bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional outcomes after transoral CO2 laser treatment for posterior glottic stenosis: a bicentric case series
Authors: Filauro Marta , Missale Francesco , Vallin Alberto , Mora Francesco , Marrosu Valeria , Carta Filippo , Puxeddu Roberto , Peretti Giorgio
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate functional outcomes in terms of decannulation rate and quality of life of patients affected by PGS (Grades I–IV) treated only by transoral CO2 laser microsurgery (TOLMS) in two tertiary centers.

Methods

An observational retrospective study was carried out, enrolling 22 patients affected by PGS who were treated by a transoral approach at two tertiary referral centers. Surgical treatment included TOLMS with tailored laser resection of the scar tissue combined with posterior cordotomy, resurfacing of the raw area with mucosal microflap, or placement of a Montgomery T-tube or Keel stent. All patients were evaluated and staged preoperatively and postoperatively, at least 6 months after the surgery. Functional outcomes were objectively evaluated by the Airway-Dysphonia-Voice-Swallowing (ADVS) staging system, Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30), and Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) questionnaires.

Results

Quality of life significantly improved as measured by the VHI-30 questionnaire with a median variation of − 31.0 (p = 0.003), the EAT-10 with a median variation of − 4.0 (p = 0.042), and the ADVS with a median variation of − 3.5 (p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in swallowing scores. We were able to decannulate 7 of 9 patients (almost 80%) with previous tracheotomy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, even if there is still no general agreement on an exact therapeutic algorithm to treat PGS, our results confirm that transoral surgery, in terms of scar tissue removal, combined in selected patients with posterior cordotomy and pedicled local flaps and/or placement of stents, represents a safe and effective surgical approach even for more severe PGS.
Tropical Geometric Variation of Tree Shapes
Authors: Lin Bo , Monod Anthea , Yoshida Ruriko
Published: July 2022

We study the behavior of phylogenetic tree shapes in the tropical geometric interpretation of tree space. Tree shapes are formally referred to as tree topologies; a tree topology can also be thought of as a tree combinatorial type, which is given by the tree’s branching configuration and leaf labeling. We use the tropical line segment as a framework to define notions of variance as well as invariance of tree topologies: we provide a combinatorial search theorem that describes all tree topologies occurring along a tropical line segment, as well as a setting under which tree topologies do not change along a tropical line segment. Our study is motivated by comparison to the moduli space endowed with a geodesic metric proposed by Billera, Holmes, and Vogtmann (referred to as BHV space); we consider the tropical geometric setting as an alternative framework to BHV space for sets of phylogenetic trees. We give an algorithm to compute tropical line segments which is lower in computational complexity than the fastest method currently available for BHV geodesics and show that its trajectory behaves more subtly: while the BHV geodesic traverses the origin for vastly different tree topologies, the tropical line segment bypasses it.
Care process optimization in a cardiovascular hospital: an integration of simulation–optimization and data mining
Authors: Vali Masoumeh , Salimifard Khodakaram , Gandomi Amir H. , Chaussalet Thierry J.
Published: July 2022

To provide health services, hospitals consume electrical power and contribute to the CO2 emission. This paper aims to develop a modelling approach to optimize hospital services while reducing CO2 emissions. To capture treatment processes and the production of carbon dioxide, a hybrid method of data mining and simulation–optimization techniques is proposed. Different clustering algorithms are used to categorize patients. Using quality indicators, clustering methods are evaluated to find the best cluster sets, and then patients are categorized accordingly. Discrete-event simulation is applied to each patient category to estimate performance measures such as number of patients being served, waiting times, and length of stay, as well as the amount of CO2 emission. To optimize performance measures of patient flow, metaheuristic searches have been used. The dataset of Bushehr Heart Hospital is considered as a case study. Based on K-means, K-medoid, Hierarchical clustering, and Fuzzy C-means clustering methods, patients are categorized into two groups of high-risk and low-risk patients. The number of patients being served, total waiting time, length of stay, and CO2 emitted during care processes are improved for both groups. The proposed hybrid method is an effective method for hospitals to categorize patients based on care processes. The problems and the proposed solution approach reported in this study could be applicable to other hospitals, worldwide to help both optimize the patient flow and minimize the environmental consequences of care services.
Recent advancement of flow-induced piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting techniques: principles, structures, and nonlinear designs
Authors: Cao Dongxing , Wang Junru , Guo Xiangying , Lai S. K. , Shen Yongjun
Published: July 2022

Energy harvesting induced from flowing fluids (e.g., air and water flows) is a well-known process, which can be regarded as a sustainable and renewable energy source. In addition to traditional high-efficiency devices (e.g., turbines and watermills), the micro-power extracting technologies based on the flow-induced vibration (FIV) effect have sparked great concerns by virtue of their prospective applications as a self-power source for the microelectronic devices in recent years. This article aims to conduct a comprehensive review for the FIV working principle and their potential applications for energy harvesting. First, various classifications of the FIV effect for energy harvesting are briefly introduced, such as vortex-induced vibration (VIV), galloping, flutter, and wake-induced vibration (WIV). Next, the development of FIV energy harvesting techniques is reviewed to discuss the research works in the past three years. The application of hybrid FIV energy harvesting techniques that can enhance the harvesting performance is also presented. Furthermore, the nonlinear designs of FIV-based energy harvesters are reported in this study, e.g., multi-stability and limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) phenomena. Moreover, advanced FIV-based energy harvesting studies for fluid engineering applications are briefly mentioned. Finally, conclusions and future outlook are summarized.
Myocardial deformation indices for detection of the functional significance of intermediate left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis: FFR guided study
Authors: Shereef Ahmed Shawky , Mosbah Suaad Abdallah Ali , Ghoniem Salwa Mohamed , Shehata Islam Elsayed
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of non-invasive resting myocardial deformation indices in identifying functional significance of intermediate stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Patients with 50–70% LAD stenosis upon coronary angiography were enrolled and divided into group I with fractional flow reserve (FFR) > 0.8 and group II with FFR ≤ 0.8. Patients were subjected to conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography with measurement of myocardial deformation indices including regional peak longitudinal strain (PLS), global longitudinal strain (GLS), Post-systolic strain index (PSI), and time interval between Aortic valve closure (AVC) and PLS. The current study included 200 patients. Group II patients had significantly lower absolute mean values of regional (PLS) and (GLS) compared to group I (− 14.98 ± 5.05 and − 18.73 ± 3.92 vs. − 17.59 ± 3.62 and − 19.20 ± 2.61, p = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). The FFR values of LAD correlated significantly and negatively with the time interval between AVC and regional PLS (r = − 0.201, p = 0.004) as well as PSI (r = − 0.257, p < 0.001). For identifying cases with FFR ≤ 0.8, the optimal cut-off value of the time interval between AVC and PLS was 76 ms with 77.8% sensitivity and 93.8% specificity. The best cut-off value of PSI was 13%, yielding 50% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity. In patients with intermediate 50–70% LAD coronary artery stenotic lesions, the PSI and the duration between AVC and regional PLS enabled the identification of functionally significant lesions with reasonable diagnostic accuracy.

Trial registration ZU-IRB#3199-20-11-2015 Registered 20 November 2015, IRB_123@medicine.zu.edu.eg.
The Extent and Nature of Autistic People’s Violence Experiences During Adulthood: A Cross-sectional Study of Victimisation
Authors: Gibbs Vicki , Hudson Jennie , Pellicano Elizabeth
Published: July 2022

This study investigated the extent and nature of violence experiences reported by autistic adults. Autistic (n = 118) and non-autistic (n = 110) adults completed a questionnaire about their experiences of sexual harassment, stalking and harassment, sexual violence and physical violence since the age of 15. Autistic adults reported higher rates of all violence types, multiple forms of violence and repeated instances of the same type of violence. Typical gender differences in the patterns of violence (more physical violence reported by men and more sexual violence reported by women) were apparent in the non-autistic but not the autistic group. Findings add to the limited research in this area and highlight the need to identify risk and protective factors. Policy and practice implications are also discussed.
Forging a New World Order? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Management of Metalworking and Ideological Change in the Late Bronze Age Carpathian Basin
Authors: Orfanou V. , Amicone S. , Sava V. , O’Neill B. , Brown L. E. F. , Bruyère C. , Molloy B. P. C.
Published: July 2022

The Carpathian Basin was a highly influential centre of metalworking in the 2nd mil. BC. Nevertheless, despite the abundance of metal objects from the Late Bronze Age, the scarcity of contextually associated metalworking remains representing distinct phases of the metalworking cycle from this region is striking. Here, we explore Late Bronze Age metalworking through the lens of a uniquely complete metalworking assemblage from the site of Șagu from contexts spanning the sixteenth to early thirteenth century BC. This material provides insights into changes in craft organisation following socio-political change after the collapse of Middle Bronze Age tell-centred communities. Our approach combines analytical and experimental data together with contextual analysis of technical ceramics (crucible, mould, and furnace fragments) to reconstruct the metalworking chaîne opératoire and place Șagu in its broader cultural context. Analyses demonstrate clear technological choices in ceramic paste recipes and strong interlinkages between metallurgy and other crafts practised on site, from domestic pottery production to building structures. Experimental replications reveal important intrinsic and experiential aspects of metallurgical activities at Șagu. Evidence on the spatial organisation of metallurgical workflows (routine sequence of actions and decisions) suggests they incorporated a high degree of visibility, which marks a distinct change in the use of craft space compared to the context of densely occupied Middle Bronze Age tells nearby. Combined, our archaeometric, experimental, and contextual results illustrate how changes in metalworking activities in the Late Bronze Age Carpathian Basin were deeply embedded in an ideological shift in the aftermath of the breakdown of Middle Bronze Age tells and the emergence of new social structures.
Conditioning of a Hybrid High-Order Scheme on Meshes with Small Faces
Authors: Badia Santiago , Droniou Jérôme , Yemm Liam
Published: July 2022

We conduct a condition number analysis of a Hybrid High-Order (HHO) scheme for the Poisson problem. We find the condition number of the statically condensed system to be independent of the number of faces in each element, or the relative size between an element and its faces. The dependence of the condition number on the polynomial degree is tracked. Next, we consider HHO schemes on cut background meshes, which are commonly used in unfitted discretisations. It is well known that the linear systems obtained on these meshes can be arbitrarily ill-conditioned due to the presence of sliver-cut and small-cut elements. We show that the condition number arising from HHO schemes on such meshes is not as negatively effected as those arising from conforming methods. We describe how the condition number can be improved by aggregating ill-conditioned elements with their neighbours.
Sulfate Protonation in Sodium Chloride and Sodium Perchlorate Media
Authors: Vielma Tuomas , Hefter Glenn
Published: July 2022

The equilibrium (association) constant, KA, for the first protonation of the sulfate ion in aqueous solution: [H+(aq) + $${\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - }$$

SO

4

2
-

(aq) ⇌ $${\text{HSO}}_{4}^{ - }$$

HSO

4

-

(aq)] has been measured at 298.15 K in NaCl and NaClO4 media using glass-electrode potentiometry at five ionic strengths in the range 0.5 ≤ I/(mol·dm−3) ≤ 5.0. The present KA values vary smoothly with I and are in good agreement with reliable literature data but indicate that the previously reported value of KA at I = 5 mol·dm−3 in NaClO4 media is in error.
Rapid radionuclide specific screening procedures in drinking water: alternative options to replace inaccurate gross activity measurements
Authors: Jobbágy Viktor
Published: July 2022

It was concluded from two European wide proficiency tests that the gross alpha/beta methods used for drinking water analysis have fundamental pitfalls regardless of the specific gross-counting methods. The majority of gross-counting methods suffer from serious trueness and repeatability issues. To replace inaccurate gross activity measurements an alternative rapid radionuclide specific screening procedure for water analysis is proposed. This procedure considers liquid scintillation counting, alpha-particle- and gamma-ray spectrometry. The proposed procedure is more robust and can achieve lower uncertainties than gross-counting methods. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative analytical data can be obtained with turnaround times comparable to the gross-counting methods.
virToad: simulating the spatiotemporal population dynamics and management of a global invader
Authors: Pili Arman N. , Tingley Reid , Chapple David G. , Schumaker Nathan H.
Published: July 2022

Context

The cane toad (Rhinella marina) is one of the most globally significant and well-studied invasive alien species, and the detrimental impacts of its invasions warrant the design and application of decision support tools. While many models have been developed for guiding policies addressing cane toad invasions, none reliably predict the species’ population dynamics at scales relevant to on-the-ground management.

Objectives

We describe virToad—an individual-based life-history simulator of the cane toad. We then illustrate virToad’s ability to forecast the cane toad’s spatiotemporal population dynamics at local- to landscape-scales, and its potential for improving management responses to cane toad invasions.

Methods

We designed virToad to make population dynamics an emergent consequence of the cane toad’s fitness-maximising behavioural responses to mechanistic constraints (e.g., water availability, kin selection), and to management actions. We used virToad to simulate cane toad population dynamics in the absence of management, and under alternative management strategies implemented across a spectrum of effort: hand-capturing and trapping of juveniles and adults, fencing waterbodies, and trapping and chemically suppressing tadpoles.

Results

virToad produced plausible predictions of cane toad population densities, detection probabilities, distributions, and spatial segregation. Simulation experiments indicated that the efficacy of competing management actions varied significantly, and that only moderate to high effort hand-capturing and trapping of juveniles and adults had the potential to suppress invasions.

Conclusion

virToad is an open-source, rigorous, and extensible decision support platform that will enable researchers and practitioners to defensibly forecast local- to landscape-scale cane toad spatiotemporal population dynamics and management outcomes.
Causal and Evidential Conditionals
Authors: Günther Mario
Published: July 2022

We put forth an account for when to believe causal and evidential conditionals. The basic idea is to embed a causal model in an agent’s belief state. For the evaluation of conditionals seems to be relative to beliefs about both particular facts and causal relations. Unlike other attempts using causal models, we show that ours can account rather well not only for various causal but also evidential conditionals.
The minimal important change for the EQ VAS based on the SF-36 health transition item: observations from 25772 spine surgery procedures
Authors: Joelson Anders , Nerelius Fredrik , Sigmundsson Freyr Gauti , Karlsson Jan
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The EQ VAS is an integral part of EQ-5D, a commonly used instrument for health-related quality of life assessment. This study aimed to calculate the minimal important change (MIC) thresholds for the EQ VAS for improvement and deterioration after surgery for disk herniation or spinal stenosis.

Methods

Patients, who were surgically treated for disk herniation or spinal stenosis between 2007 and 2016, were recruited from the Swedish spine register. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative data for a total of 25772 procedures were available for analysis. We used two anchor-based methods to estimate MIC for EQ VAS: (1) a predictive model based on logistic regression and (2) receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. The SF-36 health transition item was used as anchor.

Results

The EQ VAS MIC threshold for improvement after disk herniation surgery ranged from 8.25 to 11.8 while the corresponding value for deterioration ranged from − 6.17 to 0.5. For spinal stenosis surgery the corresponding MIC values ranged from 10.5 to 14.5 and − 7.16 to − 6.5 respectively. There were moderate negative correlations (disk herniation − 0.47, spinal stenosis − 0.46) between the 1 year change in the EQ VAS and the SF-36 health transition item (MIC anchor).

Conclusions

For EQ VAS, we recommend a MIC threshold of 12 points for improvement after surgery for disk herniation or spinal stenosis, whereas the corresponding threshold for deterioration is − 7 points. There are marked differences between the EQ VAS MIC for improvement and deterioration after surgery for disk herniation or spinal stenosis. The MIC value varied depending on the method used for MIC estimation.
Alleviating cross-cultural challenges of Indian subcontinent students: University staff perspectives
Authors: Kansal Monika , Chugh Ritesh , Weber Anthony , Macht Stephanie , Grose Robert , Shah Mahsood
Published: July 2022

The growth in student numbers from the Indian subcontinent countries has increased exponentially in the Australian higher education system over the past decade. Unfortunately, this growth has not been accompanied by initiatives to address the distinctive cross-cultural challenges faced by this cohort. This paper seeks to identify academic and professional staff perceptions of how they can help alleviate the social and academic challenges faced by subcontinent students. Thematic analysis of multiple focus group interviews established a range of simple initiatives that university staff and decision-makers could introduce to alleviate these challenges. Academic and professional staff should clearly and repeatedly articulate course, assessment and integrity expectations and make use of pre-arrival and orientation interactions. The pedagogic environment should be customised to subcontinent students in the classroom, and written teaching materials should be supplemented with engaging videos, ideally subtitled. The introduction of cross-cultural awareness training for academic and professional staff would improve the learning experience of subcontinent students. Adequate resourcing of academic skills and English language support and mental health support services also emerged as valuable initiatives. The cross-cultural awareness training for academic and professional staff should also be customised to their specific roles.
Emotionale Reaktionen älterer Menschen gegenüber Sozial Assistiven Robotern
Authors: Ruf Esther , Pauli Cora , Misoch Sabina
Published: July 2022

Dieser Beitrag der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) beschreibt unterschiedliche emotionale Reaktionen älterer Personen auf in verschiedenen Settings eingesetzte Sozial Assistive Roboter (SAR). In Folge des demographischen Wandels gibt es zunehmend mehr Personen in hohem Lebensalter, welche zuhause oder in Institutionen Unterstützung benötigen. Der Einsatz von Robotern zur Unterstützung wird als eine Möglichkeit gesehen, den gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen zu begegnen. Gerade SAR werden zunehmend für ältere Personen erprobt und eingesetzt. Systematische Reviews zeigen das positive Potenzial von SAR auf ältere Menschen hinsichtlich (sozial-)psychologischer und physiologischer Parameter, gleichzeitig hat der Einsatz von SAR bei älteren Menschen eine intensive ethische Diskussion ausgelöst. Emotionen von Nutzenden gegenüber Robotern stehen dabei im Fokus, da diese einen wichtigen Aspekt der Akzeptanz und Wirkung darstellen. Dabei werden vor allem Fragen, die mit einer emotionalen Bindung an den Roboter zusammenhängen, kritisch diskutiert. Das Institut für Altersforschung (IAF) der Ostschweizer Fachhochschule (OST) hat im Rahmen von Feldtestungen mit unterschiedlichen SAR bei unterschiedlichen Personengruppen und Einsatzbereichen geforscht. Im Rahmen einer Sekundäranalyse wurden eine Bandbreite emotionaler Reaktionen bis hin zu Bindungen der verschiedenen Nutzergruppen registriert. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sozio-emotionale Bedürfnisse von Nutzenden durch den SAR gestillt werden können, und es zu Ablehnung kommen kann, wenn diesen nicht Rechnung getragen wird. Emotionale Bindungen sind jedoch differenziert zu betrachten, da der Einsatz von SAR, gerade bei vulnerablen Personen, trotz funktionaler Bindung auch neu induzierte negative Gefühle hervorrufen kann. Beim Einsatz von SAR in der Praxis es ist wichtig, alle Emotionen der Nutzenden gegenüber SAR frühzeitig zu erheben und im Hinblick auf mögliche unterwünschte Wirkungen wie (zu) starkem emotionalen Attachment zu beurteilen. Die dargestellten explorativen Studien ermöglichen es, exemplarische Einsatzfelder mit positivem Potential zu definieren, aber auch ethisch problematische Situationen zu beschreiben, um diese in Zukunft vermeiden zu können.
Local collective action for sustainability transformations: emerging narratives from local energy initiatives in The Netherlands
Authors: Hasanov Mustafa , Zuidema Christian
Published: July 2022

The phrase “local collective action” is increasingly being used to describe how civil society engages with, and acts upon, sustainability transformations. While existing research has framed local collective action as an outcome of creating a shared agenda on a local level, there have been calls for exploring the diversity of ideas, motives, and ambitions people have when they join local energy initiatives. This article aims to identify the diverse attitudes towards local collective action envisioned by those who engage in local energy initiatives. We use Q methodology to analyze people’s perceptions of the local collective action they are engaged in and how those perceptions could manifest in different pathways for sustainability transformations. Forty-seven statements reflecting various approaches to local collective action were sorted by people engaged in various local energy initiatives in the northeast of the Netherlands. Based on the analysis, we distinguish four factors—Localism, Facilitation, Orchestration, and Radical Transformation—that express the diverse aspirations, motivations, and rationales associated with local collective action in local energy initiatives. The findings emphasize that for those engaged in local energy initiatives (LEIs), local collective action means navigating among different assumptions, values, and transformation processes, which often oscillate between guiding principles that emphasize “getting things done” and “creating a pleasant atmosphere”. We argue that these four factors can serve as a starting point for developing local collective action strategies to help local communities and authorities unpack possible tensions, confrontations, and conflicts concerning local energy initiatives. These findings point out that while local energy initiatives rely on people’s energy and enthusiasm, practitioners and governments should be cautious while embracing their ambitions and values.
Cosmological mass of the photon and dark energy as its Bose–Einstein condensate in de Sitter space
Authors: Resca Lorenzo Gallerani
Published: July 2022

I develop a physical picture of dark energy (DE) based on fundamental principles and constants of quantum mechanics (QM) and general relativity (GR) theories. It derives from a conjecture of nonzero masses for nearly standard-model photons or gluons, based on QM localization at a cosmological scale. Dark energy is associated with de Sitter space and that has a fundamentally invariant event horizon, which provides the basis for my DE model. I conceive of DE as a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) of cosmologically massive photons, and I estimate fundamentally the binding energy per particle originating from an effectively attractive QM potential in that BEC. Since massive photons may stand at rest in a de Sitter universe with flat spatial geometry, I solve the time-independent Schrödinger equation for a nonrelativistic attractive spherical-well potential self-confining at the de Sitter horizon. The minimal critical potential depth that binds a particle state at the top of that well, combined with the prototypical condition of dark energy-pressure relation in the standard flat $$\Lambda $$
Λ
-CDM model, provides an estimate of the photon mass, $$m_g$$

m
g

. That is supported by an independent calculation of the vacuum energy of the BEC in a de Sitter static metric with coordinate-time slicing. I also consider classical gravitational collapse for a uniform dark energy density, approaching Schwarzschild condition. These QM and GR estimates provide compatible accounts of dark energy condensation, bridging a chasm between nuclear and cosmological scales. I then investigate statistical properties of equilibrium between the g-BEC phase and the ordinary ‘vapor’ phase of $$m_g$$

m
g

photons. Resulting corrections to the Planck spectrum of the CMB are too small to be detectable, at least currently. Most notably, I consider a system of cosmological units, or ‘g-units,’ that complements the fundamental system of Planck units in various ways. The geometric mean of Planck and g-mass turns out to be remarkably close to current estimates of neutrino masses, suggesting that even masses of the lightest known fermions may be deeply related to both GR and QM fundamental constants $$\Lambda $$
Λ
, G, c and h.
Hagrid: using Hilbert and Gosper curves to gridify scatterplots
Authors: Cutura Rene , Morariu Cristina , Cheng Zhanglin , Wang Yunhai , Weiskopf Daniel , Sedlmair Michael
Published: July 2022

A common enhancement of scatterplots represents points as small multiples, glyphs, or thumbnail images. As this encoding often results in overlaps, a general strategy is to alter the position of the data points, for instance, to a grid-like structure. Previous approaches rely on solving expensive optimization problems or on dividing the space that alter the global structure of the scatterplot. To find a good balance between efficiency and neighborhood and layout preservation, we propose Hagrid, a technique that uses space-filling curves (SFCs) to “gridify” a scatterplot without employing expensive collision detection and handling mechanisms. Using SFCs ensures that the points are plotted close to their original position, retaining approximately the same global structure. The resulting scatterplot is mapped onto a rectangular or hexagonal grid, using Hilbert and Gosper curves. We discuss and evaluate the theoretic runtime of our approach and quantitatively compare our approach to three state-of-the-art gridifying approaches, DGrid, Small multiples with gaps SMWG, and CorrelatedMultiples CMDS, in an evaluation comprising 339 scatterplots. Here, we compute several quality measures for neighborhood preservation together with an analysis of the actual runtimes. The main results show that, compared to the best other technique, Hagrid is faster by a factor of four, while achieving similar or even better quality of the gridified layout. Due to its computational efficiency, our approach also allows novel applications of gridifying approaches in interactive settings, such as removing local overlap upon hovering over a scatterplot.

Graphical abstract
LA-ICP-MS analysis of trace and rare-earth element distribution in calcite fracture fillings from Forsmark, Simpevarp and Laxemar (Sweden)
Authors: Kusturica Annemie , van Laaten Neele , Drake Henrik , Schäfer Thorsten
Published: July 2022

Concentrations and spatial distribution of trace elements in secondary minerals provide valuable information about mobility controlling processes in natural fractures. Important examples include rare-earth element contents that act as analogues for the retention of trivalent actinides such as Am/Cm or Pu(III). The secondary phases (carbonates) investigated in this study originate from exploration drilling bore cores of the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company SKB (Forsmark, Simpevarp and Laxemar, Sweden).

Here, high-resolution element analysis (Micro-X-ray Fluorescence-Spectrometry (µXRF) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)) is applied to scan for Na and the trace elements Mn, Fe, Sr, Pb, Th and U as well as the rare-earth elements Y, La, Ce and Yb associated with carbonate fracture fillings. High resolution element maps highlight growth zones and microstructures within the samples, which are not detected by the usual point and line measurements. Evidence of phase-dependent partitioning is observed.

The partition coefficients, D, determined from formation water and carbonate data were compared to experimentally generated coefficients and values derived from a 17-year precipitation experiment carried out at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL).

Distribution coefficients of the light rare-earth elements La and Ce have been found to be relatively high in the studied samples, whereas the coefficients of distribution of Sr and U are remarkably low.

Overall, the results of this work show that the secondary calcite formed in deep granitic fractures coprecipitated periodically with significant amounts of radionuclide analogues (i.e., rare-earth elements).
Transformation of the coastal social-ecological system in southwest Bangladesh due to empolderment
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Aminur , Dawes Les , Donehue Paul , Rahman Mohammad Rezaur
Published: July 2022

Initiated in the early 1960s, the Coastal Embankment Project (CEP) in Bangladesh brought more than 1.2 million hectares of low-elevation coastal land under cultivation through a complex system of embankments and drainage sluices. A significant milestone in the history of water resources management in Bangladesh, CEP catalyzed the socio-economic development of the coastal community over the following decades. However, the human intervention in the complex hydro-geo-morphological settings of the Ganges delta later manifested some challenges. As the embankments had cut off the tidal plains from the rivers, silt started depositing on the riverbeds, which eventually caused drainage congestion inside the polders. Meanwhile, significant changes in landuse occurred as saltwater shrimp farming took over traditional crop cultivation. Shrimp cultivation increased soil salinity inside the polders rendering the land unsuitable for crop cultivation. The kitchen gardens and the fruit plants that grew after the construction of the embankments disappeared from the landscape due to high soil salinity. The cyclone in 2009 badly damaged the embankments in the southwest coastal region resulting in the longstanding suffering of the people. The protected landscape became subject to tidal flooding, sweeping off the decades of development gains. This case study from Bangladesh demonstrates how physical infrastructure can significantly change the bio-physical and socio-economic landscapes in coastal settings and give rise to a new social-ecological system.
Influences of Elevated Nutrients and Water Temperature from Wastewater Effluent on River Ecosystem Metabolism
Authors: Zhang Meng , Chadwick Michael A.
Published: July 2022

River ecosystem metabolism (REM) is a measure of ecological function which integrates gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). Urban rivers often receive effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) which frequently alter nutrient concentrations and modify temperature regimes of receiving water bodies. To investigate how variations in nutrients and water temperature affect REM, we applied the night-time slope modelling to estimate diurnal REM at sites above and below a wastewater outfall on the River Wandle, UK. Overall, estimated GPP (0–21.2 mgO2·L− 1·d− 1) and ER (5.5–10.1 mgO2·L− 1·d− 1) from our study sites were similar to those of urban impacted rivers in other countries. GPP values were similar between sites, but downstream ER values were significantly higher affected by the WWTP effluent. GPP/ER ratios were < 1 indicating heterotrophic conditions and the river as a carbon source during the study. We found that sites had similar activation energy associated with ER suggesting our work provides a useful reference for estimating temperature corrected metabolic processes for other urban rivers in the region. Furthermore, structural equation modelling revealed that nutrient supply, water temperature and light availability were the main factors driving REM. This research highlights the major environmental factors affecting REM, which helps to understand the response of river metabolism and river regulation of regional carbon cycle to future climate change and provide evidence to inform river restoration and future in-stream management.
Internet Gaming Disorder in the DSM-5: Personality and Individual Differences
Authors: Chew Peter K. H. , Wong Charmaine M. H.
Published: July 2022

Research that has examined the relationships between Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and personality traits has been limited by the use of instruments based on inappropriate criteria. Furthermore, the personality traits have seldom been studied concurrently, precluding an examination of the relative importance of each trait in predicting IGD. The current study aimed to address those limitations by concurrently examining the Big Five Personality Factors, sensation seeking, impulsivity, and aggression, as potential predictors of IGD. Participants were a convenience sample of 123 gamers (57.7% females). A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted with age and gender in Step 1 and the personality traits in Step 2. The results showed that only impulsivity and gender significantly predicted IGD. Limitations include the conceptualization of impulsivity as a negative construct and the unreliability of the openness to experience subscale. Future research directions include using impulsivity as a core characteristic of an individual and examine its interaction with a range of affective and cognitive factors.
Computational authorship analysis of the homeric poems
Authors: Pavlopoulos John , Konstantinidou Maria
Published: July 2022

Natural language modeling is used to predict or generate the next word or character of modern languages. Furthermore, statistical character-based language models have been found useful in authorship attribution analyses by studying the linguistic proximity of excerpts unknown to the model. In prior work, we modeled Homeric language and provided empirical findings regarding the authorship nature of the 48 Iliad and Odyssey books. Following this line of work, and considering the current philological views and trends, we break down the two poems further into smaller portions. By employing language modeling we identify outlying passages, indicating reduced linguistic affinity with the main body of the two works and, by extension, potentially different authorship. Our results show that some of the passages isolated as outliers by the language models were also identified as such by human researchers. We further test our methodology and models on texts of similar language and genre created by other authors, namely Hesiod’s “Theogony” and “Work and Days”.
Monte Carlo stochastic Galerkin methods for non-Maxwellian kinetic models of multiagent systems with uncertainties
Authors: Medaglia Andrea , Tosin Andrea , Zanella Mattia
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we focus on the construction of a hybrid scheme for the approximation of non-Maxwellian kinetic models with uncertainties. In the context of multiagent systems, the introduction of a kernel at the kinetic level is useful to avoid unphysical interactions. The methods here proposed, combine a direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) in the phase space together with stochastic Galerkin (sG) methods in the random space. The developed schemes preserve the main physical properties of the solution together with accuracy in the random space. The consistency of the methods is tested with respect to surrogate Fokker–Planck models that can be obtained in the quasi-invariant regime of parameters. Several applications of the schemes to non-Maxwellian models of multiagent systems are reported.
Long-term outcome of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis seeking nonoperative treatment after a mean follow-up of 42 years
Authors: Farshad Mazda , Götschi Tobias , Bauer David E. , Böni Thomas , Laux Christoph J. , Kabelitz Method
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) affects up to 3% of otherwise healthy adolescents. The extreme long-term outcomes of nonoperative treatment are underreported. This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcome of nonoperative-treated AIS patients. Comparison between a bracing and an observation approach were performed.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, 20 nonoperatively treated AIS patients were observed concerning patient-related outcome measures (PROM) (visual analog scale (VAS), Short Form Health Survey 36 item (SF 36), Scoliosis Research Society (SRS 24), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI), Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI)), radiological curve progression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Baseline characteristics and radiological imaging were collected. At follow-up, anteroposterior and lateral X-rays as well as questionnaires were analyzed.

Results

Twenty patients (16 females, mean age: 14.6 ± 3.2 years) with a follow-up time of 42 ± 9 years were included. Nine patients (initial Cobb 35° ± 19°) were treated with bracing for a mean time of 26 ± 9 months, while the other 11 patients (initial Cobb 29° ± 11°) were observed. The primary curve progressed from 32° ± 15° to 52° ± 25° in average with no significant difference between the cohorts (p = 0.371). At final follow-up, a mean ODI score of 7 ± 7.9 points with no difference depending on the treatment (p = 0.668) was seen. No significant differences were observed for PROMs. Curve magnitude correlated neither at diagnosis (p = 0.617) nor at follow-up (p = 0.535) with the ODI score at final follow-up.

Conclusion

After a mean of 42 years, patients with nonoperative treatment of moderate AIS demonstrated a good clinical outcome despite progression of the deformity.

Level of evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study.
Advocates of climate action? The age of members of parliament and their activity in legislative debates on climate change
Authors: Debus Marc , Himmelrath Noam
Published: July 2022

Parliamentary debates are an important stage in the process of designing new policies and play an important role for discussing the policy reactions to exogenous events like the COVID-19 pandemic or long-term developments like climate change. We combine theories on vote-seeking strategies of political actors with theoretical accounts that highlight the impact of personal characteristics of politicians and argue that in particular younger Members of Parliament (MPs) should put more emphasis on issues related to climate change and its consequences than older MPs. We test our hypotheses on the basis of an original dataset covering all parliamentary debates that focus on issues related to climate change in the German Bundestag from 2013 until 2021, thus concentrating on a time period when climate change became a highly salient issue among the German public. We find that the age of MPs matters: the younger MPs are, the more speeches they contribute to parliamentary debates related to climate policy.

Graphical Abstract
Cranioplasty split calvaria in pediatric patient
Authors: Darlan Ditto , Suryaningtyas Wihasto , Parenrengi Muhammad Arifin
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT

Background:

Cranioplasty in pediatrics often results in a poor outcome. Therefore, proper consideration and decision-making are needed in choosing surgical techniques for cranioplasty in children, especially autologous, which can cause abnormal skull and brain growth.

Case description:

A 3-year-old girl presented to our outpatient clinic with a complaint of a left front-temporo-parietal skull defect due to a history of acute subdural hemorrhage evacuation and decompressive craniectomy. After a series of failed cranioplasties, the patient then underwent a split calvarial cranioplasty. Postoperatively, the patient was fully conscious and had no neurological deficit.

Discussion:

Commonly used autologous material with bone graft is those of split rib and split calvarial. Large defect area does not allow the use of split rib. Therefore, split calvaria is the main choice in this case, due to its capability of giving larger defect area obtained, more suitable contour for the defect area, single incision, and more rigidity for cosmetic purpose.

Conclusion:

Autologous cranioplasty with split calvaria can be used in certain cases of infection or trauma that often causes bone tissue damage, so that autograft bone flap cannot be reused. In pediatric cases, the split calvaria technique is appropriate for children patient that has a problem of skull defect.

Highlights
Shaping Writing Grades
Authors: McCallum Lee , Durrant Philip
Published: July 2022

This Element explores relationships between collocations, writing quality, and learner and contextual variables in a first-year composition (FYC) programme. Comprising three studies, the Element is anchored in understanding phraseological complexity and its sub-constructs of sophistication and diversity. First, the authors look at sophistication through association measures. They tap into how these measures may tell us different types of information about collocation via a cluster analysis. Selected measures from this clustering are used in a cumulative links model to establish relationships between these measures, measures of diversity and measures of task, the language background of the writer and individual writer variation, and writing quality scores. A third qualitative study of the statistically significant predictors helps understand how writers use collocations and why they might be favoured or downgraded by raters. This Element concludes by considering the implications of this modelling for assessment.
Navigating Cultural Divides via Identity Work: Bulgarian Migrant Entrepreneurs’ Tactics in the UK
Authors: Stoyanov Stoyan , Stoyanova Veselina
Published: July 2022

The changing geopolitical landscapes and increased migration flow across the world call for a fresh perspective on the sociocultural and economic integration of migrants in their new ‘homes’ and ‘communities’. In this qualitative process study, we provide insight into the identity work dynamics that underlie interfirm cooperation in the new business context. We see a sample of Bulgarian migrant entrepreneurs as knowledge boundary spanners who employ identity work tactics for the development of shared norms and values that facilitate knowledge exchange between their home culture and the UK host culture context. This study suggests that knowledge boundary spanning is enabled by a temporal identity work process, characterized by a series of inward and outward identity work tactics. The interplay between inward and outward identity work tactics occurs over phases of identifying identity differences, adopting identity cues, and finally, realizing hybrid identity. This article contributes to the identity work and migrant entrepreneurship literature by exploring the underlying mechanisms for realizing knowledge boundary spanning by migrant entrepreneurs.
Policing, Democratic Participation, and the Reproduction of Asymmetric Citizenship
Authors: GONZÁLEZ YANILDA , MAYKA LINDSAY
Published: July 2022

Can democratic participation reduce inequalities in citizenship produced by policing? We argue that citizen participation in policing produces a paradox, which we call asymmetric citizenship. For some citizens, expanding participation in policing expands citizenship by enhancing state responsiveness to demands. Yet citizen participation in policing often produces demands to repress marginalized groups, thereby contracting their citizenship rights. We theorize that formal spaces for citizen participation in policing produce asymmetric citizenship through three mechanisms: (1) defining some groups as “virtuous citizens” and labeling marginalized groups as “security threats,” (2) gatekeeping to amplify the voice of “virtuous citizens” while silencing marginalized groups, and (3) articulating demands for police repression of marginalized groups to protect the rights of “virtuous citizens.” We illustrate the framework through a qualitative analysis of São Paulo’s Community Security Councils. Our analysis elucidates mechanisms through which democratic participation can reproduce, rather than ameliorate, inequality in policing.
Internationalism, Protectionism, Xenophobia: The Second International's Migration Debate (1889–1914)
Authors: Musters Daan
Published: July 2022

In 1907, the Second International adopted a resolution on migration that rejected restrictions on the free movement of workers. In this article, we contend that, despite this official stance, the issue of migration was a highly controversial one for the international socialist community. We present a multi-level analysis, in which we detail the migration debate as it took place on the platforms of the Second International (roughly between 1903 and 1907) and the way in which this debate played out domestically for the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands and the Socialist Party of America – two parties that openly rooted for restrictions at the international level. We discern three ideal-typical stances on immigration – internationalism, on the one hand, and protectionist nativism and xenophobic nativism, on the other – and argue that it was the incompatibility of the internationalist and nativist positions that caused internal divisions to arise during the debates. Apart from speaking to the classic historiography on the Second International, which deals with the incompatibility of internationalism and nationalism, this article traces the influence of additional racist and culturalist ideologies on the debate and further historicizes it within the broader context of the modern international migration system that was taking shape at the time.