bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Spanish Adaptation of the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) in Persons with Recent History of Gambling
Authors: Diaz-Sanahuja Laura , Paredes-Mealla Macarena , Suso-Ribera Carlos , García-Palacios Azucena , Bretón-López Juana María
Published: April 2023

Gambling is becoming increasingly frequent and problematic, especially due to the explosion of online alternatives. Evaluating the severity of gambling symptomatology is therefore more important than ever. However, innovations in the gambling field have generally focused on its treatment rather than its evaluation. The Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) is a well-established measure of gambling-related symptomatology (e.g., gambling urges, gambling-related thoughts and behaviours, and interpersonal functioning). The aim of this study is to validate a Spanish adaptation of the G-SAS so that individual differences in gambling symptomatology can be assessed by clinicians and researchers. The internal structure of the G-SAS was investigated using an exploratory factor analysis with a sample of 364 individuals from the general population in Spain (mean age = 28.84 years, SD = 11.73; 54% males). A four-factor structure was preferred considering fit indices (Chi-square = 22.62, p = .162, RMSEA = 0.030, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.995) and internal consistency estimates (0.67 ≤ α ≤ 0.89). The factors were labelled gambling-related symptoms, control of gambling urges/thoughts, interference, and arousal. Regarding construct validity, the four factors of the G-SAS were positively and significantly (all p < .001) correlated with measures of problematic gambling severity (0.40 ≤ r ≤ .73), problematic gambling diagnostic (0.40 ≤ r ≤ .67), gambling cognitions (0.48 ≤ r ≤ .57), impulsivity (0.26 ≤ r ≤ .42), anxiety (0.22 ≤ r ≤ .38), and depression (0.16 ≤ r ≤ .42), and negatively with quality of life (-0.24 ≤ r≤-.42). In sum, this study provides Spanish clinicians and researchers with a tool that serves to assess the status of individuals in relation to gambling symptomatology, which can be used to screen for at-risk profiles and evaluate treatment response.
Transition metal-modification of carrageenan-silica hybrids by a sol–gel method
Authors: Soares Sofia F. , Daniel-da-Silva Ana L. , Trindade Tito
Published: April 2023

Transition metal (TM)-modification of silica matrices are found in numerous materials for diverse applications. In other related hybrid materials, one tries to explore properties that result from combining the silica network with organic moieties, such as in the covalent grafting of polysaccharides onto amorphous nanosilicas. However, sol–gel routes for modification with TM have been less explored for hybrid siliceous materials. The present study demonstrates the effective modification of hybrid siliceous materials with TM (TM = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) that result from a sol–gel method that uses as a precursor the polysaccharide κ-carrageenan that was modified with a covalently alkoxysilane linked. Structural analysis and characterization studies of the derived carrageenan-silica hybrids were undertaken, and, in particular, the effects of the TM ions on the hybrids’ properties have been assessed. This work clearly indicates that the modification with TM imposes changes on the morphological, optical, and thermal properties of the hybrids compared to the unmodified analogs. Hence, the practical applicability of the modification with TM using the sol–gel described here is not limited to the presence of the guest ion but also provides a tool for changing the properties of the host particles.

Graphical Abstract
Unraveling a paradox of habitat relationships: scale-dependent drivers of temporal occupancy-abundance relationships in a cooperatively breeding bird
Authors: Hagemeyer Natasha D. G. , Pesendorfer Mario B. , Koenig Walter D. , Walters Eric L.
Published: April 2023

Context

Spatial occupancy and local abundance of species often positively covary, but the mechanisms driving this widespread relationship are poorly understood. Resource dynamics and habitat changes have been suggested as potential drivers, but long-term studies relating them to abundance and occupancy are rare. In this 34-year study of acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a cooperatively breeding species, we observed a paradoxical response to changes in habitat composition: despite a reduction in the availability of high-quality breeding habitat, the population increased considerably.

Objectives

We investigated the role of annual variation in food availability and long-term changes in habitat composition as predictors of population dynamics.

Methods

Using model selection, we contrasted competing hypotheses on the effects of changing resource availability on occupancy and social group size across three spatial scales: territory, neighborhood, and landscape.

Results

The increase in abundance was largely determined by the formation of new social groups, driven by a landscape-level expansion of canopy cover and its interaction with neighborhood-level acorn abundance, indicative of long-term increases in overall acorn productivity. Group size increased with neighborhood acorn crop two years earlier but groups were smaller in territories with more canopy cover.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that scale-dependent processes can result in paradoxical relationships in systems with spatial and temporal resource heterogeneity. Moreover, the findings support the role of resources in driving changes in abundance and occupancy at a landscape scale, suggesting that colonization of marginal habitat drives the positive occupancy-abundance relationship in this cooperatively breeding species.
Learning environments in compulsory secondary education (ESO): validation of the physical, learning, teaching and motivational scales
Authors: García-Rodríguez María Pilar , Conde-Velez Sara , Delgado-García Manuel , Carmona Márquez José
Published: April 2023

We present the validation of a questionnaire for compulsory secondary school students (seventh to tenth grade), designated “Educational learning environments for ESO pupils” (CEApA_ESO), for the purpose of evaluating learning environments. Although many instruments have been developed in this area, our work attempts to comprehensively cover some factors that most influence learning environments from the students’ perspective. Therefore, we included physical, learning, teaching and motivational elements, by adapting different already-validated scales to our intended overall approach and the Spanish context. We conducted a pilot study with 207 students from four grades (two classes per educational level). We performed descriptive and factor analyses with maximum likelihood extraction method and varimax rotation to identify factors underlying each scale. The factors extracted from each scale were used to evaluate the fit of the model, using the AMOS v.18 software for structural equation analysis, taking as reference the criteria set by Byrne (Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming, Taylor & Francis Group, 2010) and Kline (Principles and practice of structural equation modeling, The Guilford Press, 2010) (CMIN/DF between 2 and 5, CFI and IFI > 0.9, RMSEA < 0.06 and HOELTER > 200). Finally, we present the factorial validity of the complete scale and analyse the internal consistency of the scale and its subscales using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. This instrument, with adequate psychometric properties, offers educators and researchers a valid tool for assessing the learning environments of their schools.
Origin, variation, and selection of natural alleles controlling flowering and adaptation in wild and cultivated soybean
Authors: Hou Zhihong , Fang Chao , Liu Baohui , Yang Hui , Kong Fanjiang
Published: April 2023

Soybean (Glycine max) is an economically important crop worldwide, serving as a major source of oil and protein for human consumption and animal feed. Cultivated soybean was domesticated from wild soybean (Glycine soja) which both species are highly sensitive to photoperiod and can grow over a wide geographical range. The extensive ecological adaptation of wild and cultivated soybean has been facilitated by a series of genes represented as quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control photoperiodic flowering and maturation. Here, we review the molecular and genetic basis underlying the regulation of photoperiodic flowering in soybean. Soybean has experienced both natural and artificial selection during adaptation to different latitudes, resulting in differential molecular and evolutionary mechanisms between wild and cultivated soybean. The in-depth study of natural and artificial selection for the photoperiodic adaptability of wild and cultivated soybean provides an important theoretical and practical basis for enhancing soybean adaptability and yield via molecular breeding. In addition, we discuss the possible origin of wild soybean, current challenges, and future research directions in this important topic.
Deep learning-based energy efficiency and power consumption modeling for optical massive MIMO systems
Authors: Salama Wessam M. , Aly Moustafa H. , Amer Eman S.
Published: April 2023

The fifth generation (5G) wireless communication system is considered a promising and recent research. Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system has an influential role in improving game-changing enhancements in area throughput and energy efficiency (EE). EE refers to one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs for consumers, and improve the competitiveness of businesses. Deep Learning (DL) can significantly improve area throughput and EE. It plays a crucial role in the 5G wireless communication systems. Optical systems are not far from this system, which include the optical components which serve more accurately.

To assess the overall power usage in up-link and down-link communications, a power dissipated model is introduced. The proposed model incorporates the overall power used by the base station (BS) power amplifier and circuit components as well as single antenna user equipment (UE). In this paper, EE and power consumption of massive MIMO systems are calculated based on Convolutional Neural Network hybrid with Long Short-Term Memory cell (CNNLSTM). This model is proposed to overcome the high complexity and over fitting by replacing the inner dense connections with convolution layers resulting in improved model performance. There are different linear processing schemes applied for detection and precoding, as Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE), Zero-Forcing (ZF), and Maximum Ratio Transmission/Maximum Ratio Combining (MRT/MRC). These schemes are applied to train our proposed CNNLSTM.

It is observed the results are improved by 12.8% when using ZF (perfect CSI) and the system outperforms other schemes by 10%, 10.44% and 12.05% when using MRT, ZF (imperfect CSI), and MMSE, respectively, for the EE performance. The obtained results also reveal that an improvement of 7.5% is achieved when using MRT. It outperforms other schemes by 6.5%, 5% and 5%, respectively, when using ZF (perfect CSI), ZF (imperfect CSI), and MMSE for average power consumption per antenna using the CNNLSTM model. When using MRT, an improvement of 7.5% is achieved in the area throughput performance, and it outperformed the other schemes, ZF (perfect CSI), ZF (imperfect CSI) and MMSE, by 5.2%, 5% and 5.2%, respectively.
Refractory Pit1 plurihormonal tumours and thyrotroph adenomas
Authors: NF Lenders , AI McCormack
Published: April 2023

Pit-1 tumours are derived from neoplastic cells of either somatotroph, lactotroph or thyrotroph cell lineages, but there are also distinct mixed tumours and plurihormonal tumours within this category as described within the 2022 edition of the WHO classification of pituitary tumours. Plurihormonal tumours and thyrotroph adenomas are transcriptionally similar and grouped together to discuss in this review, although it is clear an immature type of plurihormonal tumour exists which are more commonly associated with refractory disease. Management of residual or recurrent disease should follow that of other aggressive pituitary tumours, although a trial of somatostatin analogue therapy is certainly warranted before considering temozolomide therapy.
Trans-contextual work: doing entrepreneurial contexts in the periphery
Authors: Muñoz Pablo , Kimmitt Jonathan , Spigel Ben
Published: April 2023

This study explores how entrepreneurs “do” contexts in peripheral areas. Through the examination of changes in roles, practices, and relationships across peripheral areas in Chile, we found that substantive transformations result from the momentary repurposing of systems of provision, types of inter-dependencies, and sources of reliance within public, community, and family contexts. Drawing from the perspective of interstitial spaces and extensive data, this is done through three interwoven interaction rituals: support seeking, neighboring, and nesting. We abductively theorize the connection between these rituals as trans-contextual work. As entrepreneurs do contexts through trans-contextual work new entrepreneurial ideas, practices and artifacts begin to reorganize community resources and transform the commune’s social into an entrepreneurial life. Our research expands the current understanding of contextual change in peripheral areas and contextualization in entrepreneurship more broadly.
Bayesian inference of spatial and temporal relations in AI patents for EU countries
Authors: Rusek Krzysztof , Kleszcz Agnieszka , Cabellos-Aparicio Albert
Published: April 2023

In the paper, we propose two models of Artificial Intelligence (AI) patents in European Union (EU) countries addressing spatial and temporal behaviour. In particular, the models can quantitatively describe the interaction between countries or explain the rapidly growing trends in AI patents. For spatial analysis Poisson regression is used to explain collaboration between a pair of countries measured by the number of common patents. Through Bayesian inference, we estimated the strengths of interactions between countries in the EU and the rest of the world. In particular, a significant lack of cooperation has been identified for some pairs of countries. Alternatively, an inhomogeneous Poisson process combined with the logistic curve growth accurately models the temporal behaviour by an accurate trend line. Bayesian analysis in the time domain revealed an upcoming slowdown in patenting intensity.
Gendered Mental Labor: A Systematic Literature Review on the Cognitive Dimension of Unpaid Work Within the Household and Childcare
Authors: Reich-Stiebert Natalia , Froehlich Laura , Voltmer Jan-Bennet
Published: April 2023

With this literature review, we provide a systematic overview on and working definition of mental labor in the context of unpaid work—an inherent cognitive component of daily routines primarily related to domestic or childcare tasks. Our methodology followed PRISMA guidelines, and 31 full-text articles were included. Articles were peer-reviewed and published in social science, sociological, and psychological journals. The studies applied quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches including, interviews, online surveys, observations of family routines, time estimates, and experiments. The samples covered a wide age range, consisting mostly of U.S. American or European middle-class women and men (married or in a relationship). Predominantly, the articles show that women perform the larger proportion of mental labor, especially when it comes to childcare and parenting decisions. Further, women experience more related negative consequences, such as stress, lower life and relationship satisfaction, and negative impact on their careers. We offer an integrative theoretical perspective to explain the gendered distribution of mental labor and cognitive load. We consider theoretical and practical implications of these findings for reducing gender inequality in mental labor in the context of unpaid work within the household and childcare.
It Takes Two to Tango: Links Between Traditional Beliefs About both Men’s and Women’s Gender Roles and Comfort Initiating Sex and Comfort Refusing Sex
Authors: Harrington Auguste G. , Maxwell Jessica A.
Published: April 2023

Traditional gender roles dictate rigid rules and standards prescribing which behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are considered masculine and feminine within sexual contexts, and thus internalizing these beliefs (higher traditional gender ideology) may influence sexual attitudes. Prior theorizing has primarily focused on how women’s traditional beliefs about women’s gender roles (traditional femininity ideology) and men’s traditional beliefs about men’s gender roles (traditional masculinity ideology) influence their sexual assertiveness. Yet, men can hold traditional beliefs about women, and women can hold traditional beliefs about men, and these beliefs should have important implications for sexual assertiveness. We addressed this gap by testing how both heterosexual women’s (n = 389) and men’s (n = 393) traditional masculinity and femininity ideologies associate with their reported comfort initiating sex and comfort refusing sex in their relationships. When accounting for both sets of beliefs, women’s traditional beliefs about men’s and women’s roles interacted to predict comfort initiating sex, but not comfort refusing sex. Men’s traditional beliefs about men’s roles predicted less comfort refusing sex, and their traditional beliefs about women’s roles predicted less comfort initiating sex. This novel research underscores the importance of considering beliefs about both sets of traditional gender roles for understanding people’s sexual attitudes.
Using Satellite Images and Deep Learning to Measure Health and Living Standards in India
Authors: Daoud Adel , Jordán Felipe , Sharma Makkunda , Johansson Fredrik , Dubhashi Devdatt , Paul Sourabh , Banerjee Subhashis
Published: April 2023

Using deep learning with satellite images enhances our understanding of human development at a granular spatial and temporal level. Most studies have focused on Africa and on a narrow set of asset-based indicators. This article leverages georeferenced village-level census data from across 40% of the population of India to train deep models that predicts 16 indicators of human well-being from Landsat 7 imagery. Based on the principles of transfer learning, the census-based model is used as a feature extractor to train another model that predicts an even larger set of developmental variables—over 90 variables—included in two rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). The census-based-feature-extractor model outperforms the current standard in the literature for most of these NFHS variables. Overall, the results show that combining satellite data with Indian Census data unlocks rich information for training deep models that track human development at an unprecedented geographical and temporal resolution.
Prejudice and need for relatedness expressed in the narratives of Finnish Roma early school leavers: A multi-case study
Authors: Pikkarainen Merja T. , Kykyri Virpi-Liisa
Published: April 2023

School discontinuation in Finland is more common among the Finnish Roma than among the population as a whole. We lack knowledge of the perspective of those of the Roma, representing a minority inside a minority, who have left compulsory school without a leaving certificate. Within a study about school experiences of imprisoned early school leavers in Finland we had six participants with a Finnish Roma background, whose experiences of relatedness, and frustration of it, we examine in this paper. We conducted narrative interviews with the participants, applying a co-operative narrative interpretation to the meanings of what was told. After the field process, we interpreted the narrative accounts focusing on experiences of relatedness, and how relationships with people in the school environment affected the participants’ sense of belonging together with the people in the school environment. Frustration of relatedness was identified at three levels. Firstly, at a general, life condition level, cultural prejudice manifested itself as a sense of not being accepted and respected as an equal with other people, the situation creating a constant need to cope with outspoken prejudices. Secondly, at a contextual-specific level in the school environment, we identified experiences of being rejected by peers and their parents, as well as some of the teachers. This was linked with a sense of loneliness and detachment from other people in the school environment. Thirdly, at a situational level, the participants described both positive relationships, such as momentary friendships, and negative experiences of being excluded from the peer group. Pathways for further inquiries are discussed.
Direct oral anticoagulants: patient reported adherence and minor bleedings
Authors: Hayat Amina , Själander Anders , Wallvik Jonas
Published: April 2023

Data regarding adherence and minor bleeding on direct oral anticoagulants in everyday life are still sparse. Inclusion criteria: treatment initiated with dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients from a center in northern Sweden between 2011 and 2019 (n = 668). Exclusion criteria: cognitive impairment, dose dispensing, need of interpreter or hospital admission (n = 67). By a telephone interview adherence was measured in 569 patients (response rate 94.8%) using the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale and minor bleeding was asked for. CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were collected from medical records. The number (n), mean age, mean treatment duration, mean (points) CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores was with dabigatran (n = 175, 73.3 years, 17.8 months, 3.6 p and 2.2 p), rivaroxaban (n = 198, 73.7 years, 21months, 3.8 p and 2.1 p) and apixaban (n = 196, 72.7 years, 15.2 months, 3.4 p and 2.1 p). Adherence was high for dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban in 54%, 76% and 53%; intermediate in 37%, 20% and 37% or low in 9%, 4% and 10% respectively. High adherence (Morisky score 8) distinguished rivaroxaban (p < 0.0001) and in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 4 p, (p < 0.0001). Patients on rivaroxaban/apixaban reported more minor bleedings (37% / 28%) compared to dabigatran (13%), (p < 0.001). Only 61% of the patients followed prescription. Adherence to rivaroxaban was significantly better, maybe due to the once daily dosing regimen, and furthermore among patients with higher risk for stroke. Minor bleedings were less common in the dabigatran group. The impact of minor bleedings on adherence and a possible relationship to clinical outcomes need to be further studied.
Pilot survey reveals ophidiomycosis in dice snakes Natrix tessellata from Lake Garda, Italy
Authors: Marini Daniele , Di Nicola Matteo R. , Crocchianti Veronica , Notomista Tommaso , Iversen Daniel , Coppari Luca , Di Criscio Michela , Brouard Vanessa , Dorne Jean-Lou C.M. , Rüegg Joëlle , Marenzoni Maria Luisa
Published: April 2023

Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo). To date, Oo presence or associated disease condition has been recorded in wild and/or captive snakes from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, but the data is still scarce outside the Nearctic. Although Italy is a country with a high snake biodiversity in the European panorama, and animals with clinical signs compatible with Oo infection have been documented, to date no investigations have reported the disease in the wild. Therefore, a pilot survey for the Italian territory was performed in conjunction with setting up a complete diagnostic workflow including SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay for the detection of Oo genomic and mitochondrial DNA combined with histopathology of scale clips. Oo presence was investigated in 17 wild snake specimens from four different species. Four snakes were sampled in a targeted location where the mycosis was suspected via citizen science communications (i.e. North of the Lake Garda), whereas other ophidians were collected following opportunistic sampling. Oo genomic and mitochondrial DNA were detected and sequenced from all four Lake Garda Natrix tessellata, including three juveniles with macroscopic signs such as discolouration and skin crusts. From histopathological examination of scale clips, the three young positive individuals exhibited ulceration, inflammation and intralesional hyphae consistent with Oo infection, and two of them also showed the presence of arthroconidial tufts and solitary cylindrical arthrospores, allowing “Ophidiomycosis and Oo shedder” categorisation. For the remaining snake samples, the real-time PCR tested negative for Oo. This pilot survey permitted to localise for the first time Oo infection in free-ranging ophidians from Italy. Ophidiomycosis from Lake Garda highlights the need to increase sampling efforts in this area as well as in other northern Italian lakes to assess the occurrence of the pathogen, possible risk factors of the infection, its impact on host population fitness and the disease ecology of Oo in European snakes.
BLE-based secure tracking system proposal
Authors: Hernández-Goya Candelaria , Aguasca-Colomo Ricardo , Caballero-Gil Cándido
Published: April 2023

As communication capabilities of mobile devices continue to advance, ensuring reliability and security has become increasingly crucial. The aerial tracking system presented in this paper provides a useful solution for tracking and tracing objects in various scenarios. To ensure reliability and security, the system incorporates appropriate mechanisms, including Lightweight Cryptography, to prioritize confidentiality and integrity. The Android component of the system has two modes of operation: Tracker Mode, running on a smartphone mounted on a drone (RPA), and Client Mode, running on mobile devices on the ground. In Client Mode, users transmit their positioning and trajectory information via Bluetooth Low Energy beacon mode, which is then relayed to the server backend via the 4G/5G network once the RPA enters an area with coverage. The system provides a reliable and secure solution for situations where tracking and tracing are essential, such as the supervision and control of public areas with capacity control or tracking and localizing people in isolated environments.
Understanding the contents and development of nascent entrepreneurs’ belief systems
Authors: Laukkanen Mauri
Published: April 2023

This study tracks the development of nascent entrepreneurs’ (NE) belief systems (mental models) from the time they were seriously planning entrepreneurship to having started their firms. It aims to reveal their typical entrepreneurship-related belief systems to understand the underlying logic of the contents and their change. Cognitive theory predicts belief systems which are first relatively simple and partly shared, but turn more complex and more divergent, thus facilitating the mental representation of their firms’ different environments. The study finds that the NEs share coherent and rather developed belief systems at the outset. They also become more complex after the transition from prospective to actual entrepreneurship, but unexpectedly more uniform, reflecting the NEs’ need to mentally control not only the external environment but also internal issues they share, such as fears and self-efficacy. This implies that entrepreneurs’ cognitive evolution involves developing the conventional “cold” mental grip of the external environment, but also understanding their affective, “hot” side. The development paths can vary, suggesting a corresponding theoretic model. Methodologically, cognitive/causal mapping and semi-structured interviewing provide an accessible approach to studying both aspects of entrepreneurial cognitions. Pragmatically, the findings suggest that small business support should pay more attention to prospective entrepreneurs’ qualms and beliefs, often hidden and biased.
Damage factors of stratospheric ozone depletion on human health impact with the addition of nitrous oxide as the largest contributor in the 2000s
Authors: Hayashi Kentaro , Itsubo Norihiro
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Stratospheric ozone (O3) depletion caused by O3-depleting substances (ODSs) remains an unsolved issue. The leakage of older ODSs in the atmosphere continue to affect stratospheric O3, and nitrous oxide (N2O) remains the largest contributor to stratospheric O3 depletion. The purpose of this study was to update the damage factors of stratospheric O3 depletion on human health impacts, particularly skin cancers and eye cataracts, for the years 2010 and 2015 by adding N2O.

Methods

The framework to derive damage factors followed that of our previous study; the marginal increase in total incidence per unit ODS emission was estimated using the following terms: ground surface emission, tropospheric chlorine loading, equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine (EESC), total O3 in the air column, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) at the ground surface, incidence due to erythemal UV-B exposure, standardized age structure, population, and ODS atmospheric lifetime. By multiplying the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per incidence by the marginal increase in total incidence per unit emission, the damage factor was obtained as the DALY per unit emission. The following update was made in this study: the addition of N2O and revisions of the relationship between EESC and total O3, ODS lifetime, population, and DALY per incidence.

Results and discussion

Damage factors of all ODSs regulated by the Montreal Protocol and of N2O were calculated for melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers, and eye cataracts. The total damage factors of N2O were 2.1 × 10–5 and 2.2 × 10–5 DALY per kg nitrogen (N) in 2010 and 2015, respectively. These values were smaller than those of chlorofluorocarbons and halons; however, the global effect of N2O on stratospheric O3 depletion was approximately 170,000 DALYs or 3.9 billion USD in 2010, accounting for 48% of the total damage. The damage factor of N2O on climate change was estimated, based on existing literature, to be 27 times higher than that for stratospheric O3 depletion estimated in this study.

Conclusions

N2O is currently the largest contributor to stratospheric O3 depletion, which accounted for approximately 50% of the total health impact induced by all ODSs in 2010. Although another important impact of N2O, i.e., climate change, was demonstrated to be 27 times more damaging than stratospheric O3 depletion, this means that N2O emissions contribute to two global environmental issues simultaneously. Thus, efforts to reduce N2O emissions should be increased.
Recognition of tor malware and onion services
Authors: Bergman Jesper , Popov Oliver B.
Published: April 2023

The transformation of the contemporary societies through digital technologies has had a profound effect on all human activities including those that are in the realm of illegal, unlawful, and criminal deeds. Moreover, the affordances provided by the anonymity creating techniques such as the Tor protocol which are beneficial for preserving civil liberties, appear to be highly profitable for various types of miscreants whose crimes range from human trafficking, arms trading, and child pornography to selling controlled substances and racketeering. The Tor similar technologies are the foundation of a vast, often mysterious, sometimes anecdotal, and occasionally dangerous space termed as the Dark Web. Using the features that make the Internet a uniquely generative knowledge agglomeration, with no borders, and permeating different jurisdictions, the Dark Web is a source of perpetual challenges for both national and international law enforcement agencies. The anonymity granted to the wrong people increases the complexity and the cost of identifying both the crimes and the criminals, which is often exacerbated with lack of proper human resources. Technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence come to the rescue through automation, intensive data harvesting, and analysis built into various types of web crawlers to explore and identify dark markets and the people behind them. It is essential for an effective and efficient crawling to have a pool of dark sites or onion URLs. The research study presents a way to build a crawling mechanism by extracting onion URLs from malicious executables by running them in a sandbox environment and then analysing the log file using machine learning algorithms. By discerning between the malware that uses the Tor network and the one that does not, we were able to classify the Tor using malware with an accuracy rate of 91% with a logistic regression algorithm. The initial results suggest that it is possible to use this machine learning approach to diagnose new malicious servers on the Tor network. Embedding this kind of mechanism into the crawler may also induce predictability, and thus efficiency in recognising dark market activities, and consequently, their closure.
Forschungsprojekt EUBeKo
Authors: Paulsen Lisa , Benz Lea , Bojkowska Izabela , Domokos Bruno , Müller Christina , Wallmann-Sperlich Birgit , Bucksch Jens
Published: April 2023

Hintergrund

Bewegung ist über eine Reihe sozialökologischer Bedingungsfaktoren zu verstehen, an welchen eine erfolgreiche Bewegungsförderung ansetzen muss. Kommunen nehmen dabei eine bedeutende Rolle ein, da sie gesundheitsförderliche Verhältnisse ermöglichen können. Häufig wird die Konzipierung, Umsetzung und Evaluierung sozialökologischer Ansätze jedoch nicht systematisch und theoriegeleitet abgeleitet. Veränderungen in den Verhältnissen werden durch das Verhalten und die Entscheidungen sog. „change agents“ bzw. kommunaler Entscheidungstragender, wie z. B. Bürgermeister:innen, beeinflusst. Daher ist es wichtig, Einflussfaktoren auf Entscheidungsprozesse zu kennen, um Überzeugungsarbeit für Bewegungsförderung in der Kommune zu leisten. Zudem braucht es Multiplikator:innen (z. B. Mitarbeitende in Gesundheitsämtern), die Kompetenzen besitzen, verhältnisorientierte Interventionen in Kommunen systematisch umzusetzen.

Zielstellung und Projektverlauf

Das Forschungsprojekt „Entscheidungs- und Umsetzungsprozesse verhältnisorientierter Bewegungsförderung in der Kommune für mehr Chancengerechtigkeit systematisch planen und implementieren“ (EUBeKo) wurde im Rahmen des Förderschwerpunkts „Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung“ des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit gefördert. In diesem Beitrag werden das Projekt EUBeKo mit seinen zwei Forschungsfragen zum einen nach der Rolle und den Kompetenzen von Multiplikator:innen und zum anderen nach den Einflussfaktoren auf kommunale Entscheidungsprozesse sowie die Planung und Umsetzung verhältnisorientierter Bewegungsförderung in zwei Modellkommunen als auch die Strategien der Dissemination (z. B. Projekt-Webseite) beschrieben.

Diskussion und Schlussfolgerungen

Zu den Stärken des Projekts zählt die systematische und theoriegeleitete Aufbereitung und Durchführung eines Prozesses verhältnisorientierter Bewegungsförderung in der Kommune mit besonderem Fokus auf Planungs- und Entscheidungsprozesse sowie auf die Zielgruppen der kommunalen Multiplikator:innen und Entscheidungstragenden. Herausforderungen finden sich im Theorie-Praxis-Transfer und in den Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie („coronavirus disease 2019“) auf die Projektumsetzung.
Krankheitsvorstellungen von Patient*innen mit berufsbedingten Handekzemen vor dem Hintergrund soziodemografischer Merkmale
Authors: Hansen Andreas , Wilke Annika , John Swen Malte , Buse Anna-Sophie
Published: April 2023

Hintergrund

Berufsbedingte Hauterkrankungen treten in vielen Berufen auf. Häufig handelt es sich um irritative und/oder allergische Handekzeme. Zu den häufigsten betroffenen Berufsgruppen zählen z. B. Pflegekräfte und Metallarbeiter*innen. Hinsichtlich soziodemografischer Merkmale (Alter, Berufe, Geschlecht) ist das Patientenklientel insgesamt sehr heterogen. Individualpräventive ambulante und stationäre Maßnahmen zielen u. a. darauf ab, das Selbstmanagement mit der Erkrankung zu verbessern (z. B. Veränderung des Hautschutzverhaltens) und ein erkrankungsbedingtes Ausscheiden aus dem Beruf zu verhindern. Subjektive Krankheitstheorien spielen bei der Erreichung dieser Ziele eine wichtige Rolle, so dass es das Ziel der Studie war, diese subjektiven Theorien unter besonderer Beachtung soziodemografischer Merkmale zu erfassen und zu analysieren.

Methode

Es wurden 36 leitfadengestützte qualitative Interviews mit Patient*innen einer stationären Individualpräventionsmaßnahme geführt. Die Auswertung erfolgte mittels inhaltlich strukturierender qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse. Hauptkategorien wurden deduktiv anhand des theoretischen Rahmens (Common-Sense-Modell) gebildet, Subkategorien anhand des Materials (induktiv).

Ergebnisse

Interviewtranskripte von 35 Patient*innen wurden analysiert (Geschlecht: weiblich = 18, männlich = 17/Alter: minimal: 22 Jahre, maximal: 63 Jahre). Dabei ließen sich alle Dimensionen des Rahmenmodells mit verschiedenen Subkategorien abbilden. Die vermuteten bzw. wahrgenommenen Ursachen waren überwiegend komplex. Hinsichtlich der Altersgruppen und Berufe konnten teilweise Unterschiede festgestellt werden. So waren z. B. Aussagen, die auf eine höhere Selbstwirksamkeit in Bezug auf die Kontrollierbarkeit des Handekzems hindeuteten eher bei interviewten Pflegekräften zu finden, als bei den Befragten der Metallberufe.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Wahrnehmung komplexer Ursachen spiegelt die oftmals multifaktorielle Krankheitsentstehung wider (z. B. irritative Handekzeme bei atopischer Disposition). Die z. T. vorgefundenen Unterschiede zwischen Berufs- und Altersgruppen verdeutlichen, dass involvierte Berufsgruppen (z. B. Ärzt*innen, Therapeut*innen) bei der Berücksichtigung der subjektiven Krankheitsvorstellungen auch ein Zusammenspiel mit soziodemografischen Aspekten erwägen sollten.
Does IFRS information on tax loss carryforwards and negative performance improve predictions of earnings and cash flows?
Authors: Dreher Sandra , Eichfelder Sebastian , Noth Felix
Published: April 2023

We analyze the usefulness of accounting information on tax loss carryforwards and negative performance to predict earnings and cash flows. We use hand-collected information on tax loss carryforwards and corresponding deferred taxes from the International Financial Reporting Standards tax footnotes for listed firms from Germany. Our out-of-sample tests show that considering accounting information on tax loss carryforwards does not enhance performance forecasts and typically even worsens predictions. The most likely explanation is model overfitting. Besides, common forecasting approaches that deal with negative performance are prone to prediction errors. We provide a simple empirical specification to account for that problem.
Introducing GoNEXUS SEF: a solutions evaluation framework for the joint governance of water, energy, and food resources
Authors: González-Rosell Adrián , Arfa Imen , Blanco Maria
Published: April 2023

To enhance water, energy, and food security and promote ecosystems conservation, it is necessary to design policies or solutions capable of addressing cross-sectoral challenges. In this paper, GoNEXUS SEF, an evaluation framework for co-designing and evaluating nexus solutions, is presented. This framework provides guidelines for conducting a nexus-coherence assessment to improve the governance of the water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus. The assessment involves a participatory process that integrates qualitative and quantitative methodologies through systemic approaches. The crucial aspects necessary in the development of methodologies that address the nexus have been identified and considered. The framework was applied to a practical case study, an increase in the irrigation water price in Andalusia—Spain for the horizon of 2030. Case study results revealed that the measure can generate synergies since it favours water savings, irrigation water efficiency and ecosystems conservation. However, trade-offs are observed, mainly undermining the economic development of agriculture in the region. GoNEXUS SEF has proven capable of evaluating nexus solutions by measuring cross-sectoral synergies and trade-offs. It highlights hidden properties and identifies leverage points and key aspects of a complex cross-sectoral system to apply nexus solutions more effectively to promote sustainable development. In addition, the framework can be adapted to fit different case studies, considering their own challenges and their spatial and temporal scales, which gives it a competitive advantage over other methodologies focused on analysing the nexus.

Graphical abstarct
Hip fracture incidence and post-fracture mortality in Victoria, Australia: a state-wide cohort study
Authors: Leung Miriam T. Y. , Marquina Clara , Turner Justin P. , Ilomaki Jenni , Tran Tim , Bell J. Simon
Published: April 2023

Summary

Hip fractures are a major public health concern. Number of hip fractures cases increased by 20% from 2012 to 2018. Factors associated with post-fracture mortality included men, those who are frail, living in a non-metropolitan region, or residing in a residential aged care facility. Our results are useful for planning healthcare interventions.

Purpose

Hip fractures are a major public health concern in Australia. Data on hip fracture incidence and mortality are needed to plan and evaluate healthcare interventions. The aims of the study were to investigate (1) the time-trend in absolute number and incidence of first hip fractures, and (2) factors associated with mortality following first hip fractures in Victoria, Australia.

Methods

A state-wide cohort study of all patients aged $$\ge$$
≥
50 years admitted to a Victorian hospital for first hip fracture between July 2012 and June 2018. Annual age-standardized incidence rates were calculated using population data from Australian Bureau of Statistics. Multivariate negative binomial regression was used to investigate factors associated with post-fracture mortality.

Results

Overall, 31,578 patients had a first hip fracture, of whom two-thirds were women and 47% were $$\ge$$
≥
85 years old. Absolute annual numbers of first hip fractures increased by 20%. There was no significant change in age- and sex-adjusted incidence. In total, 8% died within 30 days and 25% within 1 year. Factors associated with 30-day mortality included age (≥ 85 years old versus 50–64 years old, mortality rate ratio [MRR] 8.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.86–11.33), men (MRR 2.11, 95% CI 1.88–2.37), higher Hospital Frailty Risk Scores (high frailty versus no frailty, MRR 3.46, 95% CI 2.66–4.50), admission from a residential aged care facility (RACF) (MRR 2.28, 95% CI 1.85–2.82), and residing in a non-metropolitan region (MRR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09–1.38). The same factors were associated with 1-year mortality.

Conclusion

The absolute increase in hip fractures highlights the need for interventions to reduce fracture risk, especially for those at higher risk of post-fracture mortality, including men and those who are frail, living in a non-metropolitan region, or residing in a RACF.
C-reactive protein levels are associated with early cardiac complications or death in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a propensity-matched analysis of a global federated health from the TriNetX network
Authors: Bucci Tommaso , Sagris Dimitrios , Harrison Stephanie L. , Underhill Paula , Pastori Daniele , Ntaios George , McDowell Garry , Buckley Benjamin J. R. , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: April 2023

The role of inflammation in predicting early cardiac complications among stroke patients is unclear. Electronic medical records from TriNetX, a global federated health research network, were used for this retrospective analysis. Patients with ischemic stroke and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels measured within 24 h post-stroke were categorized into three groups: (i) < 1 mg/L, (ii)1–3 mg/L and (iii) > 3 mg/L. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of cardiac complications (heart failure (HF), ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmias and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) or death at 30 days from the index event. Cox-regression analyses were used to produce hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) following 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). Of the 104,741 patients enrolled, 51% were female and the mean age was 66 ± 16 years. After PSM, a new cardiac complication or death within 30 days occurred in 5624 (33.1%) patients with CRP > 3 mg/L, in 4243 (25.6%) patients with CRP 1–3 mg/L and in 3891 (23.5%) patients with CRP < 1 mg/L. Patients with CRP levels of 1–3 mg/L and > 3 mg/L had higher risk of the composite outcome (HR 1.10, 95%CI 1.05–1.52; HR 1.51, 95%CI 1.45–1.58), death (HR 1.43, 95%CI 1.24–1.64; HR 3.50, 95%CI 3.01–3.96), HF (HR 1.08, 95%CI 1.01–1.16; HR 1.51, 95%CI 1.41–1.61), AF (HR 1.10, 95% CI:1.02–1.18; HR 1.42, 95%CI 1.33–1.52) and ventricular arrhythmias (HR 1.25, 95%CI 1.02–1.52; HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.38–2.01) compared to those with CRP < 1 mg/L. Ischemic heart disease were more common among patients with CRP levels > 3 mg/L compared to those with CRP < 1 mg/L (HR:1.33, 95% CI:1.26–1.40), while no association with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was found in all the analyses. CRP levels within the first 24 h of an ischemic stroke predict 30-day cardiac complications or death.
Machine Learning Research Trends in Africa: A 30 Years Overview with Bibliometric Analysis Review
Authors: Ezugwu Absalom E. , Oyelade Olaide N. , Ikotun Abiodun M. , Agushaka Jeffery O. , Ho Yuh-Shan
Published: April 2023

The machine learning (ML) paradigm has gained much popularity today. Its algorithmic models are employed in every field, such as natural language processing, pattern recognition, object detection, image recognition, earth observation and many other research areas. In fact, machine learning technologies and their inevitable impact suffice in many technological transformation agendas currently being propagated by many nations, for which the already yielded benefits are outstanding. From a regional perspective, several studies have shown that machine learning technology can help address some of Africa’s most pervasive problems, such as poverty alleviation, improving education, delivering quality healthcare services, and addressing sustainability challenges like food security and climate change. In this state-of-the-art paper, a critical bibliometric analysis study is conducted, coupled with an extensive literature survey on recent developments and associated applications in machine learning research with a perspective on Africa. The presented bibliometric analysis study consists of 2761 machine learning-related documents, of which 89% were articles with at least 482 citations published in 903 journals during the past three decades. Furthermore, the collated documents were retrieved from the Science Citation Index EXPANDED, comprising research publications from 54 African countries between 1993 and 2021. The bibliometric study shows the visualization of the current landscape and future trends in machine learning research and its application to facilitate future collaborative research and knowledge exchange among authors from different research institutions scattered across the African continent.