bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Durable and High‐Voltage Mn–Graphite Dual‐Ion Battery Using Mn‐Based Hybrid Electrolytes
Authors: Cheng Zhenjie , Dong Qingyu , Pu Guiqiang , Song Junnan , Zhong Wenwu , Wang Jiacheng
Published: January 2024

Rechargeable Mn–metal batteries (MMBs) can attract considerable attention because Mn has the intrinsic merits including high energy density (976 mAh g−1), high air stability, and low toxicity. However, the application of Mn in rechargeable batteries is limited by the lack of proper cathodes for reversible Mn2+ intercalation/de‐intercalation, thus leading to low working voltage (<1.8 V) and poor cycling stability (≤200 cycles). Herein, a high‐voltage and durable MMB with graphite as the cathode is successfully constructed using a LiPF6‐Mn(TFSI)2 hybrid electrolyte, which shows a high discharge voltage of 2.34 V and long‐term stability of up to 1000 cycles. Mn(TFSI)2 can reduce the plating/stripping overpotential of Mn ions, while LiPF6 can efficiently improve the conductivity of the electrolyte. Electrochemical in‐situ characterization implies the dual‐anions intercalation/de‐intercalation at the cathode and Mn2+ plating/stripping reaction at the anode. Theoretical calculations unveil the top site of graphite is the energetically favorable for anions intercalation and TFSI− shows the low migration barrier. This work paves an avenue for designing high‐performance rechargeable MMBs towards electricity storage.
Climate‐ and Technology‐Dependent Performance Loss Rates in a Large Commercial Photovoltaic Monitoring Dataset
Authors: Louwen Atse , Lindig Sascha , Chowdhury Gofran , Moser David
Published: January 2024

Detailed knowledge of the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems over their full lifetime is invaluable for evaluating their profitability and sustainability. PV systems are known to have gradually declining performance; for long‐term yield assessments, typically a performance loss rate (PLR) of −0.5% yr−1is assumed. Herein, monitoring data of thousands of commercial PV systems is evaluated to determine how performance loss trends and PLR values are affected by operational climate, PV module technology, and other parameters. Using performance ratio (PR) measurements from almost 6000 PV systems, the long‐term trends in PR and overall PLR value are evaluated. Subsequently, the relation between climate, performance loss, and PLR for three different climate classification schemes is evaluated. Finally, how long‐term performance loss trends and estimated PLR values differ for PV module technology and other parameters are evaluated. The results show that in general, PV systems that have operated now for at least 3 but up to 25 years show a PLR of roughly −1% yr−1, indicating substantially higher performance loss compared to typical estimates used for new PV systems. Climate by itself does not seem to be the leading factor that determines overall performance loss trends or PLR values in the dataset analyzed.
High vaccination coverage and infection rate result in a robust SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific immunity in the majority of liver cirrhosis and transplant patients: A single‐center cross‐sectional study
Authors: von der Schulenburg P. , Herting A. , Harberts A. , Lütgehetmann M. , Jahnke‐Triankowski J. , Pischke S. , Piecha F. , Drolz A. , Jörg V. , Hübener P. , Wehmeyer M. , Addo M. M. , Fischer L. , Lohse A. W. , Schulze Zur Wiesch J. , Sterneck M.
Published: January 2024

Background

In the third year of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, little is known about the vaccine‐ and infection‐induced immune response in liver transplant recipients (LTR) and liver cirrhosis patients (LCP).

Objective

This cross‐sectional study assessed the vaccination coverage, infection rate, and the resulting humoral and cellular SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific immune responses in a cohort of LTR and LCP at the University Medical Center Hamburg‐Eppendorf, Germany between March and May 2023.

Methods

Clinical and laboratory data from 244 consecutive patients (160 LTR and 84 LCP) were collected via chart review and a patient survey. Immune responses were determined via standard spike(S)‐ and nucleocapsid‐protein serology and a spike‐specific Interferon‐gamma release assay (IGRA).

Results

On average, LTR and LCP were vaccinated 3.7 and 3.3 times, respectively and 59.4% of patients received ≥4 vaccinations. Altogether, 68.1% (109/160) of LTR and 70.2% (59/84) of LCP experienced a SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Most infections occurred during the Omicron wave in 2022 after an average of 3.0 vaccinations. Overall, the hospitalization rate was low (<6%) in both groups. An average of 4.3 antigen contacts by vaccination and/or infection resulted in a seroconversion rate of 98.4%. However, 17.5% (28/160) of LTR and 8.3% (7/84) of LCP demonstrated only low anti‐S titers (<1000 AU/ml), and 24.6% (16/65) of LTR and 20.4% (10/59) of LCP had negative or low IGRA responses. Patients with hybrid immunity (vaccination plus infection) elicited significantly higher anti‐S titers compared with uninfected patients with the same number of spike antigen contacts. A total of 22.2% of patients refused additional booster vaccinations.

Conclusion

By spring 2023, high vaccination coverage and infection rate have resulted in a robust, mostly hybrid, humoral and cellular immune response in most LTR and LCP. However, booster vaccinations with vaccines covering new variants seem advisable, especially in patients with low immune responses and risk factors for severe disease.
A literature review on satellite image time series forecasting: Methods and applications for remote sensing
Authors: Lara‐Alvarez Carlos , Flores Juan J. , Rodriguez‐Rangel Hector , Lopez‐Farias Rodrigo
Published: January 2024

Satellite image time‐series are time series produced from remote sensing images; they generally correspond to features or indicators extracted from those images. With the increasing availability of remote sensing images and new methodologies to process such data, image time‐series methods have been used extensively for assessing temporal pattern detection, monitoring, classification, object detection, and feature estimation. Since the study of time series is broad, this article focuses on analyzing articles related to forecasting the value of one or more attributes of the image time‐series. The image time series forecasting (ITSF) problem appears in different disciplines; most focus on improving the quality of life by harnessing natural resources for sustainable development and minimizing the lethality of dangerous natural phenomena. Scientists tackle these problems using different tools or methods depending on the application. This review analyzes the field's leading, most recent contributions, grouping them by application area and solution methods. Our findings indicate that artificial neural networks, regression trees, support vector regression, and cellular automata are the most common methods for ITSF. Application areas address this problem as renewable energy, agriculture, and land‐use change. This study retrieved and analyzed relevant information about the recent activity of image time series forecasting, generating a reproducible list of the most pertinent articles in the field published from 2009 to 2021. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first review presenting and analyzing a reproducible list of the most relevant state‐of‐the‐art articles focusing on the applications, techniques, and research trends for ITSF.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Spatial and Temporal Data Mining

Technologies > Machine Learning

Technologies > Prediction
Roots of Military Design
Authors: Trew Jason , Zweibelson Ben , Riggs Daniel
Published: January 2024

“Design” is as ambiguous as a concept as it is pervasive as a practice. This chapter takes a “big history” approach to illustrate how humanity has used design, informally and formally, to realize advantages through its strategic use of imaginative, integrative thinking. Indeed, because the nature of design is expediency, skilled practitioners are particularly adept at navigating and nudging complex, “wicked” environments. Since security challenges may be the most complex and consequential of all human endeavors, the discipline of design – including its origin story and recent evolutions – is relevant to modern defense professionals.
Diffusion Enhancement and Taylor Dispersion for Rotationally Symmetric Flows in Discs and Pipes
Authors: Coti Zelati Michele , Dolce Michele , Lo Chia-Chun
Published: January 2024

In this note, we study the long-time dynamics of passive scalars driven by rotationally symmetric flows. We focus on identifying precise conditions on the velocity field in order to prove enhanced dissipation and Taylor dispersion in three-dimensional infinite pipes. As a byproduct of our analysis, we obtain an enhanced decay for circular flows on a disc of arbitrary radius.
Complemental Value of Microstructural and Macrostructural MRI in the Discrimination of Neurodegenerative Parkinson Syndromes
Authors: Schröter Nils , Arnold Philipp G. , Hosp Jonas A , Reisert Marco , Rijntjes Michel , Kellner Elias , Jost Wolfgang H. , Weiller Cornelius , Urbach Horst , Rau Alexander
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Various MRI-based techniques were tested for the differentiation of neurodegenerative Parkinson syndromes (NPS); the value of these techniques in direct comparison and combination is uncertain. We thus compared the diagnostic performance of macrostructural, single compartmental, and multicompartmental MRI in the differentiation of NPS.

Methods

We retrospectively included patients with NPS, including 136 Parkinson’s disease (PD), 41 multiple system atrophy (MSA) and 32 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and 27 healthy controls (HC). Macrostructural tissue probability values (TPV) were obtained by CAT12. The microstructure was assessed using a mesoscopic approach by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), and diffusion microstructure imaging (DMI). After an atlas-based read-out, a linear support vector machine (SVM) was trained on a training set (n = 196) and validated in an independent test cohort (n = 40). The diagnostic performance of the SVM was compared for different inputs individually and in combination.

Results

Regarding the inputs separately, we observed the best diagnostic performance for DMI. Overall, the combination of DMI and TPV performed best and correctly classified 88% of the patients. The corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.87 for HC, 0.97 for PD, 1.0 for MSA, and 0.99 for PSP.

Conclusion

We were able to demonstrate that (1) MRI parameters that approximate the microstructure provided substantial added value over conventional macrostructural imaging, (2) multicompartmental biophysically motivated models performed better than the single compartmental DTI and (3) combining macrostructural and microstructural information classified NPS and HC with satisfactory performance, thus suggesting a complementary value of both approaches.
Hydroxychloroquin – nicht immer ein harmloses Medikament für den Off-label-Gebrauch in der Dermatologie
Authors: Seidel Paloma , Spukti Eva , Steinbrink Kerstin , Metze Dieter , Böhm Markus
Published: January 2024

Hydroxychloroquin wird bei Entzündungserkrankungen eingesetzt und gilt als nebenwirkungsarm. Wir berichten über eine Patientin, die sich mit einem schweren Exanthem nach Einnahme von Hydroxychloroquin vorstellte, das sie im Rahmen eines Lichen planopilaris erhielt. Basierend auf klinischen, laborchemischen und histologischen Befunden, wurde die Diagnose einer DRESS(„drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms“)-artigen Arzneimittelreaktion gestellt. Der Fall illustriert, dass Hydroxychloroquin in seltenen Fällen zu schweren unerwünschten Wirkungen führen kann und Patienten, die dieses Medikament nehmen, sorgfältig aufgeklärt werden müssen.
Evolution of cooperation in the indefinitely repeated collective action with a contest for power
Authors: Rosokha Yaroslav , Lyu Xinxin , Tverskoi Denis , Gavrilets Sergey
Published: January 2024

Social and political inequality among individuals is a common driving force behind the breakdown in cooperation. In this paper, we theoretically and experimentally study cooperation among individuals facing a sequence of collective-action problems in which the benefits of cooperation are divided according to political power that is obtained through a contest. We have three main results. First, we find that cooperation predictably responds to the fundamental parameters of the collective-action problem. Specifically, it is increasing in the benefit to cooperation and how much benefit is gained from partial group cooperation, and decreasing in the number of players. Second, we find that when players are unrestricted in their expenditures in the contest, cooperation is much lower than when expenditures are set to a specific proportion of earnings. Finally, we find that individual norms and beliefs account for a substantial proportion of explained variance in individuals’ decisions to cooperate.
Tumor characteristics of dissociated response to immune checkpoint inhibition in advanced melanoma
Authors: Versluis J. M. , Hoefsmit E. P. , Shehwana H. , Dimitriadis P. , Sanders J. , Broeks A. , Blank C. U.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has improved patients’ outcomes in advanced melanoma, often resulting in durable response. However, not all patients have durable responses and the patients with dissociated response are a valuable subgroup to identify mechanisms of ICI resistance.

Methods

Stage IV melanoma patients treated with ICI and dissociated response were retrospectively screened for available samples containing sufficient tumor at least at two time-points. Included were one patient with metachronous regressive and progressive lesions at the same site, two patients with regressive and novel lesion at different sites, and three patients with regressive and progressive lesions at different sites. In addition, four patients with acquired resistant tumor samples without a matched second sample were included.

Results

In the majority of patients, the progressive tumor lesion contained higher CD8+ T cell counts/mm2 and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) signature level, but similar tumor PD-L1 expression. The tumor mutational burden levels were in 2 out 3 lesions higher compared to the corresponding regressive tumors lesion.

In the acquired tumor lesions, high CD8+/mm2 and relatively high IFNγ signature levels were observed. In one patient in both the B2M and PTEN gene a stop gaining mutation and in another patient a pathogenic POLE mutation were found.

Conclusion

Intrapatient comparison of progressive versus regressive lesions indicates no defect in tumor T cell infiltration, and in general no tumor immune exclusion were observed.
Unexpected chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cell activation by bisphosphonates
Authors: Mazzarello Andrea N. , Gugiatti Elena , Cossu Vanessa , Bertola Nadia , Bagnara Davide , Carta Sonia , Ravera Silvia , Salvetti Chiara , Ibatici Adalberto , Ghiotto Fabio , Colombo Monica , Cutrona Giovanna , Marini Cecilia , Sambuceti Gianmario , Fais Franco , Bruno Silvia
Published: January 2024

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of the elderly, often presenting comorbidities like osteoporosis and requiring, in a relevant proportion of cases, treatment with bisphosphonates (BPs). This class of drugs was shown in preclinical investigations to also possess anticancer properties. We started an in vitro study of the effects of BPs on CLL B cells activated by microenvironment-mimicking stimuli and observed that, depending on drug concentration, hormetic effects were induced on the leukemic cells. Higher doses induced cytotoxicity whereas at lower concentrations, more likely occurring in vivo, the drugs generated a protective effect from spontaneous and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, and augmented CLL B cell activation/proliferation. This CLL-activation effect promoted by the BPs was associated with markers of poor CLL prognosis and required the presence of bystander stromal cells. Functional experiments suggested that this phenomenon involves the release of soluble factors and is increased by cellular contact between stroma and CLL B cells. Since CLL patients often present comorbidities such as osteoporosis and considering the diverse outcomes in both CLL disease progression and CLL response to treatment among patients, illustrating this phenomenon holds potential significance in driving additional investigations.
Secondary central nervous system involvement in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab combined CHOP therapy – a supplementary analysis of JCOG0601
Authors: Shimada Kazuyuki , Ohmachi Ken , Machida Ryunosuke , Ota Shuichi , Itamura Hidekazu , Tsujimura Hideki , Takayama Nobuyuki , Shimada Takaki , Kurosawa Mitsutoshi , Tabayashi Takayuki , Shimoyama Tatsu , Ohshima Koichi , Miyazaki Kana , Maruyama Dai , Kinoshita Tomohiro , Ando Kiyoshi , Hotta Tomomitsu , Tsukasaki Kunihiro , Nagai Hirokazu
Published: January 2024

Secondary central nervous system involvement (sCNSi) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is fatal. However, its features in patients with sCNSi who are categorized as lower risk by international prognostic index (IPI) or CNS-IPI are not yet fully understood. In the present analysis, we evaluated DLBCL patients who developed sCNSi at their first progression and who participated in JCOG0601, most of whom were lower risk by IPI. Of 409 patients, 21 (5.1%) developed sCNSi during a median follow-up of 4.9 years. Five-year cumulative incidence of sCNSi were 5.1%; and 4.0%, 5.3%, and 11.5% at low, intermediate, and high risk of CNS-IPI, respectively. The most common locations of extranodal lesions at the time of registration in patients with sCNSi were the stomach (n = 4), paranasal cavity (n = 3), and bone marrow (n = 2). In univariable analysis, paranasal cavity lesion was a high-risk factor for sCNSi (subdistribution hazard ratio, 4.34 [95% confidence interval 1.28–14.73]). Median overall survival after sCNSi was 1.3 years, with a 2-year overall survival rate of 39.3%. The incidence of sCNSi in DLBCL patients at lower risk of CNS-IPI was low, as previously reported, but paranasal cavity lesion might indicate high risk for organ involvement.

Clinical trial registration

JCOG0601 was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000000929, date of registration; December 04, 2007) and the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031180139, date of registration; February 20, 2019).
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold and risk of rickets in young children: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis to inform the development of dietary requirements for vitamin D
Authors: Rios-Leyvraz Magali , Thacher Tom D. , Dabas Aashima , Elsedfy Heba Hassan , Baroncelli Giampiero I. , Cashman Kevin D.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The objective of this systematic review was to determine a minimum serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) threshold based on the risk of having rickets in young children. This work was commissioned by the WHO and FAO within the framework of the update of the vitamin D requirements for children 0–3 years old.

Methods

A systematic search of Embase was conducted to identify studies involving children below  4 years of age with serum 25OHD levels and radiologically confirmed rickets, without any restriction related to the geographical location or language. Study-level and individual participant data (IPD)-level random effects multi-level meta-analyses were conducted. The odds, sensitivity and specificity for rickets at different serum 25OHD thresholds were calculated for all children as well as for children with adequate calcium intakes only.

Results

A total of 120 studies with 5412 participants were included. At the study-level, children with rickets had a mean serum 25OHD of 23 nmol/L (95% CI 19–27). At the IPD level, children with rickets had a median and mean serum 25OHD of 23 and 29 nmol/L, respectively. More than half (55%) of the children with rickets had serum 25OHD below 25 nmol/L, 62% below 30 nmol/L, and 79% below 40 nmol/L. Analysis of odds, sensitivities and specificities for nutritional rickets at different serum 25OHD thresholds suggested a minimal risk threshold of around 28 nmol/L for children with adequate calcium intakes and 40 nmol/L for children with low calcium intakes.

Conclusion

This systematic review and IPD meta-analysis suggests that from a public health perspective and to inform the development of dietary requirements for vitamin D, a minimum serum 25OHD threshold of around 28 nmol/L and above would represent a low risk of nutritional rickets for the majority of children with an adequate calcium intake.
Perioperatives Management bei der Versorgung mit aktiven Rhythmusimplantaten
Authors: Krieger Konstantin , Park Innu , Althoff Till , Busch Sonia , Chun K. R. Julian , Estner Heidi , Iden Leon , Maurer Tilman , Rillig Andreas , Sommer Philipp , Steven Daniel , Tilz Roland , Duncker David
Published: January 2024

Die Implantation aktiver Herzrhythmusimplantate („cardiovascular implantable electronic device“, CIED) stellt einen relevanten Teil der modernen Kardiologie dar, und eine sorgfältige perioperative Planung dieser Eingriffe ist notwendig. Präoperativ müssen alle Informationen vorliegen, die für die Indikation, den Eingriff und die Aufklärung relevant sind. Dies stellt die Basis für eine adäquate Geräteauswahl dar. Von entscheidender Bedeutung ist die Vorbeugung von Infektionen, u. a. durch die präoperative Gabe von Antibiotika und den perioperativen Umgang mit der Antikoagulation. Nach erfolgter Operation sind eine postoperative Überwachung, Systemkontrolle und apparative Diagnostik vor der Entlassung erforderlich. Die zunehmende Ambulantisierung erfordert eine Anpassung dieser Prozesse. Die vorliegende Übersichtsarbeit fasst das perioperative Management anhand praktischer Überlegungen zusammen.
Metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease: mere consequence or also culprit?
Authors: Kuhn Christian , Mohebbi Nilufar , Ritter Alexander
Published: January 2024

Metabolic acidosis is a frequent complication in non-transplant chronic kidney disease (CKD) and after kidney transplantation. It occurs when net endogenous acid production exceeds net acid excretion. While nephron loss with reduced ammoniagenesis is the main cause of acid retention in non-transplant CKD patients, additional pathophysiological mechanisms are likely inflicted in kidney transplant recipients. Functional tubular damage by calcineurin inhibitors seems to play a key role causing renal tubular acidosis. Notably, experimental and clinical studies over the past decades have provided evidence that metabolic acidosis may not only be a consequence of CKD but also a driver of disease. In metabolic acidosis, activation of hormonal systems and the complement system resulting in fibrosis have been described. Further studies of changes in renal metabolism will likely contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of metabolic acidosis in CKD. While alkali supplementation in case of reduced serum bicarbonate < 22 mmol/l has been endorsed by CKD guidelines for many years to slow renal functional decline, among other considerations, beneficial effects and thresholds for treatment have lately been under intense debate. This review article discusses this topic in light of the most recent results of trials assessing the efficacy of dietary and pharmacological interventions in CKD and kidney transplant patients.
Bioinformatics analysis of GPS1 expression and biological function in breast cancer
Authors: Wei Hong , Niu Zhaocan , Ji Ruixue , Jiang Wenwen , Tang Jiawei , Meng Zhexuan , Cao Xiaoyang , Zhang Xinyi , Liu Xue
Published: January 2024

G protein pathway suppressor 1 (GPS1) is involved in the development of many diseases including tumors, but its specific regulatory mechanism in breast cancer is not clear. The goal of the present study was to explore the biological effects and underlying mechanism of GPS1 in breast cancer. Public databases were used to analyze GPS1 expression and the relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer patients, combined with in vitro experiments to analyze the mechanism of action and immune relevance of GPS1 in breast cancer. Data analysis showed that the expression of GPS1 in breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (p < 0.001), and the receiver operating curve (ROC) revealed a higher diagnostic efficiency (AUC = 0.832). Survival analyses indicated that patients with high GPS1 expression made the prognosis worse in Luminal B, low to intermediate-grade breast cancers. Enrichment analysis showed that GPS1 was involved in the formation of ribonucleoprotein complexes, which dynamically altered the fate of RNA; it could also enhance the responsiveness of the Wnt pathway by interacting with WBP2. In addition, GPS1 expression was closely related to the immune microenvironment. GPS1 knockdown inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro. This study suggests that the upregulation of GPS1 is associated with the malignant biological behavior and prognosis of breast cancer and may promote cancer progression. The correlation between GPS1 and the immune microenvironment suggests that it may be a potential target for immunotherapy.
Hydrochemical stratigraphic analysis of the filling of the Meirama mine shaft I: monitoring and filling
Authors: Juncosa Ricardo , Delgado Jorge , Cereijo José Luis
Published: January 2024

The application of an old open-pit lignite mine as an auxiliary reservoir for the supply of the city of La Coruña has involved a detailed analysis of the chemical quality of the vertical profile. The study has shown that a stratified lake is formed where the shape of the filling (first with groundwater and later surface waters from the nearby rivers were added) has influenced the formation of the lake profile. The Meirama mine is an open-pit brown lignite mine located in NW Spain. Exploitation ended in March 2008, leaving a pit of approximately 146 hm3 with a maximum depth of 205 m. The rehabilitation of the pit consisted of the creation of a lake that will serve as an auxiliary water reservoir for the city of La Coruña. The filling process lasted approximately 8 years (March 2008–May 2016) with subterranean and surface contributions from the environment. The formation of an invariant chemocline and a seasonal thermocline was observed. Therefore, in this work, (the first of a series of two articles), an analysis of the evolution of various physicochemical parameters, elements, and compounds at certain heights (the surface, the first 2 m (2 mbs), at 59 masl, and at the bottom (2 masl)). In this first article, the physicochemical parameters of pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and some metallic elements (iron and manganese) are analysed. From the analyzed parameters it can be seen the creation of a surface thermocline and a chemocline at a depth of 59 masl with the beginning of the formation of anoxic conditions of the bottom of the pit through the consumption of oxygen.
Contractor selection by using multi-criteria decision-making for Egyptian road maintenance
Authors: Fawzy Mohamed Mahmoud , Elsharkawy Ahmed Shawky , Khalifa Yasser Aly , hassan Abbas Atef
Published: January 2024

Egypt has witnessed a revolution in all fields and the establishment of giant projects, which require the selection of the appropriate contractor for their implementation. The major factor for evaluating contractors is the tender price of the project. The lowest price is not always a guarantee of the quality or time of a building project. Recently, there has been a shift away from the “lowest-price-wins” concept and a subjective judgment towards multi-criteria decision-making of selecting the project's contractors aiming to help owners in making decisions. The manuscript presents a multi-criteria decision-making strategy to optimize the selection of contractors for construction projects. The calculation of this strategy is divided into two phases. The first phase is designed to identify contractor prequalification criteria and utilize the AHP approach based on current Egyptian practice to calculate their weight. The second phase provides two techniques: (1) technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and (2) vlsekriterijumska optimization I kompromisno resenje (VIKOR) to optimize the selection of the available contractors for construction projects. Contractor 2 has the highest prices and lower values in technical capability, economic status, and management capability, it emerges as the top-ranked contractor in both methods due to its exceptional expertise and safety standards. These elevated levels of expertise and safety, coupled with the higher weights assigned by decision-makers to these criteria, contribute significantly to Contractor 2's superior ranking. A real-life case study improvement and refurbishment project is examined to demonstrate the value and highlight capabilities.
A Deep Ensemble Approach for Long-Term Traffic Flow Prediction
Authors: Cini Nevin , Aydin Zafer
Published: January 2024

In the last 50 years, with the growth of cities and increase in the number of vehicles and mobility, traffic has become troublesome. As a result, traffic flow prediction started to attract attention as an important research area. However, despite the extensive literature, traffic flow prediction still remains as an open research problem, specifically for long-term traffic flow prediction. Compared to the models developed for short-term traffic flow prediction, the number of models developed for long-term traffic flow prediction is very few. Based on this shortcoming, in this study, we focus on long-term traffic flow prediction and propose a novel deep ensemble model (DEM). In order to build this ensemble model, first, we developed a convolutional neural network (CNN), a long short-term memory (LSTM) network and a gated recurrent unit (GRU) network as deep learning models, which formed the base learners. In the next step, we combine the output of these models according to their individual forecasting success. We use another deep learning model to determine the success of the individual models. Our proposed model is a flexible ensemble prediction model that can be updated based on traffic data. To evaluate the performance of the proposed model, we use a publicly available dataset. Experimental results show that the developed DEM model has a mean square error of 0.06 and a mean absolute error of 0.15 for single-step prediction; it shows that achieves a mean square error of 0.25 and a mean absolute error of 0.32 for multi-step prediction. We compared our proposed model with many models in different categories; individual deep learning models (i.e., LSTM, CNN, GRU), selected traditional machine learning models (i.e., linear regression, decision tree regression, k-nearest-neighbors regression) and other ensemble models such as random-forest regression. These results also support the claim that ensemble learning models perform better than individual models.
Numerical and experimental assessment of liquid metal embrittlement in externally loaded spot welds
Authors: Prabitz Konstantin Manuel , Antretter Thomas , Rethmeier Michael , El-Sari Bassel , Schubert Holger , Hilpert Benjamin , Gruber Martin , Sierlinger Robert , Ecker Werner
Published: January 2024

Zinc-based surface coatings are widely applied with high-strength steels in automotive industry. Some of these base materials show an increased brittle cracking risk during loading. It is necessary to examine electrogalvanized and uncoated samples of a high strength steel susceptible to liquid metal embrittlement during spot welding with applied external load. Therefore, a newly developed tensile test method with a simultaneously applied spot weld is conducted. A fully coupled 3D electrical, thermal, metallurgical and mechanical finite element model depicting the resistant spot welding process combined with the tensile test conducted is mandatory to correct geometric influences of the sample geometry and provides insights into the sample’s time dependent local loading. With increasing external loads, the morphology of the brittle cracks formed is affected more than the crack depth. The validated finite element model applies newly developed damage indicators to predict and explain the liquid metal embrittlement cracking onset and development as well as even ductile failure.
MR imaging characterization of pheochromocytoma: a comparison between typical and atypical tumor lesions
Authors: Maurea Simone , Attanasio Ludovica , Galatola Roberta , Romeo Valeria , Stanzione Arnaldo , Camera Luigi , Klain Michele , Simeoli Chiara , Modica Roberta , Mascolo Massimo , Aprea Giovanni , Musella Mario , Brunetti Arturo
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the MRI features between typical and atypical pheochromocytomas (Pheos) to specifically illustrate MRI features of atypical tumors for helping tumor diagnosis.

Methods

A total of 22 patients (14 women and 8 men, median age: 53 years, age range: 25–82 years) with Pheos evaluated using a 3 T MRI scanner were retrospectively collected; in particular, all patients had one tumor lesion, except in two cases who had two and three lesions, respectively, for a total of 25 tumor lesions.

Results

Of the total 25 tumor lesions included in our series, 12 lesions were classified as typical for their classical appearance on MRI (T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, no signal drop on T1 out-of-phase, restricted diffusion and persistent contrast enhancement). Conversely, the other 13 tumors were classified as having atypical lesions because they did not show the MRI features observed in typical Pheos; in particular, 3 lesions showed signal intensity suggestive of tumor hemorrhagic changes, 2 lesions were totally cystic with an internal fluid–fluid level and a thin capsula, 3 lesions showed predominantly cystic signal intensity with residual solid tissue in the peripheral capsula, and the remaining 5 lesions appeared as rounded partially cystic lesions with associated areas of solid tissue.

Conclusion

The imaging characterization of typical Pheos may be performed using MRI with specific imaging features; however, atypical Pheos represents a diagnostic challenge using MRI; in these tumors, cystic, necrotic, hemorrhagic, or fat changes may occur; thus, diagnostic pitfalls should be taken into consideration for MRI interpretation of such tumor type in clinical practice.
Comparison of the cost-effectiveness of sequential treatment with abaloparatide in US men and women at very high risk of fractures
Authors: Hiligsmann Mickael , Silverman Stuart L. , Singer Andrea J. , Pearman Leny , Wang Yamei , Caminis John , Reginster Jean-Yves
Published: January 2024

Background

Osteoporotic-related fractures represent an increasing burden to patients, health care systems and society.

Aims

This study estimated cost-effectiveness of sequential treatment with abaloparatide (ABL) followed by alendronate (ALN) compared to relevant alternative strategies in US men and women aged 50 to 80 years at very high fracture risk (bone mineral density T-score ≤  − 2.5 and a recent fracture).

Methods

A lifetime Markov-based microsimulation model was used to estimate healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Comparators were sequential treatment with unbranded teriparatide (TPTD)/ALN, generic ALN monotherapy, and no treatment. Analyses were conducted based on initial fracture site (hip, vertebral, or any fracture) and treatment efficacy data (derived from clinical trials or a recent network meta-analysis).

Results

From all analyses completed, sequential ABL/ALN demonstrated more QALYs for lower healthcare costs versus unbranded TPTD/ALN. No treatment was dominated (higher costs for less QALYs) versus ALN monotherapy. Sequential ABL/ALN resulted in favorable cost-effectiveness (at US threshold of $150,000/QALY) versus generic ALN monotherapy in men aged ≥ 50 years with any fracture type, women aged ≥ 65 years with any fracture type, and women aged ≥ 55 years having a hip or vertebral fracture.

Discussion

Similar cost-effectiveness of sequential ABL/ALN versus unbranded TPTD/ALN, ALN monotherapy, and no treatment was observed in both US men and women at very high fracture risk, with a moderate improvement in cost-effectiveness in men versus women and in patients with a hip or vertebral fracture.

Conclusions

Sequential therapy with ABL/ALN was cost-effective in US men and women at very high risk of fractures.
A Framework for Protecting and Promoting Employee Mental Health through Supervisor Supportive Behaviors
Authors: Hammer Leslie B. , Dimoff Jennifer , Mohr Cynthia D. , Allen Shalene J.
Published: January 2024

The attention to workplace mental health is timely given extreme levels of burnout, anxiety, depression and trauma experienced by workers due to serious extraorganizational stressors – the COVID-19 pandemic, threats to climate change, and extreme social and political unrest. Workplace-based risk factors, such as high stress and low support, are contributing factors to poor mental health and suicidality (Choi, 2018; Milner et al., 2013, 2018), just as low levels of social connectedness and belonging are established risk factors for poor mental health (Joiner et al., 2009), suggesting that social support at work (e.g., from supervisors) may be a key approach to protecting and promoting employee mental health. Social connections provide numerous benefits for health outcomes and are as, or more, important to mortality as other well-known health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption (Holt-Lundstad et al., 2015), and can serve as a resource or buffer against the deleterious effects of stress or strain on psychological health (Cohen & Wills, 1985). This manuscript provides an evidence-based framework for understanding how supervisor supportive behaviors can serve to protect employees against psychosocial workplace risk factors and promote social connection and belongingness protective factors related to employee mental health. We identify six theoretically-based Mental Health Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (MHSSB; i.e., emotional support, practical support, role modeling, reducing stigma, warning sign recognition, warning sign response) that can be enacted and used by supervisors and managers to protect and promote the mental health of employees. A brief overview of mental health, mental disorders, and workplace mental health is provided. This is followed by the theoretical grounding and introduction of MHSSB. Suggestions for future research and practice follow, all with the focus of developing a better understanding of the role of supervisors in protecting and promoting employee mental health in the workplace.
Wish You Were Here? The Economic Impact of the Tourism Shutdown from Australia’s 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ Bushfires
Authors: Reiner Vivienne , Pathirana Navoda Liyana , Sun Ya-Yen , Lenzen Manfred , Malik Arunima
Published: January 2024

Tourism, including education-related travel, is one of Australia’s top exports and generates substantial economic stimulus from Australians travelling in their own country, attracting visitors to diverse areas including World Heritage rainforests, picturesque beachside villages, winery townships and endemic wildlife. The globally unprecedented 2019-20 bushfires burned worst in some of these pristine tourist areas. The fires resulted in tourism shutting down in many parts of the country over the peak tourist season leading up to Christmas and into the New Year, and tourism dropped in many areas not physically affected by the fires. Our research quantified the cost of the short-term shock from tourism losses across the entire supply chain using input-output (IO) analysis, which is the most common method for disaster analysis; to this end, we also developed a framework for disaggregating the direct fire damages in different tourism sectors from which to quantify the impacts, because after the fires, the economy was affected by COVID-19. We calculated losses of AU$2.8 billion in total output, $1.56 billion in final demand, $810 million in income and 7300 jobs. Our estimates suggest aviation shouldered the most losses in both consumption and wages/salaries, but that accommodation suffered the most employment losses. The comprehensive analysis highlighted impacts throughout the nation, which could be used for budgeting and rebuilding in community-and-industry hotspots that may be far from the burn scar.
Gravitational Influence on a Nonlocal Thermoelastic Solid with a Heat Source via L–S Theory
Authors: Said Samia M.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose is to obtain precise expressions of physical fields using the appropriate non-dimensional variables and normal mode analysis.

Methods

Based on the Lord–Shulman (L-S) theory and taking into account gravitational influences as well as temperature-dependent features, the fundamental equations for a nonlocal thermoelastic solid are developed.

Results

When a nonlocal thermoelastic media is swapped out for a thermoelastic one, this approach still holds true. Comparisons are done between the outcomes obtained and those expected for various nonlocal parameter values and for an empirical material constant. Additionally, comparisons are done between the outcomes for various gravity field values.

Conclusion

The nonlocal parameter plays a big part in how the physical fields are distributed. The distributions of the physical fields are significantly influenced by the gravity field.
Predicting cardiac arrest after neonatal cardiac surgery
Authors: Benscoter Alexis L. , Law Mark A. , Borasino Santiago , Rahman A. K. M. Fazlur , Alten Jeffrey A. , Atreya Mihir R.
Published: January 2024

Objective

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) following cardiac surgery is a rare but consequential event with detrimental effects on patient outcomes, including morbidity, mortality, and long-term neurologic outcomes. Neonatal patients are the most vulnerable population. We aimed to create a model to identify neonates at the highest risk of suffering IHCA early in their postoperative course using readily available candidate physiologic and laboratory variables.

Methods

Single-center, retrospective cohort.

Results

Of 118 postoperative neonates, IHCA occurred within 48 h in 10% of the cohort (n = 12). Multiple strategies were employed in the development of a risk prediction model for IHCA. The best performing model contained vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) at 2 h after admission, admission lactate level, and change in VIS from admission to 2 h post-admission. The model characteristics were training mode—area under the receiving operating curve (AUROC) 0.99 (95% CI 0.99–1.00), sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 98.1%; test model—AUROC 0.92 (95% CI 0.76–1.00), sensitivity 75.0%, specificity 97.2%.

Conclusion

We derived a risk prediction model for neonatal IHCA after congenital heart surgery that is simple and capable of predicting early IHCA within 2 h of postoperative admission to the cardiac intensive care unit. Pending external validation, our model may be used to identify neonates who may benefit from targeted interventions and prevent IHCA after cardiac surgery.
Pine-like elastic metamaterials for urban seismic Rayleigh wave attenuation
Authors: Chen Zhenyu , Wang Guifeng , Lim C. W. , Guo Tong
Published: January 2024

Preventing urban regions from seismic wave destruction is of paramount significance because it is closely related to urban lifeline and prosperity of cities. Almost all conventional seismic resistance approaches rely on the stiffness and strength of buildings, which require excessive structural components with additional self-weights. In this study, we propose a pine-like seismic metamaterial for efficient attenuation of surface Rayleigh waves. The pine arrays in suburban regions demonstrate an ability to convert Rayleigh waves to shear bulk waves or attenuate waves on the surface via local resonation. This property originates from a gradient design of pine arrays, where a scale ratio is defined to tune the geometric properties of each pine unit. Specifically, a gradient pine array with a scale ratio smaller than one can interact with the Rayleigh waves and convert them to shear waves that propagate deep to underground. The transmission ratio of the entire system indicates a broadband wave attenuation at subwavelength scale. It reveals that the pine is able to couple with a certain elastic Rayleigh wave whose wavelength is much larger than the lattice constant, which is rarely achieved in any conventional civil engineering structures such as open trench barriers and filled trench barriers. Additionally, a numerical model of an urban region and suburban pine array is established and analyzed. Infrastructures and structures in a city that suffer direct Rayleigh wave interference run into a high risk of structural destruction as compared to urban structures protected with suburban metamaterial pine arrays. Finally, two real earthquake wave signals are used to validate the efficiency of the pine arrays in dissipating earthquake energy. The approach in this paper can be extended to deal with more complex naturally available structures for examining the elastic wave attenuation abilities of these novel structures.
Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake
Authors: Huang Lily , Huschka Todd R. , Barwise Amelia K. , Allen Jay-Sheree P. , Wolfersteig Wendy , Hamm Kathryn , Cardenas Lilliana D. , Phelan Sean M. , Allyse Megan A.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Assessing perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines is essential for understanding vaccine hesitancy and for improving uptake during public health emergencies. In the complicated landscape of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rampant misinformation, many individuals faced challenges during vaccination decision-making. The purpose of our mixed methods study is to elucidate factors affecting vaccine decision-making and to highlight the discourse surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines in diverse and underserved communities.

Methods:

This mixed methods study was conducted in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin between March and November 2021, combining a cross-sectional survey (n = 3593) and focus groups (n = 47).

Results:

The groups least likely to report receiving a vaccination were non-Hispanic Whites, Indigenous people, males, and those with moderate socioeconomic status (SES). Those indicating high and low SES reported similar vaccination uptake. Focus group data highlighted resistance to mandates, distrust, misinformation, and concerns about the rapid development surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. Psychological reactance theory posits that strongly persuasive messaging and social pressure can be perceived as a threat to freedom, encouraging an individual to take action to restore that freedom.

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate that a subsection of participants felt pressured to get the vaccine, which led to weaker intentions to vaccinate. These results suggest that vaccine rollout strategies should be reevaluated to improve and facilitate informed decision-making.