2021
Authors: Pale Maryanne , Kee Lyn , Wu Bin , Goff Wendy
Published: March 2023

International literature has recognised the importance of education research with Pacific learners. In an Australian context, the early years learning framework for Australia and the Australian curriculum emphasise that education sectors should work towards cultivating respect for cultural diversity and to develop intercultural understanding and intercultural capabilities. As such, the call to better understand the cultural complexities that underpins Pacific learners and their interactions with educational processes remains pertinent. This scoping review offers an important synthesis of empirical research on the educational successes and challenges of Pacific learners in Australian educational settings from 2010 to 2021. While this study offers critical insights for teacher education and research, the findings also revealed paucities in education research with Pacific learners. Thereby, propositions for future and ongoing education research with Pacific learners in Australia are offered in this article.
The systemic neoliberal colonisation of higher education: a critical analysis of the obliteration of academic practice
Authors: Morley Christine
Published: March 2023

Within the neoliberal university, scholarship, education, students, academic staff, and practices are subordinated to managerial imperatives. University educators are denigrated and displaced by colonising neoliberal practices that systemically invalidate and invisibilise academic work. The present article provides an example of this by critically analysing the corrosive and Orwellian operations of neoliberal managerialism in higher education through the prism of my own experience of applying for ‘recognition of leadership’ in relation to teaching. I use a narrative ethnographic approach to generate new insights into the obliteration of academic practice in contemporary university contexts and to produce a counter-hegemonic discourse for understanding these processes. Following Habermas inter alia, it is argued that without radical reform, the uncoupling of the ethical and substantive dimensions of the (educational) lifeworld from systemic (neoliberal managerial) strategising will leave higher education in a state of paralysis. The analysis highlights the urgent need for resistance and provides a critical framework for academics to recognise and contest similar colonising processes occurring in their own experiences and contexts.
Nadofaragene Firadenovec: First Approval
Authors: Lee Arnold
Published: March 2023

Nadofaragene firadenovec (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg; Adstiladrin®) is a non-replicating adenoviral vector-based gene therapy developed by Ferring Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Nadofaragene firadenovec constitutes vector DNA that encodes for interferon (IFN)-α2b and is the first approved gene therapy in bladder cancer. The production of IFN-α2b by transfected urothelial cells is associated with anticancer activity, including immunostimulatory, antiangiogenic and apoptotic effects. In December 2022, nadofaragene firadenovec received its first global approval in the USA for the treatment of high-risk BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumours in adults. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of nadofaragene firadenovec leading to this first approval for this indication.
Assessment of TanDEM-X DEM 2020 Data in Temperate and Boreal Forests and Their Application to Canopy Height Change
Authors: Schlund Michael , von Poncet Felicitas , Wessel Birgit , Schweisshelm Barbara , Kiefl Nadine
Published: March 2023

Space-borne digital elevation models (DEM) are considered as important proxy for canopy surface height and its changes in forests. Interferometric TanDEM-X DEMs were assessed regarding their accuracy in forests of Germany and Estonia. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data for the new global TanDEM-X DEM 2020 coverage were acquired between 2017 and 2020. Each data acquisition was processed using the delta-phase approach for phase unwrapping and comprise an absolute height calibration. The results of the individual InSAR heights confirmed a substantial bias in forests. This was indicated by a mean error (ME) between – 5.74 and – 6.14 m associated with a root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) between 6.99 m and 7.40 m using airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data as a reference. The bias was attributed to signal penetration, which was attempted to be compensated. The ME and RMSE improved substantially after the compensation to the range of – 0.54 to 0.84 m and 3.55 m to 4.52 m. Higher errors of the penetration depth compensated DEMs compared to the original DEMs were found in non-forested areas. This suggests to use the penetration compensation only in forests. The potential of the DEMs for estimating height changes was further assessed in a case study in Estonia. The canopy height change analysis in Estonia indicated an overall accuracy in terms of RMSE of 4.17 m and ME of – 0.93 m on pixel level comparing TanDEM-X and LiDAR height changes. The accuracy improved substantially at forest stand level to an RMSE of 2.84 m and an ME of – 1.48 m. Selective penetration compensation further improved the height change estimates to an RMSE of 2.14 m and an ME of – 0.83 m. Height loss induced by clearcutting was estimated with an ME of – 0.85 m and an RMSE of 3.3 m. Substantial regrowth resulted in an ME of – 0.46 m and an RMSE of 1.9 m. These results are relevant for exploiting multiple global acquisitions of TanDEM-X, in particular for estimating canopy height and its changes in European forests.
Analysis of unintended pregnancy and influencing factors among married women in China
Authors: Wang Hui , Zou Yanhui , Liu Hongyan , Chen Xueqian
Published: March 2023

Unintended pregnancy often ends with induced abortion, an outcome that affects a woman’s physical and mental health and consumes social resources. A national fertility survey conducted by the former National Health and Family Planning Commission in 2017, gathered data on pregnancies among married women aged 15–49 to analyze the changing circumstances of such pregnancies and the factors that influence their occurrence. The analysis found that the incidence of unintended pregnancies among married women in China was 42.4‰ in 2017, and that such pregnancies accounted for 22.9% of all pregnancies in China for the years 2010–2017. Of all abortions, 91.9% were used to terminate unintended pregnancies, and of unintended pregnancies, 67.1% ended with induced abortions. The incidence of unintended pregnancy and that of induced abortion to terminate the unintended pregnancy were higher among women living in an urban rather than a rural area, having previously given birth to a boy, having a large number of children, being at the older end of their childbearing years, or having a shorter interpregnancy interval. Only 37.3% of women chose long-term contraceptive methods after an induced abortion caused by an unintended pregnancy; their sense of self-protection was not strong. It is necessary to strengthen education and advocacy, enhance women's awareness of the protection contraceptives offer, and improve the quality of and access to contraceptive services to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy, and reduce the incidence of induced abortion to terminate unintended pregnancy.
Cover Crop Identity Differently Affects Biomass Productivity as well as Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Relation to Soil Type
Authors: Fontana Mario , Sinaj Sokrat , Elfouki Said , Guillaume Thomas , Bragazza Luca
Published: March 2023

Cover crop integration in agriculture rotation is associated to multiple agronomic and environmental benefits. However, the effect of cover crop identity on the following cash crop productivity and nutrient uptake is still uncertain, particularly in relation to soil types. We set up an experiment to test the effects of four different cover crop species (Indian mustard, lupine, field pea, and oat) on maize above- and belowground biomass as well as on nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition after incorporation of the cover crop litter in two soil types (clay and sandy soil). We observed that aboveground and belowground biomass of maize was always higher in sandy than clay soil likely due to better soil physical properties. On general, in clay soil, the presence of a preceding cover crop promoted or did not modify the aboveground and the belowground maize productivity compared to bare soil. On the other hand, in sandy soil, the decomposing litter of non-leguminous cover crops decreased maize aboveground productivity whereas any preceding cover crop decreased maize root biomass. The burial of leguminous litter significantly increased the N uptake by maize in both soil types. For what concerns the phosphorus uptake by maize, it appears that due to high phosphorus soil availability, the selected cover crops did not play a major role in improving P uptake, with the only exception of field pea. Our data show that leguminous cover crops improved the N status of maize particularly under conditions of low N fertilization rates.
Agreement and prognostic accuracy of three ED vulnerability screeners: findings from a prospective multi-site cohort study
Authors: Mowbray Fabrice I. , Heckman George , Hirdes John P. , Costa Andrew P. , Beauchet Olivier , Archambault Patrick , Eagles Debra , Wang Han Ting , Perry Jeffrey J. , Sinha Samir K. , Jantzi Micaela , Hebert Paul
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the agreement between three emergency department (ED) vulnerability screeners, including the InterRAI ED Screener, ER2, and PRISMA-7. Our secondary objective was to evaluate the discriminative accuracy of screeners in predicting discharge home and extended ED lengths-of-stay (> 24 h).

Methods

We conducted a nested sub-group study using data from a prospective multi-site cohort study evaluating frailty in older ED patients presenting to four Quebec hospitals. Research nurses assessed patients consecutively with the three screeners. We employed Cohen's Kappa to determine agreement, with high-risk cut-offs of three and four for the PRISMA-7, six for the ER2, and five for the interRAI ED Screener. We used logistic regression to evaluate the discriminative accuracy of instruments, testing them in their dichotomous, full, and adjusted forms (adjusting for age, sex, and hospital academic status).

Results

We evaluated 1855 older ED patients across the four hospital sites. The mean age of our sample was 84 years. Agreement between the interRAI ED Screener and the ER2 was fair (K = 0.37; 95% CI 0.33–0.40); agreement between the PRISMA-7 and ER2 was also fair (K = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.36–0.43). Agreement between interRAI ED Screener and PRISMA-7 was poor (K = 0.19; 95% CI 0.16–0.22). Using a cut-off of four for PRISMA-7 improved agreement with the ER2 (K = 0.55; 95% CI 0.51–0.59) and the ED Screener (K = 0.32; 95% CI 0.2–0.36). When predicting discharge home, the concordance statistics among models were similar in their dichotomous (c = 0.57–0.61), full (c = 0.61–0.64), and adjusted forms (c = 0.63–0.65), and poor for all models when predicting extended length-of-stay.

Conclusion

ED vulnerability scores from the three instruments had a fair agreement and were associated with important patient outcomes. The interRAI ED Screener best identifies older ED patients at greatest risk, while the PRISMA-7 and ER2 are more sensitive instruments.
Maximum drag enhancement asymptote in spanwise-rotating viscoelastic plane Couette flow of dilute polymeric solutions
Authors: Zhu Yabiao , Wan Zhenhua , Lin Fenghui , Liu Nansheng , Lu Xiyun , Khomami Bamin
Published: March 2023

The existence of a maximum drag enhancement (MDE) asymptote at high rotation (

$Ro$

) and Weissenberg (

$Wi$

) numbers in turbulent viscoelastic spanwise-rotating plane Couette flow has been demonstrated. Specifically, it is shown that above a critical

$Wi$

, drag enhancement plateaus and the MDE asymptote is realized in a broad range of

$Ro$

. The mean velocity profiles at MDE appear to closely follow a log-law profile that has a nearly identical slope but different intercepts as a function of

$Ro$

. Much like the maximum drag reduction (MDR) asymptote, the logarithmic function in MDE is closely followed if the mean velocity is plotted using the traditional inner variable scaling; however, the logarithmic function is not well defined when examined by the indicator function. Hence, in this study, we have used the logarithmic fit as a visual guide for the mean velocity profile. Last and perhaps the most intriguing finding of this study is that MDE occurs in the elasto-inertial turbulence (EIT) flow state; hence, it is mainly sustained by elastic forces much like the MDR flow state. To that end, a universal picture of elastically induced drag modification asymptotes is emerging, namely these asymptotic states are an inherent property of the elastically sustained EIT flow state.
Oceanic dipoles in a surface quasi-geostrophic model
Authors: Johnson E.R. , Crowe M.N.
Published: March 2023

Analysis of satellite altimetry and Argo float data leads Ni et al. (J. Geophys. Res., 125, 2020, e2020JC016479) to argue that mesoscale dipoles are widespread features of the global ocean having a relatively uniform three-structure that can lead to strong vertical exchanges. Almost all the features of the composite dipole they construct can be derived from a model for multipoles in the surface quasi-geostrophic equations for which we present a straightforward novel solution in terms of an explicit linear algebraic eigenvalue problem, allowing simple evaluation of the higher radial modes that appear to be present in the observations and suggesting that mass conservation may explain the observed frontogenetic velocities.
In the Name of “Endangered Nations” and “Unsovereign States”? Official Discourses of Radical Right Movement Parties and Social Movement Organizations in Poland and Germany
Authors: Kajta Justyna , Myrczik Janina , Karolak Mateusz
Published: March 2023

The political landscape of the radical right has long been a major discussion point in the political and social sciences. By considering the variety of radical right organizations (movement parties and non-parliamentary organizations) and the particular national and transnational political and discursive opportunity structures, the paper aims at a comparative analysis of the main discursive frames present in political programs and manifestoes of radical right social movement organizations and movement parties in Poland (Konfederacja Wolność i Niepodległość and Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny) and Germany (Alternative für Deutschland and Identitäre Bewegung Deutschland). Moreover, based on approaches developed by Cas Mudde and Jens Rydgren, this article analyses how the features presumed essential to the radical right (nativism, authoritarianism and populism) are reflected and interconnected in the official discourses of the selected radical right organizations.
REILLY-TYPE UPPER BOUNDS FOR THE p-STEKLOV PROBLEM ON SUBMANIFOLDS
Authors: ROTH JULIEN , UPADHYAY ABHITOSH
Published: March 2023

We prove Reilly-type upper bounds for the first nonzero eigenvalue of the Steklov problem associated with the p-Laplace operator on submanifolds of manifolds with sectional curvature bounded from above by a nonnegative constant.
Non-trace full-F gyro-fluid interchange impurity advection
Authors: Reiter E. , Wiesenberger M. , Held M. , Zarate-Segura G.W. , Kendl A.
Published: March 2023

A full-F isothermal gyro-fluid model and code (which is based on the full distribution function F compared to only small fluctuations) is extended to handle self-consistent coupling of multiple quasi-neutral ion species via the polarisation equation in the long wavelength approximation. The numerical model is used to determine two-dimensional interchange driven ‘blob’ transport in a plasma with intrinsic impurity content for a range of impurity parameters. With the same model, the self-consistent advective interaction of a main plasma species blob with a non-trace impurity cloud is studied. For homogeneous impurity distributions an increased effective mass reduces blob transport, whereas it is found that localised impurity clouds can lead either to acceleration or slowing down of blob propagation depending on the alignment of the impurity density gradient during the acceleration phase of the main ion species blob.
Enhanced proton acceleration from laser interaction with curved surface nanowire targets
Authors: Li Xueming , Chao Yue , Liu Deji , Zhang Shutong , Liu Zhanjun , Cao Lihua , Zheng Chunyang
Published: March 2023

A novel curved surface nanowire target is proposed to improve the cutoff energy of accelerated protons via target normal sheath acceleration. The interaction of a laser of intensity

$1.37\times 10^{20}\ {\rm W}\ {\rm cm}^{-2}$

with a curved surface nanowire target is studied by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The numerical results indicate that the sheath electric field at the target rear side is significantly enhanced by this simple target design, compared with using the planar nanowire target. The transverse motion of hot electrons is effectively confined and the energy density of electrons is naturally increased. A series of simulations with various target parameters is carried out to investigate the performance of this novel target. This tailored target may provide implications for generating high-quality proton beams in experiments.
NUDGING TO PROHIBITION? A REASSESSMENT OF IRVING FISHER’S ECONOMICS OF PROHIBITION IN LIGHT OF MODERN BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS
Authors: Curott Nicholas A. , Snow Nicholas A.
Published: March 2023

In this paper we argue that Irving Fisher (1867–1947) is an unacknowledged pioneer of modern behavioral economics. Fisher’s behavioralist orientation is evident in his writings on alcohol prohibition. In these works, Fisher argued that behavioral anomalies prevent individuals from making rational choices regarding alcohol consumption. Fisher thought these anomalies arose from three sources: 1) incomplete information; 2) limited cognitive abilities; and 3) lack of willpower. These are essentially the same barriers to rational choice identified by modern-day New Paternalists. Therefore, we argue that Fisher’s work on Prohibition was a pioneering academic achievement that anticipated recent developments in economics, and not an unscientific diatribe, as previous commentators have presumed. Unlike modern-day ‘New Paternalists,’ however, Fisher rejected minor alterations to the choice architecture and advocated outright prohibition instead. This helps to illustrate a potential slippery-slope problem with modern New Paternalist arguments that should be addressed.
Monte-Carlo techniques for radiotherapy applications II: equipment and source modelling, dose calculations and radiobiology
Authors: Fielding Andrew L.
Published: March 2023

Introduction:

This is the second of two papers giving an overview of the use of Monte-Carlo techniques for radiotherapy applications.

Methods:

The first paper gave an introduction and introduced some of the codes that are available to the user wishing to model the different aspects of radiotherapy treatment. It also aims to serve as a useful companion to a curated collection of papers on Monte-Carlo that have been published in this journal.

Results and Conclusions:

This paper focuses on the application of Monte-Carlo to specific problems in radiotherapy. These include radiotherapy and imaging beam production, brachytherapy, phantom and patient dosimetry, detector modelling and track structure calculations for micro-dosimetry, nano-dosimetry and radiobiology.
Dark Virtuosity: Violin Symbolism in Alberto Iglesias's Score for Pedro Almodóvar's FilmThe Skin I Live In(2011)
Authors: ALONSO TOMÁS DIEGO
Published: March 2023

Singled out as one of the finest and most original works by the leading film-music composer Alberto Iglesias, the score for Pedro Almodóvar'sThe Skin I Live In(2011) stands out for its inclusion of a (neo-baroque) virtuoso part for solo violin with key symbolic functions in the film. This part is largely derived from the composer's post-minimalist string trioCautiva(c. 1990). The present article analyses Iglesias's reconfiguration of key materials fromCautivato express the relationship of domination, violence, and desire between the film's villain and the heroine as well as the role played by violin virtuosity in establishing links to the (gothic) horror genre and in the exaltation of the artist's power as creator that Almodóvar ultimately reflects upon inThe Skin I Live In.The article adds to recent studies on the centuries-old symbolism of the violin as a topos of the demonic and otherworldly by analysing these meanings in one of the finest contemporary film scores. The study is part of a recent upsurge of critical assessments of Almodóvar–Iglesias's work from cultural and musico-analytical perspectives.