bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemically radiative and mixed convection solute transfer in boundary‐layer flow of Jeffrey nanofluid along an inclined stretching cylinder with joule heating and double stratification impacts
Authors: Saeed Muhammad Junaid , Tahir Madeeha , Asjad Muhammad Imran , ul aabedin Zain , Maqsood Muhammad , Ahmadian Ali , Salimi Mehdi
Published: February 2023

An endeavor is consummate to study the steady mixed convection solute transfer in two‐dimensional viscous fluid. A joule heating incompressible flow along an inclined stretching cylinder and double stratification impact on Jeffrey Nanofluid is scrutinized. Acquired nanomaterial pattern comprises the phenomena of thermophoresis and Brownian motion. By applying rule of approximation transformation, the nonlinear PDEs converted into ODEs. Shooting via Newton Raphson technique is used to solve the ODE'S with boundary conditions into initial conditions, also applying Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg technique of fourth order for numerical purpose. Computation for skin friction, () for Nusselt, and for Sherwood number are fetched in table format by using mathematical software Matlab. The results reveal that M (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9), γ (0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 1.3), and α will increase upto 7.51, 8.55, and 10.27%, respectively. The behavior of on and falling off upto 11.20 and 28.38%, respectively with the increase of , but in shows opposite reaction on Sherwood number. It is culminated that for velocity augments with the value of Deborah number of four different sizes (0.8, 1.1, 1.4, and 1.7) upto 14.28, 16.6, and 20% while situation is reversed in case of magnetic factor (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9) upto 20, 28.12, and 39.13%. Effect of for temperature enhanced with the value of Brownian motion on (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6), about 16.66, 20, and 25%, respectively. The maximum effect percentage with radiation factor on is 39 and minimum percentage is 25.71. Eckert number on ( − 4, 0, 4, 8) and thermophoresis on diminished with pile‐up Prandtl number on (1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and 2.1). Impact of for concentration and local Sherwood number showed reverse situation on Schmidt number.
Modified Buongiorno's model for the analysis of chemically reacting jet flow of ternary hybrid nanofluid under the influence of activation energy and bio‐active mixers
Authors: Algehyne Ebrahem A. , Arif Muhammad , Saeed Anwar , Bilal Muhammad , Kumam Poom , Galal Ahmed M.
Published: February 2023

In the modern era, the heat transfer is the basic need in every field of sciences and engineering. To augment the energy transfer, the ternary hybrid nanofluid (Thnf) has been used. After the successful nanofluid working performance, the researchers used this idea in many physical situations. Later on, the researchers tried to further improve the performance of nanofluid with high stability. Motivated from the unique practical applications of hybrid nanofluid, in the present analysis, we have considered ternary nanoliquid, which is obtained by the suspension of three nano particulates in base fluids. The aim of the present research is to highlight the thermal applications of ternary nanofluid in the vertical stretching wall jet flow. The suspension of three different nano solid particles is considered in a base liquid water a jet flow over a vertical extending sheet is addressed. In addition to this, the presence of chemical reaction in the concentration, thermophoresis effect in the energy equation and heat source is also addressed. To model the present phenomena of flow using the modified Buongiorno's model, that highlights the impact of Brownian motion and thermophoresis effect. The present flow problem is modelled in terms of PDE's. To transform the obtained model, we use appropriate similarity variables. The transform model is then solved numerically, using the fast convergence numerical PCM approach (parametric continuation method). The solution obtained is shown through graphical representation by indicating the impact of pertinent flow parameters. Finally, from the present results, we obtained that the performance of Thnf is effective in water as compared to hybrid nanoliquid and mono nanofluid. Furthermore, the motile gyrotactic microbes profile gets lower with the varying values of bioconvection Lewis number and Peclet number.
Constant primary operators and where to find them: the strange case of BPS defects in ABJ(M) theory
Authors: Gorini Nicola , Griguolo Luca , Guerrini Luigi , Penati Silvia , Seminara Domenico , Soresina Paolo
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We investigate the one-dimensional defect SCFT defined on the 1/2 BPS Wilson line/loop in ABJ(M) theory. We show that the supermatrix structure of the defect imposes a covariant supermatrix representation of the supercharges. Exploiting this covariant formulation, we prove the existence of a long multiplet whose highest weight state is a constant supermatrix operator. At weak coupling, we study this operator in perturbation theory and confirm that it acquires a non-trivial anomalous dimension. At strong coupling, we conjecture that this operator is dual to the lowest bound state of fluctuations of the fundamental open string in AdS4 × ℂℙ3 around the classical 1/2 BPS solution. Quite unexpectedly, this operator also arises in the cohomological equivalence between bosonic and fermionic Wilson loops. We also discuss some regularization subtleties arising in perturbative calculations on the infinite Wilson line.
Gauge theory geography: charting a path between semiclassical islands
Authors: Poppitz Erich , Wandler F. David
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We study two semiclassical limits of SU(2) Yang-Mills theory on a spatial torus with a ’t Hooft twist: the “femtouniverse,” where all 𝕋3 directions are small, and deformed Yang-Mills theory on 𝕋2 × 𝕊1, with small 𝕊1 and large or infinite 𝕋2. Carefully defining the symmetries, we show that the classical ground states, while different, have the same transformation properties under the 1-form center symmetry and parity. We argue that this is behind the identical multi-branch θ-dependent vacuum structure of these theories. We then calculate the one-loop potential for the 𝕊1-holonomy in the presence of twists on 𝕋2. We use it to study the quantum stability of the semiclassical ground states in gauge theories with massive or massless adjoint fermions on spatial 𝕋2 × 𝕊1, with a twist in the 𝕋2. The results point towards some interesting features worthy of further study.
The dark dimension and the Swampland
Authors: Montero Miguel , Vafa Cumrun , Valenzuela Irene
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Motivated by principles from the Swampland program, which characterize requirements for a consistent UV completion of quantum gravity, combined with observational data, we are led to a unique corner of the quantum gravity landscape. In particular, using the Distance/Duality conjecture and the smallness of dark energy, we predict the existence of a light tower of states and a unique extra mesoscopic dimension of length $$ l\sim {\Lambda}^{-\frac{1}{4}}\sim {10}^{-6}m $$
l
∼

Λ

−

1
4

∼

10

−
6

m
, with extra massless fermions propagating on it. This automatically leads to a candidate for a tower of sterile neutrinos, and an associated active neutrino mass scale $$ {m}_{\nu}\sim {\left\langle H\right\rangle}^2{\Lambda}^{-\frac{1}{12}}{M}_{\textrm{pl}}^{-\frac{2}{3}} $$

m
ν

∼

H

2

Λ

−

1
12

M
pl

−

2
3

. Moreover, assuming the mechanism for stabilization of this dark dimension leads to similar masses for active and sterile neutrinos we are led to the prediction of a Higgs vev $$ \left\langle H\right\rangle \sim {\Lambda}^{\frac{1}{6}}{M}_{\textrm{pl}}^{\frac{1}{3}} $$

H

∼

Λ

1
6

M
pl

1
3

. Another prediction of the scenario is a species scale $$ \hat{M}\sim {\Lambda}^{\frac{1}{12}}{M}_{\textrm{pl}}^{\frac{2}{3}}\sim {10}^9\hbox{--} {10}^{10} $$

M
̂

∼

Λ

1
12

M
pl

2
3

∼

10
9

–

10
10

GeV, corresponding to the higher-dimensional Planck scale. This energy scale may be related to the resolution of the instability of the Higgs effective potential present at a scale of ~1011 GeV. We also speculate about the interplay between this energy scale and the GZK limit on ultra-high energy cosmic rays.
On the local systolic optimality of Zoll contact forms
Authors: Abbondandolo Alberto , Benedetti Gabriele
Published: February 2023

We prove a normal form for contact forms close to a Zoll one and deduce that Zoll contact forms on any closed manifold are local maximizers of the systolic ratio. Corollaries of this result are: (1) sharp local systolic inequalities for Riemannian and Finsler metrics close to Zoll ones, (2) the perturbative case of a conjecture of Viterbo on the symplectic capacity of convex bodies, (3) a generalization of Gromov’s non-squeezing theorem in the intermediate dimensions for symplectomorphisms that are close to linear ones.
Burn injury characteristics, referral pattern, treatment (costs), and outcome in burn patients admitted to a hospital with or without a specialized Burn Centre (BURN-Pro)
Authors: Van Yperen Daan T. , Van Lieshout Esther M. M. , Van Baar Margriet E. , Polinder Suzanne , Verhofstad Michael H. J. , Van der Vlies Cornelis H. ,   BURN-Pro Study Group, Cardon Anne Y. M. V. P. , De Rijcke Piet A. R. , Guijt Marc , Klem Taco M. A. L. , Lansink Koen W. W. , Punt Bas J. , Ringburg Akkie N. , Staarink Maarten , Van der Veen Alexander H. , Van Eerten Percy V. , Van Eijck Floortje C. , Vegt Paul A. , Vos Dagmar I. , Waleboer Marco
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Data on the epidemiology, treatment, and outcome of burn patients treated at non-burn centre hospitals are not available. The primary aim was to compare the burn characteristics of patients admitted to a hospital with or without a specialized burn centre.

Methods

This multicentre, prospective, cohort study enrolled patients with burns admitted to a hospital without a burn centre and patients with < 10% total body surface area (TBSA) burned admitted to the burn centre. Primary outcome measure was the burn-related injury characteristics. Secondary outcome measures were adherence to the Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) referral criteria, treatment (costs), quality of life, and scar quality.

Results

During the 2-year study period, 48 patients were admitted to a non-burn centre and 148 patients to the burn centre. In the non-burn centre group, age [44 (P25–P75 26–61) versus 30 (P25–P75 8–52) years; P = 0.007] and Injury Severity Score [2 (P25–P75 1–4) versus 1 (P25–P75 1–1); P < 0.001] were higher. In the burn centre group, the TBSA burned was significantly higher [4% (P25–P75 2–6) versus 2% (P25–P75 1–4); P = 0.001], and more surgical procedures were performed (in 54 versus 7 patients; P = 0.004). At 12 months, > 85% of the non-burn centre group and > 75% of the burn centre group reported no problems in quality of life. Scar quality score was < 1.5 in both groups, with significantly poorer scores in the burn centre group (P ≤ 0.007).

Conclusion

Both groups differed in patient, burn, and treatment characteristics. At 12 months, quality of life and scar quality were good in both groups. Significantly poorer scar quality scores were found in the burn centre group. This might be related to their larger burns and more frequent surgery. The organization of burn care in the Netherlands seems to work adequately. Patients are treated locally when possible and are transferred when necessary.
Future therapeutic strategies for olfactory disorders: electrical stimulation, stem cell therapy, and transplantation of olfactory epithelium—an overview
Authors: Gunder N. , Dörig P. , Witt M. , Welge-Lüssen A. , Menzel S. , Hummel T.
Published: February 2023

Olfactory disorders may be temporary or permanent and can have various causes. Currently, many COVID-19 patients report a reduced or complete loss of olfactory function. A wide range of treatment options have been investigated in the past, such as olfactory training, acupuncture, medical therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or surgical excision of olfactory epithelium, e.g., in severe qualitative smell disorders. The development of a bioelectric nose, e.g., in connection with direct electrical stimulation or transplantation of olfactory epithelium or stem cells, represent treatment options of the future. The basis of these developments and the state of knowledge is discussed in the following work.
Generalized Gibbs Ensemble of the Ablowitz–Ladik Lattice, Circular $$\beta $$-Ensemble and Double Confluent Heun Equation
Authors: Grava Tamara , Mazzuca Guido
Published: February 2023

We consider the discrete defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation in its integrable version, which is called defocusing Ablowitz–Ladik lattice. We consider periodic boundary conditions with periodNand initial data sampled according to the Generalized Gibbs ensemble. In this setting, the Lax matrix of the Ablowitz–Ladik lattice is a random CMV-periodic matrix and it is related to the Killip-Nenciu Circular$$\beta $$β-ensemble at high-temperature. We obtain the generalized free energy of the Ablowitz–Ladik lattice and the density of states of the random Lax matrix by establishing a mapping to the one-dimensional log-gas. For the Gibbs measure related to the Hamiltonian of the Ablowitz–Ladik flow, we obtain the density of states via a particular solution of the double-confluent Heun equation.
Prognostic Impact of Margin Status in Distal Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Nakagohri Toshio , Takahashi Shinichiro , Ei Shigenori , Masuoka Yoshihito , Mashiko Taro , Ogasawara Toshihito , Hirabayashi Kenichi
Published: February 2023

Background

A positive ductal margin is strongly associated with poor survival in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma. However, the significance of the radial margin status and its effect on survival are not fully clarified.

Methods

All patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy between January 2000 and December 2018 at Tokai University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Positive margins were divided into positive ductal margin and positive radial margin.

Results

One hundred and eight consecutive patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. Margin‐negative R0 resection was performed in 85 patients (79%). Twenty‐three patients (21%) had a positive resection margin (R1 resection). The 5‐year survival rate and median overall survival for patients with R0 resection and those with R1 resection was 64%, 98 months and 25%, 26 months, respectively. There was a significant difference in survival between patients with R0 resection and those with R1 resection (p < 0.001). Patients with positive radial margin (n = 10) had a significantly worse outcome than those with positive ductal margin (n = 13) (p = 0.016). Univariate analysis showed that R1 resection, lymph node metastasis, tumor depth, portal vein invasion, pancreatic invasion, lymphatic invasion, and venous invasion were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis confirmed that R1 resection and nodal involvement were significant independent prognostic indicators after surgical resection for distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Conclusions

Positive surgical margin and nodal involvement were the strongest predictors of poor survival in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with a positive radial margin had a significantly worse outcome than those with a positive ductal margin.
Two-year efficacy and safety of risdiplam in patients with type 2 or non-ambulant type 3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
Authors: Oskoui Maryam , Day John W. , Deconinck Nicolas , Mazzone Elena S. , Nascimento Andres , Saito Kayoko , Vuillerot Carole , Baranello Giovanni , Goemans Nathalie , Kirschner Janbernd , Kostera-Pruszczyk Anna , Servais Laurent , Papp Gergely , Gorni Ksenija , Kletzl Heidemarie , Martin Carmen , McIver Tammy , Scalco Renata S. , Staunton Hannah , Yeung Wai Yin , Fontoura Paulo , Mercuri Eugenio ,   on behalf of The SUNFISH Working Group
Published: February 2023

Risdiplam is an oral, survival of motor neuron 2 (SMN2) pre-mRNA splicing modifier approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SUNFISH (NCT02908685) Part 2, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, investigated the efficacy and safety of risdiplam in type 2 and non‑ambulant type 3 SMA. The primary endpoint was met: a significantly greater change from baseline in 32-item Motor Function Measure (MFM32) total score was observed with risdiplam compared with placebo at month 12. After 12 months, all participants received risdiplam while preserving initial treatment blinding. We report 24-month efficacy and safety results in this population. Month 24 exploratory endpoints included change from baseline in MFM32 and safety. MFM‑derived results were compared with an external comparator. At month 24 of risdiplam treatment, 32% of patients demonstrated improvement (a change of ≥ 3) from baseline in MFM32 total score; 58% showed stabilization (a change of ≥ 0). Compared with an external comparator, a treatment difference of 3.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67–4.57) in favor of risdiplam was observed in MFM-derived scores. Overall, gains in motor function at month 12 were maintained or improved upon at month 24. In patients initially receiving placebo, MFM32 remained stable compared with baseline (0.31 [95% CI – 0.65 to 1.28]) after 12 months of risdiplam; 16% of patients improved their score and 59% exhibited stabilization. The safety profile after 24 months was consistent with that observed after 12 months. Risdiplam over 24 months resulted in further improvement or stabilization in motor function, confirming the benefit of longer-term treatment.
Unipolare Depression – psychodynamische Vielfalt
Authors: Maier Lena , Blanck Julian , Singer Susanne
Published: February 2023

Versorgungsengpässe in der ambulanten Psychotherapie haben in den letzten Jahren zu diversen Gesetzesinitiativen geführt. Eine davon war die Einführung von diagnosespezifischen Behandlungskontingenten. Ausgehend von diesem gesundheitspolitischen Vorhaben fragten wir uns, inwiefern empirische Daten für oder gegen eine solche Praxis sprechen, das heißt, wie „homogen“ Patient:innen mit derselben ICD-10-Diagnose aus psychodynamischer Sicht sind. Mithilfe der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse wurden 13 Berichte von Patient:innen mit der Erstdiagnose F33.1 (Rezidivierende depressive Störung, gegenwärtig mittelgradige Episode) ausgewertet, die im Rahmen des Gutachtenverfahrens geprüft wurden. Zusätzlich schätzten wir das generelle Funktionsniveau ein und verglichen die Reife der Abwehr mit dem Vorliegen komorbider psychischer Diagnosen. Es wurden 56 Seiten Textmaterial analysiert. Wir identifizierten 4 Konflikttypen (Selbstwert, Nähe-Distanz, Unterwerfung, Schuld) sowie strukturelle Beeinträchtigungen in 4 Bereichen (Selbst- und Objektwahrnehmung, Selbstregulierung, Bindung und Identität), bei Vorliegen verschiedener Therapieziele und Interaktionsformen. Die Abwehr bewegte sich auf unreifem bis neurotischen Niveau, was nicht im Zusammenhang mit dem Vorliegen komorbider Diagnosen stand. Das Funktionsniveau ließ auf ein breites Spektrum genereller Beeinträchtigung schließen. Unsere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Depressionen vielfältige psychodynamische Hintergründe haben. Dies steht im Widerspruch zu der Idee einer Zuordnung von ICD-10-Diagnose und Behandlungskontingent.
Improved area regularization technique for penalty-method-based node-to-segment contact analysis
Authors: Kang Seung-Hoon , Lee Seok-Min , Shin SangJoon
Published: February 2023

Among numerous approaches that have been presented for computational contact analysis, the node-to-segment (NTS) approach is widely adopted in industrial applications, particularly with the penalty method. However, the pure penalty-method-based NTS approach fails the patch test even with the area regularization (AR) technique. There have been relatively few solutions for this problem compared to those for Lagrange-multiplier-method-based NTS approaches. This paper presents an improved AR technique and attempts to make the penalty-method-based NTS approach pass the patch test. The proposed approach improves the accuracy without the need to introduce additional geometry to the conventional penalty-method-based NTS approach. The entire competence area of a slave node is not directly utilized as a penalty weighting factor. Instead, a part of the competence area is extracted in accordance with the projection from a master node to a slave segment. In a complementary manner, a two-pass algorithm is used for the selected master nodes to achieve segment-wise force/moment equivalence. The results obtained using the proposed approach are introduced in a two-dimensional frictionless context. It is observed that the proposed approach passes the patch test. Furthermore, a significant improvement in accuracy compared to the conventional NTS and NTS-AR approaches is observed. We aim to extend the approach to three-dimensional applications in the future work.
Heatwaves and mortality in Queensland 2010–2019: implications for a homogenous state-wide approach
Authors: Franklin Richard C. , Mason Hannah M. , King Jemma C. , Peden Amy E. , Nairn John , Miller Lauren , Watt Kerrianne , FitzGerald Gerard
Published: February 2023

Heatwaves are a significant cause of adverse health outcomes and mortality in Australia, worsening with climate change. In Queensland, the northeastern-most state, little is known about the impact of heatwaves outside of the capital city of Brisbane. This study aims to explore the impact of heatwaves on mortality across various demographic and environmental conditions within Queensland from 2010 to 2019. The Excess Heat Factor was used to indicate heatwave periods at the Statistical Area 2 (SA2) level. Registered deaths data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and heatwave data from the Bureau of Meteorology were matched using a case-crossover approach. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were calculated across years, regions, age, sex, rurality, socioeconomic status, and cause of death. Heatwaves were associated with a 5% increase in all-cause mortality compared to deaths on non-heatwave days, with variability across the state. The risk of death on a heatwave day versus a non-heatwave day varied by heatwave severity. Individuals living in urban centers, the elderly, and those living in regions of lower socioeconomic status were most impacted by heatwave mortality. The relative risk of dying from neoplasms, nervous system conditions, respiratory conditions, and mental and behavioral conditions increased during heatwaves. As heatwaves increase in Queensland due to climate change, understanding the impact of heatwaves on mortality across Queensland is important to tailor public health messages. There is considerable variability across communities, demographic groups, and medical conditions, and as such messages need to be tailored to risk.
Sternal fractures and thoracic injury: an analysis of 288 sternal fractures attending a major trauma centre
Authors: Aamir Junaid , Alade Bolutife , Caldwell Robyn , Chapman James , Shah Sohan , Karthikappallil Dileep , Williams Luke , Mason Lyndon
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Sternal fractures (SF) are uncommon injuries usually associated with a significant mechanism of injury. Concomitant injury is likely, and a risk of mortality is substantial.

Aim

Our aim in this study was to identify the risk factors for mortality in patients who had sustained sternal fractures.

Methods

We conducted a single centre retrospective review of the trust’s Trauma Audit and Research Network Database, from May 2014 to July 2021. Our inclusion criteria were any patients who had sustained a sternal fracture. The regions of injury were defined using the Abbreviated Injury Score. Pearson Chi-Squared, Fisher Exact tests and multivariate regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS.

Results

A total of 249 patients were identified to have sustained a SF. There were 19 patients (7.63%) who had died. The most common concomitant injuries with SF were Rib fractures (56%), Lung Contusions (31.15%) and Haemothorax (21.88%). There was a significant increase in age (59.93 vs 70.06, p = .037) and admission troponin (36.34 vs. 100.50, p = .003) in those who died. There was a significantly lower GCS in those who died (10.05 vs. 14.01, p < .001). On multi regression analysis, bilateral rib injury (p = 0.037, OR 1.104) was the only nominal variable which showed significance in mortality.

Conclusion

Sternal Fractures are uncommon but serious injuries. Our review has identified that bilateral rib injuries, increase in age, low GCS, and high admission troponin in the context of SF, were associated with mortality.
The Drivers of Hydraulic Conductivity in Green Liquor Dregs Amended Till: Application to Reclamation of Acid Generating Mine Sites
Authors: Nigéus Susanne , Maurice Christian , Lindblom Jenny
Published: February 2023

The mining industry produces massive amounts of waste that in contact with oxygen can result in leaching of metals. Access to a suitable cover-material for the mine waste is sometimes limited, creating a driving force for recycling industrial residues for these purposes. Green liquor dregs (GLD), an industrial residue from paper and pulp production, has the potential to be used in a sealing layer as an amendment to till. Though hydraulic conductivity is commonly used to evaluate the quality of the sealing layer, field application from laboratory investigations is challenging as many factors, apart from vast variations in the physical properties of both the till and the GLD, control hydraulic conductivity. In this study, 5–20 wt.% of GLD from two different paper mills, with different total solid contents and particle size distributions, were mixed with a silty till with varying total solid contents to investigate how the materials’ dry density, initial water content, and compaction affects the hydraulic conductivity. We found that the initial water content of the materials was the most important factor. With a drier till and GLD, more GLD should be added to attain the lowest hydraulic conductivity possible. The compaction was not found to notably affect the mixtures’ hydraulic conductivity.
Applications of non-intrusive methods to study the sand cat: a field study in the Sahara Desert
Authors: Gil-Sánchez Jose María , Herrera-Sánchez F. Javier , Rodríguez-Siles Javier , Díaz-Portero Miguel Ángel , Arredondo Ángel , Sáez Juan Manuel , Álvarez Begoña , Cancio Inmaculada , de Lucas Jesús , McCain Emil , Pérez Joaquín , Valenzuela Gerardo , Valderrama Jaime Martínez , Sánchez-Cerdá Mariola , Lahlafi Thomas , Martín Jose Manuel , Burgos Tamara , Jiménez José , Qninba Abdeljebbar , Virgós Emilio
Published: February 2023

Surveys based on indirect signs and camera trapping are two non-invasive methods extensively used for monitoring elusive mammals. Both approaches can be useful to obtain key information on wildlife in remote areas, since they may allow for the logistically viable design of optimal field frameworks. The sand cat (Felis margarita) is a feline that inhabits the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, and western Asian deserts. Its basic ecology is poorly known and the status and impacts of threats are difficult to assess. Some local population declines have been detected, and more research is needed. Based on field surveys carried out in the Atlantic Sahara, we have evaluated the applications of both methods to study this species. Our results show that (a) camera trapping provided reliable data on several key aspects of its ecology, (b) walking surveys to collect feces for molecular data failed completely, and (c) for footprints, identification problems and the marked effects of the absence of optimal substrates and the prevalence of wind are relevant handicaps. Beyond this evaluation, we provide for the first time some key aspects of the ecology of sand cats in the Sahara Desert, including habitat selection, density, diel activity, and predator–prey relationships.
Particle finder: a simple particle detection tool for continuous-flow systems
Authors: Fernández-Mateo Raúl , Calero Víctor , García-Sánchez Pablo , Ramos Antonio , Morgan Hywel
Published: February 2023

We describe a user-friendly, open source software for single-particle detection/counting in a continuous-flow. The tool automatically processes video images of particles, including pre-conditioning, followed by size-based discrimination for independent detection of fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles of different sizes. This is done by interactive tuning of a reduced set of parameters that can be checked with a robust, real-time quality control of the original video files. The software provides a concentration distribution of the particles in the transverse direction of the fluid flow. The software is a versatile tool for many microfluidic applications and does not require expertise in image analysis.
Measuring and managing service productivity: a meta-analysis
Authors: Hofmeister Johannes , Kanbach Dominik K. , Hogreve Jens
Published: February 2023

Despite service productivity’s scholarly prominence and practical relevance, past research in marketing has primarily adopted isolated perspectives from which disjointed empirical findings reign supreme. As the acquisition of knowledge about service productivity accelerates, the collective evidence becomes more interdisciplinary but also more fragmented. This study uses a meta-analysis to integrate the substantial empirical record on service productivity. We formulate hypotheses on the moderators of service productivity-determinant relationships and meta-analyze 77 articles, relying on 81 independent samples with a cumulative sample size of 30,238 participants to test our predictions. Our meta-analysis provides empirical evidence that service quality and internal efficiency must be considered jointly, not in isolation, to maximize profitability. Thus, relying on one aspect in isolation is less appropriate for measurement purposes and might not lead to positive outcomes. This important finding should concern service scholars and managers because falling profit margins require service firms to move beyond the traditional manufacturing productivity that separates service quality from internal efficiency and consider service productivity as a profitability concept. In sum, our findings provide a viable model to explain the main service productivity determinants and moderating variables, offering valuable insights for practitioners that aim to deliver cost-efficient service quality and promising future research directions.
“Scalping” in the context of criminal dismemberment and mutilation—a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Potente Stefan , Heinbuch Sara , Ramsthaler Frank , Schäfer Nadine , Walle Nadja , Schmidt Peter
Published: February 2023

We report on a case of criminal dismemberment and attempted scalping of a homicide victim with a “Mohawk” haircut. Case findings are presented. A review of the literature was performed for scalping in its historical and cultural context and particularly in criminal dismemberment and mutilation: Historically, scalping was prevalent in many ancient cultures around the world, where scalps were taken as trophies or “proof of kill”, much like shrunken heads, trophy skulls, and other artefacts. Scalping was particularly widespread in Northern America in the context of tribal warfare, both before and after colonization. The iconic “Mohawk” haircut is closely linked with scalping, as it was meant to taunt the enemy. In the modern forensic context, scalping constitutes a form of criminal mutilation. However, cases of criminal dismemberment and mutilation are rare in forensic casework. Our literature review revealed a low number of scalping in criminal dismemberment and mutilation cases. The documentation was overall poor. Positioning scalping within the classification of criminal mutilation and dismemberment was difficult. In literature, even though case numbers were small, the majority of “textbook scalping” cases were German. The presented case, to our best knowledge, is the first modern-day photo-documented case of (attempted) scalping, even more so of a person wearing a “Mohawk”.
The Classical ‘Traception’: Reconceptualizing Classics in Africa (With an Analysis of Fugard, Kani and Ntshona’s The Island)
Authors: Dominik William J.
Published: February 2023

Classics has been used for various social, cultural and political purposes on the African sub-continent. Part I highlights some theoretical considerations regarding the traditional models of the classical tradition and the classical reception in Africa. The idea of the classical ‘traception’ embraces the classical tradition through its suggestion of linear descendent and the classical reception through its ‘receptive’ and reconfigurative associations. Part II discusses how and when classical ideas and texts reached and extended into Africa from the time of the sixteenth century and the main areas that constitute the classical ‘traception’ on the subcontinent. Part III presents a case study in the area of drama to illustrate some of the interpretive consequences of using the model of the classical tradition as opposed to that of the classical reception. My proposed model of the ‘classical traception’ seems preferable to either of these models when describing the dynamics of Fugard, Kani, and Ntshona’s The Island (1974) since it spans both the European conception of the original Antigone and its linear descent as well as its reconfiguration by its split collective (hybrid) multi-racial ‘author’ in The Island. Considering the elements of the classical tradition along with those of the classical reception—what I jointly term classical ‘traception’—helps to provide a broader view of the ways in which Classics has helped to shape and been received by different African societies and their cultures from the perspectives of both the European colonizers and indigenous peoples.
The tubarium construction in Holoretiolites, Neogothograptus and related taxa (Graptolithina, Retiolitinae): clues to their astogeny and species identification
Authors: Maletz Jörg
Published: February 2023

The Homerian (Wenlock) to Ludfordian (Ludlow), late Silurian, retiolitine genera Neogothograptus and Holoretiolites and their relatives are revised. These are often considered as the youngest and smallest retiolitine taxa, characterised by a finite growth indicated by the appendix, leading to the extinction of the clade. The tubarium construction of the genera is analysed and compared, showing the loss of the pleural and parietal lists in Holoretiolites and the development of a central zigzag construction on the obverse and reverse sides of the tubarium. This construction is not homologous to similar constructions in earlier retiolitines, as it is based on the modification of the lateral apertural lists. It is also found in the closely related Semiplectograptus and Plectodinemagraptus. Useful details to understand the astogeny of these taxa include the development of the reticulum, the genicular processes and the outer ancora. These features are described for the first time for most species. Details of the outer ancora and its construction in the genus Neogothograptus are still poorly understood. Holoretiolites helenaewitoldi is synonymised with Holoretiolites atrabecularis. Holoretiolites manckoides is transferred to Semiplectograptus.
Explaining autonomous driving with visual attention and end-to-end trainable region proposals
Authors: Cultrera Luca , Becattini Federico , Seidenari Lorenzo , Pala Pietro , Del Bimbo Alberto
Published: February 2023

Autonomous driving is advancing at a fast pace, with driving algorithms becoming more and more accurate and reliable. Despite this, it is of utter importance to develop models that can offer a certain degree of explainability in order to be trusted, understood and accepted by researchers and, especially, society. In this work we present a conditional imitation learning agent based on a visual attention mechanism in order to provide visually explainable decisions by design. We propose different variations of the method, relying on end-to-end trainable regions proposal functions, generating regions of interest to be weighed by an attention module. We show that visual attention can improve driving capabilities and provide at the same time explainable decisions.
Planning for groundwater management using visual MODFLOW model and multi-criteria decision analysis, West–West Minya, Egypt
Authors: Morsy Samah Mahmoud
Published: February 2023

This study presents a planning model to assist decision-makers in implementing proposed sustainable development policies based on the government's development schemes. It focuses on the exploitation of groundwater from the Eocene aquifer in the West–West Minya region in the Western Desert of Egypt as one of the new development areas. The visual MODFLOW model is applied to serve as a base model for the study area's local modeling and assess the impact of operating scenarios on the groundwater aquifer. An optimal scenario for groundwater sustainability is achieved by considering the water meter consumption in the newly reclaimed area with a value of 6 m3/d for each acre to irrigate 3953.68 acres; the maximum drawdown of about 60 m is formed after 9700 days of simulation. The GIS multi-criteria analysis model is used to assess the impact of groundwater deficiency as a result of reclamation. Results of the groundwater model are merged as input layers in multi-criteria decision analysis, which include groundwater salinity, groundwater levels, aquifer transmissivity, and aquifer storativity. The prospective groundwater zones are categorized into most suitable (1584 km2, 9.9%), suitable (4592 km2, 28.7%), good (4784 km2, 29.9%), moderate (1488 km2, 9.3%), and unsuitable (3552 km2, 22.2%). It is recommended to optimize levels of groundwater withdrawal from the current or future drilling wells to achieve a balance between the use and the protection of water potential.
Real-time artificial intelligence assisted insulin dosage titration system for glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients: a proof of concept study
Authors: Chen Ying , Chen Zhiwei , Zhao Lin , Li Simin , Ying Zhen , Yu Peng , Yan Hongmei , Chen Hong , Yang Chun , Zhang Jiyang , Meng Qingnan , Liu Yuchen , Cao Ling , Shen Yanting , Hu Chunyan , Huang Huiqun , Li Xiaomu , Bian Hua , Li Xiaoying
Published: February 2023

Objective

This study aims to develop an insulin dosage adjustment model using machine learning of high quality electronic health records (EHRs) notes and then to form an artificial intelligence-based insulin clinical decision support workflow (iNCDSS) implemented in the HIS system to give a real-time recommendation of insulin dosage titration. The efficacy and safety in clinical practice is evaluated in this proof-of-concept study.

Research design and methods

We extracted patient-specific and time-varying features from the original EHRs data and performed machine learning analysis through 5-fold cross validation. In the patient-blind, single-arm interventional study, insulin dosage was titrated according to iNCDSS in type 2 diabetic inpatients for up to 7 d or until hospital discharge. The primary end point of the trial was the difference in glycemic control as measured by mean daily blood glucose concentration during the intervention period.

Results

A total of 3275 type 2 diabetic patients with 38,406 insulin counts were included for the model analysis. The XGBoost model presented the best performance with root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.06 unit and mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 6.0% in the training dataset, and RMSE of 1.30 unit and MARD of 6.9% in the testing dataset. Twenty-three patients with T2DM (male 14, 60.9%; age 58.8 ± 10.7 years; duration of diabetes 11.8 ± 8.8 years, HbA1c 9.1 ± 1.1%) were enrolled in the proof of concept trial. The duration of iNCDSS intervention was 7.0 ± 0.1 d. The insulin dose recommended by iNCDSS was accepted by physicians in 97.8%. The mean daily capillary blood glucose was markedly improved during the intervention period, with a reduction of mean daily capillary BG from 11.3(8.0, 13.9) mmol/L in the first 24 h to 7.9(6.5,8.9) mmol/L in the last 24 h of the trial (P < 0.001). In addition, the time range below 3.9 mmol/L was decreased from 1.1% to 0.5%.

Conclusions

The clinical decision support system of insulin dosage titration developed using a machine learning algorithm based on the EHRs data was effective and safe in glycemic control in in type 2 diabetic inpatients.

Trial registrations

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04053959.
Advances in diagnosis, clinical management and molecular characterization of ovarian Brenner tumors
Authors: Zanfagnin Valentina , Lee Tiffany , Zhao Chengquan , Wang Tiannan
Published: February 2023

Brenner tumors is a very uncommon ovarian epithelial neoplasm, morphologically resembling the transitional cell neoplasm of urinary tract. It is further classified into three subtypes as a disease spectrum based on histological examination and tumorigenesis: benign Brenner tumors, borderline Brenner tumors (BBTs), and malignant Brenner tumors (MBTs). The etiology of these tumors is not well understood, and literature is limited due to the rarity of this entity, but recent advances, particularly in molecular alterations, have emerged. The scope of this review is to provide an update on the clinical, histopathological, and most recently, molecular characterizations of ovarian Brenner tumors.
The moduli space of polynomial maps and their fixed-point multipliers: II. Improvement to the algorithm and monic centered polynomials
Authors: SUGIYAMA TOSHI
Published: February 2023

We consider the family
$\mathrm {MC}_d$
of monic centered polynomials of one complex variable with degree
$d \geq 2$
, and study the map
$\widehat {\Phi }_d:\mathrm {MC}_d\to \widetilde {\Lambda }_d \subset \mathbb {C}^d / \mathfrak {S}_d$
which maps each
$f \in \mathrm {MC}_d$
to its unordered collection of fixed-point multipliers. We give an explicit formula for counting the number of elements of each fiber
$\widehat {\Phi }_d^{-1}(\bar {\unicode{x3bb} })$
for every
$\bar {\unicode{x3bb} } \in \widetilde {\Lambda }_d$
except when the fiber
$\widehat {\Phi }_d^{-1}(\bar {\unicode{x3bb} })$
contains polynomials having multiple fixed points. This formula is not a recursive one, and is a drastic improvement of our previous result [T. Sugiyama. The moduli space of polynomial maps and their fixed-point multipliers. Adv. Math.322 (2017), 132–185] which gave a rather long algorithm with some induction processes.
A note on energy equality for the fractional Navier-Stokes equations
Authors: Wu Fan
Published: February 2023

This paper proves the energy equality for distributional solutions to fractional Navier-Stokes equations, which gives a new proof and covers the classical result of Galdi [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 147 (2019), 785–792].
Do testosterone and cortisol levels moderate aggressive responses to peer victimization in adolescents?
Authors: Calvete Esther , Orue Izaskun
Published: February 2023

Aggressive reactions to peer victimization may be tempered by hormone levels. Grounded on the dualhormone hypothesis (DHH), which proposes that testosterone (T) is associated with aggressive behavior only when cortisol (C) is low, this study assessed whether the combination of T and C moderated adolescents’ aggressive responses to peer victimization. The study involved 577 adolescents (50.4% girls, aged 12–17 years), who completed measures of online and offline victimization and perpetration of aggressive behavior in three waves over the course of one year. Moreover, they provided salivary samples to measure T and C levels. Multilevel analyses showed a three-way interaction between T, C, and victimization levels for both online and offline aggressive behaviors. In both cases, the adolescents with high T and high C or low T and low C responded with more aggressive behaviors when victimized or provoked by peers. The T/C ratio was only associated with aggressive behavior in the girls’ sample. The results are opposite to those predicted by the DHH, but they are consistent with the findings of other studies that examined aggressive behaviors as reactions to provocations. These results suggest that some combinations of T and C predict higher aggressive reactions to peer victimization.
Contextual factors of child behavioral health across developmental stages
Authors: Yoon Susan , Maguire-Jack Kathryn , Ploss Alexa , Benavidez Juan Lorenzo , Chang Yujeong
Published: February 2023

This study examines the relative influence of environmental contexts (family, school, neighborhood) on child behavioral health at ages 3, 5, 9, and 15 years. Path analysis was conducted on a sample of 4,898 urban children from a longitudinal dataset called the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Child physical abuse, emotional abuse, maternal depression, substance use, neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood poverty, school connectedness, and peer bullying had concurrent relationships with child behavior problems at one or more developmental stages. Early childhood abuse (age 3) and school age environmental contexts (age 9) had lasting effects on later behavior problems. Findings underscore the importance of both multilevel contextual factors and developmental timing in determining behavioral health outcomes in children.
Fast principal component analysis for cryo-electron microscopy images
Authors: Marshall Nicholas F. , Mickelin Oscar , Shi Yunpeng , Singer Amit
Published: February 2023

Principal component analysis (PCA) plays an important role in the analysis of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) images for various tasks such as classification, denoising, compression, and ab initio modeling. We introduce a fast method for estimating a compressed representation of the 2-D covariance matrix of noisy cryo-EM projection images affected by radial point spread functions that enables fast PCA computation. Our method is based on a new algorithm for expanding images in the Fourier–Bessel basis (the harmonics on the disk), which provides a convenient way to handle the effect of the contrast transfer functions. For

$ N $

images of size

$ L\times L $

, our method has time complexity

$ O\left({NL}^3+{L}^4\right) $

and space complexity

$ O\left({NL}^2+{L}^3\right) $

. In contrast to previous work, these complexities are independent of the number of different contrast transfer functions of the images. We demonstrate our approach on synthetic and experimental data and show acceleration by factors of up to two orders of magnitude.
Die Rolle der morphologischen Bewusstheit für den frühen Schriftspracherwerb
Authors: Ewald Sina-Maria , Steinbrink Claudia
Published: February 2023

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Im Deutschen wurde bisher nur in wenigen Längsschnittstudien geprüft, ob die frühe morphologische Bewusstheit (MB) spätere schriftsprachliche Leistungen vorhersagt. Diese Studien konzentrierten sich auf einzelne Facetten der MB. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht dagegen die differentielle Vorhersagekraft verschiedener Facetten der vorschulischen MB für schriftsprachliche Leistungen in der frühen Grundschulzeit. Methoden: Berichtet werden Ergebnisse der ersten beiden Messzeitpunkte der Studie. Vor Schuleintritt wurden die MB (rezeptiv und produktiv in den Bereichen Flexion, Derivation und Komposition) sowie phon. Informationsverarbeitung, Intelligenz, Buchstabenwissen und Wortschatz erhoben. Am Ende von Klasse 1 wurden Leseflüssigkeit, Leseverständnis und Rechtschreiben erfasst. Ergebnisse: Facetten der rezeptiven und produktiven MB korrelierten insbesondere mit dem Leseverständnis und dem Rechtschreiben. Phon. Bewusstheit im engeren Sinne und Benennungsgeschwindigkeit waren mit allen Lese-Rechtschreibmaßen assoziiert. Als stärkster Prädiktor erwies sich das Buchstabenwissen. Diskussion: Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass die MB Kinder bereits in Klasse 1 im Erwerb schriftsprachlicher Leistungen, die eine Bezugnahme auf die Morphologie des Deutschen erfordern, unterstützt. Zukünftige Studien sollten klären, ob eine stärkere Einbeziehung der MB in die Frühdiagnostik sowie eine frühe Förderung der MB zur Prävention von Lese-Rechtschreibschwierigkeiten beitragen.