bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of digital marketing and its value in new ventures
Authors: Tarazona-Montoya Raul , Devece Carlos , Llopis-Albert Carlos , García-Agreda Sergio
Published: April 2024

This paper analyzes the effect of digital marketing and cluster membership on the entrepreneurship and performance of dental clinics in Colombia. The use of different digital marketing tools in dental clinics is evaluated, and the effect of these tools on the creation of new markets, and clinics’ services and general performance, are analyzed. In addition, the cluster effect on the learning and implementation of digital tools in individual clinics is studied. The results show the most effective digital tools to create new markets, as well as the tools that improve clinics’ performance through the Internet image and online visibility. The combined use of corporate Facebook and Instagram, a robust website with wide online visibility and YouTube develops the image of companies on the Internet in the most effective way. In addition, the importance of belonging to a cluster in the learning and implementation of digital tools in individual clinics was verified.
Assessment of mobile mercury concentration in soils of an abandoned coalfield waste pile in Douro region: the Fojo waste pile (Portugal) study case
Authors: Monteiro Marcus , Santos Patrícia , Marques Jorge E. , Flores Deolinda , Pereira Carlos M. , Ribeiro José A. , Azenha Manuel
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Pejão Mining Complex locates in Castelo de Paiva municipality and, until its closure in 1994, was one of the most important coal mines in the Douro Coalfield. This work aims to study the presence, quantify, and evaluate the dissemination of mercury (Hg), a potentially toxic element (PTE) of major public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), from a waste pile affected by coal fires.

Materials and methods

Samples from areas affected and unaffected by the combustion and from surrounding soil were collected from Fojo waste pile region. First, the Hg pseudo-total concentration was estimated for all collected samples by soil microwave–assisted digestion with aqua regia (USEPA 3051A). Then, a sequential extraction procedure (SEP), the USEPA 3200, was applied for Hg fractionation and speciation aiming to evaluate Hg mobility and bioavailability to surrounding ecosystems.

Results and discussion

The results obtained showed a Hg enrichment in soil samples when compared to Portuguese and international reference values for soils. Relatively to the Hg availability and mobility, although it predominates in the semi-mobile fraction, the waste pile materials exposed to combustion showed a concerning increase of Hg levels in the mobile fraction that contains the more labile Hg species, being a major source of environmental contamination by Hg.

Conclusions

This study allowed to conclude that combustion of mining residues increased Hg mobility, toxicity, and bioavailability, increasing the contamination potential of the coal waste pile. The methodology applied in this work can be replicated in other abandoned mines to monitor, control, and/or mitigate the Hg environmental impact in the surrounding soils and waters.
SDPH: a new technique for spatial detection of path holes from huge volume high-resolution raster images in near real-time
Authors: Tasyurek Murat
Published: April 2024

Detecting and repairing road defects is crucial for road safety, vehicle maintenance, and enhancing tourism on well-maintained roads. However, monitoring all roads by vehicle incurs high costs. With the widespread use of remote sensing technologies, high-resolution satellite images offer a cost-effective alternative. This study proposes a new technique, SDPH, for automated detection of damaged roads from vast, high-resolution satellite images. In the SDPH technique, satellite images are organized in a pyramid grid file system, allowing deep learning methods to efficiently process them. The images, generated as$$256\times 256$$256×256dimensions, are stored in a directory with explicit location information. The SDPH technique employs a two-stage object detection models, utilizing classical and modified RCNNv3, YOLOv5, and YOLOv8. Classical RCNNv3, YOLOv5, and YOLOv8 and modified RCNNv3, YOLOv5, and YOLOv8 in the first stage for identifying roads, achieving f1 scores of 0.743, 0.716, 0.710, 0.955, 0.958, and 0.954, respectively. When the YOLOv5, with the highest f1 score, was fed to the second stage; modified RCNNv3, YOLOv5, and YOLOv8 detected road defects, achieving f1 scores of 0.957,0.971 and 0.964 in the second process. When the same CNN model was used for road and road defect detection in the proposed SDPH model, classical RCNNv3, improved RCNNv3, classical YOLOv5, improved YOLOv5, classical YOLOv8, improved RCNNv8 achieved micro f1 scores of 0.752, 0.956, 0.726, 0.969, 0.720 and 0.965, respectively. In addition, these models processed 11, 10, 33, 31, 37, and 36 FPS images by performing both stage operations, respectively. Evaluations on geotiff satellite images from Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, ranging between 20 and 40 gigabytes, demonstrated the efficiency of the SDPH technique. Notably, the modified YOLOv5 outperformed, detecting paths and defects in 0.032 s with the micro f1 score of 0.969. Fine-tuning on TileCache enhanced f1 scores and reduced computational costs across all models.
‘There is still a part of me that would love to be the old me again’, how do adolescents and young adults (AYA) experience cancer-related bodily changes: a phenomenological interview study
Authors: Hendriks Robin T. J. , van Eenbergen Mies C. H. J. , de Boer Marjolein L. , Sleeman Sophia H. E. , Boll Dorry , Husson Olga , Bootsma Tom. I.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Due to the increase in both cancer incidence and overall survival rates, more adolescents and young adults (AYAs) have to live with the effects that their cancer diagnosis and following treatments have on their bodies. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to gain more insight into the way AYAs experience these effects and how they respond to these effects.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews with a sample of 11 AYAs with an age range of 25-41 years at the time of the interview, who were diagnosed with different types of cancer, were conducted. Participants were recruited via social media and patient associations until data saturation was reached. A topic guide with open-ended questions about lived experiences was used. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was performed to analyse the transcripts.

Results

We identified six Group Experiential Themes based on different ways AYAs experience their bodies: (1) self-conscious body, (2) vulnerable body, (3) adapting to the body, (4) uncontrollable body, (5) remembering the body and (6) shared bodies.

Conclusion

This study offers in-depth insight into the bodily experiences of AYAs after cancer and how they respond to these changes from a phenomenological point of view.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

This knowledge could be beneficial to provide more guidance for AYAs during and after their illness, by focussing on personalised psychological (after)care.
Interdependency, alternative forms of mathematical agency and joy as challenges to ableist narratives about the learning and teaching of mathematics
Authors: Healy Lulu , Nardi Elena , Biza Irene
Published: April 2024

Catering for the mathematical needs of disabled learners equitably and productively requires the anti-ableist preparation and professional development of teachers. In CAPTeaM (Challenging Ableist Perspectives on the Teaching of Mathematics), we design tasks that emulate inclusion-related challenges from the mathematics classroom, and we engage teachers with these tasks in workshop settings. In this paper, we focus on evidence from one type of task in which participants engage in small groups with solving a mathematical problem while at least one of them is temporarily and artificially deprived of access to a sensory field or familiar channel of communication. In this paper, we focus on evidence of emerging resignification – discursive and affective shifts in the participating teachers’ sense-making about what makes the construction of mathematical meaning possible and valuably different – as they work on the tasks. By linking Vygotsky’s vision about the educational changes required to empower and include disabled learners with more contemporary ideas from embodied cognition and disability studies, our analyses show how engagement with the tasks affects participants’ realisation and appreciation of interdependencies between learners, teacher, resources, and emotions, highlights alternative forms of mathematical agency and gives opportunities to turn initial sense of impasse and despair into joy.
Inhibition of p70 Ribosomal S6 Kinase (S6K1) Reduces Cortical Blood Flow in a Rat Model of Autism-Tuberous Sclerosis
Authors: Chi Oak Z. , Liu Xia , Fortus Harvey , Werlen Guy , Jacinto Estela , Weiss Harvey R.
Published: April 2024

The manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in humans include epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability. Previous studies suggested the linkage of TSC to altered cerebral blood flow and metabolic dysfunction. We previously reported a significant elevation in cerebral blood flow in an animal model of TSC and autism of young Eker rats. Inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by rapamycin could restore normal oxygen consumption and cerebral blood flow. In this study, we investigated whether inhibiting a component of the mTOR signaling pathway, p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K1), would yield comparable effects. Control Long Evans and Eker rats were divided into vehicle and PF-4708671 (S6K1 inhibitor, 75 mg/kg for 1 h) treated groups. Cerebral regional blood flow (14C-iodoantipyrine) was determined in isoflurane anesthetized rats. We found significantly increased basal cortical (+ 32%) and hippocampal (+ 15%) blood flow in the Eker rats. PF-4708671 significantly lowered regional blood flow in the cortex and hippocampus of the Eker rats. PF-4708671 did not significantly lower blood flow in these regions in the control Long Evans rats. Phosphorylation of S6-Ser240/244 and Akt-Ser473 was moderately decreased in Eker rats but only the latter reached statistical significance upon PF-4708671 treatment. Our findings suggest that moderate inhibition of S6K1 with PF-4708671 helps to restore normal cortical blood flow in Eker rats and that this information might have therapeutic potential in tuberous sclerosis complex and autism.
Stigmatisierung und geschlechtsspezifische Eigenschaftszuschreibungen
Authors: Frischknecht Ulrich
Published: April 2024

Stigmatisierung und Vorurteile sind verwandte Konzepte. Menschen mit einer Suchterkrankung werden durch Stigmatisierung in vergleichbarer Weise benachteiligt, wie andere Menschen, die unter Vorurteilen leiden. Genderspezifische Vorurteile und das Stigma von Suchterkrankungen stellen eine Intersektion dar, die auch bei zukünftigen Fachkräften bedacht werden muss, wenngleich die Richtung der geschlechtsbezogenen Vorurteile im Zusammenhang mit Sucht differenziert betrachtet werden muss. Elternschaft ist für Menschen mit Suchterkrankungen ein besonders sensibles Thema. Es werden vorläufige Daten gezeigt, dass hier geschlechtsspezifische Zuschreibungen von positiven und negativen Persönlichkeitseigenschaften gemacht werden.
The effect of harmonization on the variability of PET radiomic features extracted using various segmentation methods
Authors: Hosseini Seyyed Ali , Shiri Isaac , Ghaffarian Pardis , Hajianfar Ghasem , Avval Atlas Haddadi , Seyfi Milad , Servaes Stijn , Rosa-Neto Pedro , Zaidi Habib , Ay Mohammad Reza
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the robustness of positron emission tomography (PET) radiomic features extracted via different segmentation methods before and after ComBat harmonization in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We included 120 patients (positive recurrence = 46 and negative recurrence = 74) referred for PET scanning as a routine part of their care. All patients had a biopsy-proven NSCLC. Nine segmentation methods were applied to each image, including manual delineation, K-means (KM), watershed, fuzzy-C-mean, region-growing, local active contour (LAC), and iterative thresholding (IT) with 40, 45, and 50% thresholds. Diverse image discretizations, both without a filter and with different wavelet decompositions, were applied to PET images. Overall, 6741 radiomic features were extracted from each image (749 radiomic features from each segmented area). Non-parametric empirical Bayes (NPEB) ComBat harmonization was used to harmonize the features. Linear Support Vector Classifier (LinearSVC) with L1 regularization For feature selection and Support Vector Machine classifier (SVM) with fivefold nested cross-validation was performed using StratifiedKFold with ‘n_splits’ set to 5 to predict recurrence in NSCLC patients and assess the impact of ComBat harmonization on the outcome.

Results

From 749 extracted radiomic features, 206 (27%) and 389 (51%) features showed excellent reliability (ICC ≥ 0.90) against segmentation method variation before and after NPEB ComBat harmonization, respectively. Among all, 39 features demonstrated poor reliability, which declined to 10 after ComBat harmonization. The 64 fixed bin widths (without any filter) and wavelets (LLL)-based radiomic features set achieved the best performance in terms of robustness against diverse segmentation techniques before and after ComBat harmonization. The first-order and GLRLM and also first-order and NGTDM feature families showed the largest number of robust features before and after ComBat harmonization, respectively. In terms of predicting recurrence in NSCLC, our findings indicate that using ComBat harmonization can significantly enhance machine learning outcomes, particularly improving the accuracy of watershed segmentation, which initially had fewer reliable features than manual contouring. Following the application of ComBat harmonization, the majority of cases saw substantial increase in sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

Radiomic features are vulnerable to different segmentation methods. ComBat harmonization might be considered a solution to overcome the poor reliability of radiomic features.
Design and optimization of a continuous purification process using ion-exchange periodic counter-current chromatography for a low-titer enzyme
Authors: Ko Kwanyoung , Kim Min-Jung , Kim Dasom , Seo Kangyun , Lee Sangho
Published: April 2024

A continuous purification process can be beneficial to the purification of biologics due to its higher productivity and efficiency than a conventional batch purification process. However, regulatory issues and lack of established cases render deployment of the continuous process difficult in industrial settings. Here we report a case study for design and optimization of an advanced continuous process for purifying a low-titer enzyme as a model biologic. To convert a conventional batch process to an advanced continuous one in purification of biologics, conventional unit operations (UOs), including ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) and batch chromatography, were replaced by advanced ones such as in-line dilution conditioning (IDC) and periodic counter-current chromatography (PCC). The UF/DF UO was changed to IDC UO to adjust pH and conductivity. The mixing ratio of the sample and the conditioning buffer in IDC was determined by experiments with three buffers. PCC was optimized with two variables, column height and sample loading residence time, as the delta pressure in the columns was less than 1.0 bar. A graph indicating the operating area was plotted to efficiently control the PCC. Although the sample volume increased in IDC, PCC had a complementary advantage in that purification was performed faster than batch chromatography. We observed at least 25% increase in economic advantage when the advanced continuous process was applied to purify a low-titer enzyme. We propose not only a continuous process with the substitution of UF/DF and batch chromatography with IDC and PCC but also a method to optimize PCC by plotting operating areas.
Unexpected gaps in knowledge of familial hypercholesterolaemia among Dutch general practitioners
Authors: Ibrahim Shirin , de Goeij Jim N. , Nurmohamed Nick S. , Pang Jing , van den Bosch Sibbeliene E. , Martens Fabrice M. A. C. , Roeters van Lennep Jeanine E. , Corpeleijn Willemijn , Tumkaya Talip , Hovingh G. Kees , Watts Gerald F. , Stroes Erik S. G. , Reeskamp Laurens F.
Published: April 2024

Background

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) warrants early diagnosis to prevent premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of FH persist. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of FH care among general practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands.

Methods

An internationally standardised, online questionnaire was sent to Dutch GPs between February 2021 and July 2022. The survey assessed knowledge and awareness of FH, encompassing general familiarity, awareness of management guidelines, inheritance, prevalence, CVD risk, and clinical practice related to FH. Comparative analysis was performed using data on primary care physicians from Western Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and the United Kingdom.

Results

Of the 221 participating GPs, 62.4% rated their familiarity with FH as above average (score > 4 on a 1–7 scale), with 91.4% considering themselves familiar with FH treatment and referral guidelines. Correct identification of the FH definition, typical lipid profile, inheritance pattern, prevalence and CVD risk was reported by 83.7%, 87.8%, 55.7%, 19.5%, and 13.6% of the respondents, respectively. Of the participants, 58.4% answered fewer than half of the 8 knowledge questions correctly. Dutch GPs reported greater FH familiarity and guideline awareness compared with their international counterparts but exhibited similar low performance on FH knowledge questions.

Conclusion

Despite the Netherlands’ relatively high FH detection rate, substantial knowledge gaps regarding FH persist among Dutch GPs, mirroring global trends. Enhanced FH education and awareness in primary care are imperative to improve FH detection and ensure adequate treatment. Targeting the global suboptimal understanding of FH might require international efforts.
Immigration, Growth and Unemployment: Panel VAR Evidence From Ε.U. Countries
Authors: Dritsaki Melina , Dritsaki Chaido
Published: April 2024

Migration is primarily propelled by economic and security considerations. As of 2021, the European Union (EU) housed 23.7 million non-EU citizens, emphasizing the crucial need to evaluate the economic ramifications of migration within the EU. This research seeks to scrutinize the impact of migration on economic development and unemployment across the 27 EU nations from 1990 to 2020, utilizing a PVAR model. The Pesaran CIPS test (2007) was employed for second-generation unit root testing, while cointegration was examined using the ARDL panel model. The ARDL panel model and error correction model were employed to assess causal relationships and their directions. Initial tests indicated that the fixed effects model was the most suitable, and there existed cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity among EU countries. Furthermore, second-generation unit root tests indicated that the variables were integrated at order I(0) or I(1). The study’s findings demonstrate a significant positive correlation between both GDP per capita and the unemployment rate with the net migration rate to EU countries. Causal effects revealed a bidirectional long-term causal relationship between migration and unemployment, as well as a unidirectional long-term causal relationship between growth and migration, and growth and unemployment. Short-term Granger causality indicated a bidirectional causal relationship among all the variables under examination.
Enhancing baffle columns’ performance to mitigate sedimentation at intake structures
Authors: Fahmy Wail A. , Ali Abdelazim M. , El-Bahlol Mohamed N. , Ibrahim M. M. , Samy Abeer
Published: April 2024

The improvement and capacity increasing of hydropower stations have brought attention to the intake structures of water-cooling systems, which suction water from alluvial channels. The accumulation of sediment in the vicinity of these intake structures poses significant operational challenges, such as strong vortices, and irregular flow distribution at pump intakes. One effective approach is the implementation of a sediment deflector system using baffle columns as avoided wall (L-Shape profile) with specific dimensions and arrangement to allow water to go through while preventing sediment ingress into the power station intakes. L-Shape profile means double voided walls, one of them parallel to flow direction while the other wall perpendicular to the flow direction in the upstream of the intake structure. The objective of this study is to optimize the performance of the baffle columns of the deflector system in mitigating sedimentation in front of the intake structures. To achieve this, an undistorted physical model with scale 1:50 is utilized to analyze the impact of a defined angle between the two voided walls of the deflector system. Three trials by changing the angle of the double voided walls (L-Shape profile) from 90° to 120°,135°, and 150°. The results of this study indicate that as the inclination angle of the deflector system increased to 150°, it resulted in uniform flow efficiency in the direction of the flow, less accumulative sedimentation ingress the intake.
A geometric analysis-based approach toward mechanical analytics of multi-packer completion tubular string
Authors: Deng Tiannan , Zeng Ziqiang , Xu Jiuping , Wen Jinxing
Published: April 2024

Multi-packer completion strings have played a pivotal role in secure exploitation of oil and gas, increasing production and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. While the integration of multi-packer structures has proven advantageous in oil and gas exploration, it has introduced complexities in load distribution, consequently giving rise to safety concerns. This study undertakes a thorough examination of the mechanical analysis pertaining to multi-packer completion strings. We present an analytical model for predicting the axial forces acting on the multi-packer string, utilizing the geometric constraint arising from the immobility of packers. It is demonstrated that the pressure differentials at the packers exhibit uniqueness in relation to both initial and boundary conditions, as well as the geometrical constraint. This paper provides an analytical solution for these pressure differentials. Novel concepts regarding the eigen-matrix of an N-packer completion string, influenced solely by Poisson’s ratio, a virtual $$(N+1)$$

(
N
+
1
)

th packer and the eigen-depth and eigen-ratio of two adjacent packers, are proposed and their applications are discussed. Furthermore, this paper delves into a deeper examination of the multi-packer string’s underlying mechanism. A consistent algorithm grounded in geometric analysis is developed based on the analytical model. Validation of our model is performed using three practical cases across various operation conditions, and the results demonstrate the efficacy of this methodology in accurately predicting failure occurrences. Sensitivity analysis results further substantiate the robustness of this method in practical applications. Additionally, it has been shown that strategically positioning the packers in areas where the string is highly prone to fractures significantly enhances the safety of the multi-packer string system. The findings presented in this paper offer a foundational framework for analyzing the mechanical behavior of constrained strings. Furthermore, there is potential for the development of the analytical model to incorporate additional factors, such as string system with packers of semi-free or free movement. The proposed method is also of fundamental significance for safety evaluation of string systems in carbon storage projects, which is obtaining increasing attention in the context of carbon neutralization.
Ni2+ removal by ion exchange resins and activated carbon: a benchtop NMR study
Authors: Bernardi M. , Hantson A.-L. , Caulier G. , Eyley S. , Thielemans W. , De Weireld G. , Gossuin Y.
Published: April 2024

Heavy metal pollution in water is a critical environmental concern, demanding effective remediation techniques. Traditional methods, including ion exchange and adsorption, often rely on inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectroscopy/mass spectrometry (AES/MS) for the indirect and time-consuming measurement of residual metal concentrations. In contrast, this study employs innovative direct monitoring of nickel removal by benchtop NMR relaxometry using the paramagnetic properties of Ni2+. To prove the feasibility of the NMR follow-up of Ni2+ uptake, batch experiments were performed with Amberlite IR120, Amberlite IRC748, Dowex Marathon MSC, and activated carbon (AC), which were previously characterized by various techniques. The effect of contact time, pH, and Ni2+ concentration on removal efficiency were studied. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models were used. The Langmuir model effectively described the equilibrium isotherms. The longitudinal and transverse relaxation curves of the loaded resins were biexponential. For sulfonic resins, a strong correlation was observed between the relaxation rates of the fast-relaxing fraction and the Ni2+ content determined by ICP-AES/MS. For IRC748, the effect of Ni2+ loading on the relaxation rates was weaker because of Ni2+ complexation. The relaxation curves of loaded AC revealed multiple fractions. Centrifugation was employed to eliminate the contribution of intergranular water. The remaining intragranular water contribution was biexponential. For high Ni2+ loadings, the relaxation rates of the slow relaxing fraction increased with the AC Ni2+ content. These results mark the initial stage in developing a column experiment to monitor, in real-time, adsorbent loading by NMR relaxometry.
Agricultural drainage pipe in Guadua angustifolia: implications of Manning roughness in Pitalito forest stands
Authors: Duarte-Toro M. , Silva-Chavarro J. M. , Gil-Hernandez J. A.
Published: April 2024

Water extraction in agricultural fields with high saturation levels requires drainage systems that increase land preparation costs, so looking for new options for materials that function as drainage pipes that provide a better technical–economic relationship is crucial. In this study, Manning roughness values were analyzed in the culms of Guadua angustifolia considering three factors: flow, section, and location site of the forest stands. This study was carried out in the rural area of the municipality of Pitalito; the characterization of culms was made based on the Colombian technical standards (NTC) 5726 and 5727, the cutting and elaboration of test pieces according to the NTC 5525, and finally, the hydraulic tests were carried out. The roughness values oscillated between 0.1089 and 0.0337 according to the different flow evaluated values in the laboratory tests, between 0.1004 and 0.0356 for the sections analyzed, and between 0.0909 and 0.0533 according to the sample extraction area. The multifactor ANOVA established a significant relationship for the flow and section on the Manning n roughness, while the zone was insignificant.
On Bloch’s “Principle of Topological Continuity”
Authors: Bergweiler Walter , Eremenko Alexandre
Published: April 2024

We discuss to what extent certain results about totally ramified values of entire and meromorphic functions remain valid if one relaxes the hypothesis that some value is totally ramified by assuming only that all islands over some Jordan domain are multiple. In particular, we prove a result suggested by Bloch which says that an entire function of order less than 1 has a simple island over at least one of two given Jordan domains with disjoint closures.
Self-perceived oral health and orofacial aesthetics of cleft patients
Authors: van der Knaap-Kind L. S. , Schipper L. A. , Bonifacio C. C. , Wolvius E. B. , Kragt L.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the self-perceived oral health and aesthetics of the dentition and jaw in patients with different types of oral cleft, measured by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Additionally, to compare the results of the PROMs between cleft lip and or/palate (CL/P) patients and non-affected controls.

Methods

420 CL/P patients treated at the cleft team of the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, were included, and 138 non-cleft patients were recruited as control-group. Patient’s perceptions were retrospectively evaluated using the CLEFT-Q Teeth for dental aesthetics at ages 8, 12 and 22, CLEFT-Q Jaw for jaw aesthetics at ages 12 and 22, and the Child Oral Health Impact Profile—Oral Symptoms Subscale (COHIP-OSS) for oral health at ages 8 and 12. One-way ANOVA was used to compare differences in oral health and aesthetic perceptions among age-groups, cleft types, as well as between cases and controls.

Results

CL/P patients were significantly less satisfied than controls with their dental aesthetics (p = 0.001). CL/P patients reported significantly lower satisfaction on CLEFT-Q Teeth scores at ages 8 and 12, than at 22 years (p < 0.001). Patients with the most extensive cleft phenotype, Cleft Lip and Palate (CLAP), reported lowest satisfaction on the CLEFT-Q Teeth. No differences in perceptions of oral health nor in aesthetics of the jaw were found in the different cleft types, ages, nor in study versus control group.

Conclusion

This study found differences in self-perceived dental aesthetics: CL/P patients are less satisfied than non-affected controls. CLAP patients are least satisfied, but satisfaction increases with age.
Skin tests, serological IgE detection, basophil test—what is available, useful and helps to clarify a mold allergy?
Authors: Raulf Monika , Kespohl Sabine
Published: April 2024

The prevalence of sensitization to molds is low in healthy people, but significant in asthmatics. As it has not yet been possible to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the presence of mold allergens and the occurrence of allergic symptoms, there is a great deal of uncertainty. The update of the S2k guideline “Medical–clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure” should help to objectify the topic. Based on the recommendations listed there for the diagnosis of suspected IgE-mediated mold allergy, this article presents the possibilities of skin tests, IgE determinations, and other in vitro test options, but also their limitations in clarifying the cause. Potential possibilities include component-resolved allergy diagnostics, while the limitations include the difficult standardization of test allergen extracts due to the complex allergen source and the insufficient commercial availability of the test extracts. A diagnostic algorithm is presented as a tool for a systematic approach to patients with suspected mold-associated respiratory allergy.
Comparing Face-to-Face, Blended and Online Teaching Approaches for Practical Skill Acquisition: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Forde Cuisle , O’Brien Annie , Croitoru Ovidiu , Molloy Nadine , Amisano Chiara , Brennan Iain , McInerney Adam
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The efficacy of blended and online teaching methods for practical skill acquisition remains ambiguous, particularly for skills requiring haptic awareness and/or sensory training. This study aims to compare three teaching methods (face-to-face, blended, online) for the acquisition of skills requiring sensory learning and haptic awareness. A secondary aim was to explore student experience of each teaching approach.

Design

A post-test only randomised controlled trial.

Methods

Forty-seven participants chose between learning two skills: manual measurement of blood pressure during exercise (BPM) and/or skin fold measurement using callipers (SKM). Participants were randomised to one of three learning groups: face-to-face (n = 23), blended (n = 22) and online (n = 26). Assessors determined skill competency during an in-person skill demonstration session. A survey captured student experiences.

Results

For SKM, there was a statistically significant difference in skill competency between the online learning group (17% achieved competency) and both the face-to-face (75% achieved competency; p = 0.011) and blended (89% achieved competency; p = 0.001) learning groups. For BPM, the online group had the lowest percentage of participants achieve overall skill competency. Both knowledge-based and sensory-based sub-competencies were negatively affected by the online learning method. For both skills, students in the face-to-face and blended learning group were significantly more confident in their knowledge and their ability to perform the skill in a clinical setting, compared to the online learning group.

Conclusion

Both face-to-face and blended teaching methods were more effective at leading to skill acquisition and were preferred by students when compared to a fully online teaching method.
Digital Nudging and Cookie Rejection: An Experiment
Authors: Congiu Luca , Moscati Ivan , Scacchi Matteo
Published: April 2024

When browsing the Internet, web users tend to accept all cookies even though this may threaten their online security. We apply a salience nudge and a framing nudge to the design of a cookie banner and test their individual and combined effectiveness in fostering rejection of unnecessary cookies in an online experiment (N = 358). The salience nudge makes the rejection button more visible, and the framing nudge phrases button labels as negations. Compared to the control with no nudges, which elicited a rejection rate of 27%, the salience nudge increased rejection rate by 7 percentage points (but p = 0.305), the framing nudge by 18 pp (p = 0.009), and the combination of the two by 53 pp (p < 0.0001). We also find that, when users are offered a customization option rather than the rejection button, only 3% of them select the option and reject non-necessary cookies. Finally, we explore how cookie rejection is related to the time users spend making the decision and to their personality traits. Our findings suggest that cookie rejection can indeed be fostered by an appropriate design of cookie banners and that legislation for protecting the online security of users should introduce specific design guidelines.
Interface Engineering of Titanium Nitride Nanotube Composites for Excellent Microwave Absorption at Elevated Temperature
Authors: Li Cuiping , Li Dan , Zhang Shuai , Ma Long , Zhang Lei , Zhang Jingwei , Gong Chunhong
Published: April 2024

Currently, the microwave absorbers usually suffer dreadful electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) performance damping at elevated temperature due to impedance mismatching induced by increased conduction loss. Consequently, the development of high-performance EMWA materials with good impedance matching and strong loss ability in wide temperature spectrum has emerged as a top priority. Herein, due to the high melting point, good electrical conductivity, excellent environmental stability, EM coupling effect, and abundant interfaces of titanium nitride (TiN) nanotubes, they were designed based on the controlling kinetic diffusion procedure and Ostwald ripening process. Benefiting from boosted heterogeneous interfaces between TiN nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), enhanced polarization loss relaxations were created, which could not only improve the depletion efficiency of EMWA, but also contribute to the optimized impedance matching at elevated temperature. Therefore, the TiN nanotubes/PDMS composite showed excellent EMWA performances at varied temperature (298–573 K), while achieved an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) value of 3.23 GHz and a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of − 44.15 dB at 423 K. This study not only clarifies the relationship between dielectric loss capacity (conduction loss and polarization loss) and temperature, but also breaks new ground for EM absorbers in wide temperature spectrum based on interface engineering.
Automating the repair of potholes using machine techniques and digitally crafted asphalt cartridges
Authors: Awuah Frank K. A. , Garcia-Hernandez Alvaro , Thom Nick
Published: April 2024

Potholes are a major problem on road networks as they reduce driving safety and pavement structural integrity. Current repair methods through filling are labour-intensive and unsafe to workers. This paper presents a new approach to filling potholes with less human intervention. The proposed method adopted a modified 3D printer as the automated pothole filling machine. The machine’s operational paramaters, such as extrusion speed, were optimised to maximise the extrusion rate of asphalt mixtures and enhance the efficiency of the filling process. A new digital design method was developed to quickly select the right aggregate-bitumen proportions for asphalt repair cartridges that meet desired performance standards such as extrusion rate, Marshall stability, Marshall flow, and air void contents. The quality of filled potholes was assessed by measuring the rutting depth. The machine fills exhibited 86% rutting resistance compared to hand fills, indicating its future potential to replace current manual methods.
Examining Educational and Career Transition Points Among a Diverse, Virtual Mentoring Network
Authors: Thompson Erika L. , Syed Toufeeq Ahmed , Latif Zainab , Stinson Katie , Javier Damaris , Saleh Gabrielle , Vishwanatha Jamboor K.
Published: April 2024

Given the differences in trajectory for under-represented minorities in biomedical careers, we sought to explore how a virtual mentoring program, the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN), and its platform (MyNRMN), may facilitate transitions in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) pipeline. The purpose of this study was to describe how the size of an MyNRMN member’s mentoring network and level of engagement correlate with academic and career transitions. We examined MyNRMN platform user data from March 2020 to May 2021 (n = 2993). Logistic regression estimated the odds of a career or academic transition related to NRMN mentoring network size and engagement, while adjusting for confounders. Among active MyNRMN users for the one-year period, 5.2% (n = 155) had a positive transition. In the adjusted logistic regression model, users with more engagement on the MyNRMN platform (201 + points) had significantly higher odds of a positive transition (aOR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.14, 4.22) compared to those with 1–50 NRMN Points. Network size was not statistically significant. This study shows an association between being active within a virtual mentoring network and positive educational and career transitions in the STEMM pipeline. Active engagement in a virtual mentoring network may have benefits for mentees who aspire to join the STEMM workforce.
The Nature and Scope of Reported Child Maltreatment in Euro-CAN Countries: Current Evidence and Future Opportunities
Authors: Jud Andreas , Neelakantan Lakshmi , Rajter Miroslav , Græsholt-Knudsen Troels , Witt Andreas , Ntinapogias Athanasios , Quantin Catherine , Korhonen Laura , Roth Maria , Daniunaite Ieva , Bettencourt Rodrigues Leonor , Whelan Sadhbh , Włodarczyk Joanna , Otterman Gabriel
Published: April 2024

Most European Cooperation on Science and Technology (COST) affiliated countries aim to advance the goal of protecting children from maltreatment. However, despite the increasing numbers of population-based surveys, the development of administrative data systems has lagged. In this study, we aimed to examine the current state of development of administrative data systems in a sample of countries represented in the COST Action 19106 network, Multi-Sectoral Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect in Europe: Incidence and Trends (Euro-CAN). A structured questionnaire was distributed to researchers and professionals within Euro-CAN-affiliated countries, which captured economic, legislative, systemic, and data infrastructure characteristics. Thematic trends for 13 sampled countries were presented descriptively. The implementation of legislative measures such as banning corporal punishment varied substantially, with some countries decades apart. Almost all sampled countries mandate reports of suspected child maltreatment for all or some professionals in contact with children. In most countries, public child protection, health, or law enforcement systems are decentralized, and unsubstantiated/inconclusive incidents of suspected child maltreatment are not systematically collected at the national level. Child maltreatment data is not routinely collected in health sectors in all sampled countries. Where data is collected in different sectors, such as police and child protection agencies, different descriptions are often used. Systematic data linkage remains a seldom occurrence with only a few countries offering this capability. The call for Euro-CAN countries to develop multi-sectoral data systems to capture recorded instances of child maltreatment remains relevant.
Characterization of urban agriculture and farmers’ climate change adaptation: the case of Urban Wa, Ghana
Authors: Naazie Godwin K. , Agyemang Isaac , Tampah-Naah Anthony M.
Published: April 2024

Urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to significantly improve urban food security and feed the underprivileged when promoted. In Ghana, urban agriculture has several characteristics that distinguish it from traditional farming practices. However, climate change poses a significant threat to urban agriculture, as changing weather patterns can lead to droughts, floods, and extreme weather events that damage crops and animals. This study explored the characteristics of urban food crops and livestock production in the Wa township, Ghana. Mixed methods of data collection and analysis were employed. A sample of 362 urban households was administered survey questionnaires supplemented with 12 key informant interviews. Descriptive and content analysis were carried out, with the results presented in tables, graphs, and narratives. The study found that amidst climatic stressors, urban agriculture is characterized by the production of animals such as chickens, sheep, and goats and crops like maize, yam, beans, cabbage, and pumpkin. Land is acquired through purchasing, though other farmers obtain land from relatives and friends. There is a very strong relationship between residential class and the type of urban farming (Cramer’s V = 0.291 > 0.25) and a moderate relationship between residential class and land acquisition type (Cramer’s V = 0.108 > 0.10). The study concludes that urban farming is characterized by mixed farming coupled with crop diversification, which has implications for climate change adaptation measures. To adapt urban agriculture to climatic stressors, the study recommends that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) should streamline agricultural policy interventions in urban agriculture to promote agriculture intensification.
The problem and countermeasures of the failure of the rural social security system to reduce poverty
Authors: Dai Luote , Guo Yuchun
Published: April 2024

The rural social security system is not only a major livelihood issue related to China's rural population, but also an important basis for the sustainable development of rural economy. This article discusses the problem of the failure of the rural social security system to reduce poverty, in a field survey and interview in a village in North China, further analyze was carried out on the derivative path of poverty caused by social security policies, and it was found that the lack of social security policies, obstacles to policy implementation, negative response policies and so on, It makes the security level and poverty reduction ability of rural social security policy appear obvious deficiencies. Based on the analysis of this paper, the corresponding governance countermeasures are put forward. By strengthening poverty governance, improving the implementation environment of poverty governance, improving cognitive bias and improving the efficiency of poverty reduction.
Fractional-Order Water Flow Optimizer
Authors: Tang Zhentao , Wang Kaiyu , Zang Yan , Zhu Qianyu , Todo Yuki , Gao Shangce
Published: April 2024

The water flow optimizer (WFO) is the latest swarm intelligence algorithm inspired by the shape of water flow. Its advantages of simplicity, efficiency, and robust performance have motivated us to further enhance it. In this paper, we introduce fractional-order (FO) technology with memory properties into the WFO, called fractional-order water flow optimizer (FOWFO). To verify the superior performance and practicality of FOWFO, we conducted comparisons with nine state-of-the-art algorithms on benchmark functions from the IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2017 (CEC2017) and four real-world optimization problems with large dimensions. Additionally, tuning adjustments were made for two crucial parameters within the fractional-order framework. Finally, an analysis was performed on the balance between exploration and exploitation within FOWFO and its algorithm complexity.
Forensic Linguistics in China
Authors: Chuanyou Yuan , Youping Xu , Nan Lu
Published: April 2024

This Element offers a comprehensive examination of forensic linguistics in China. It traces the origins of the field in the 1980s and 1990s, and highlights the progress made in the 2000s, with a focus on the work of influential scholars such as Pan Qingyun, Wang Jie, Du Jinbang, Liao Meizhen, Yuan Chuanyou, and Wang Zhenhua. It discusses the development of Discourse Information Theory, the Principle of Goal, Functional Forensic Discourse Analysis, and Legal Discourse as a Social Process. It also analyses studies on language evidence and explores legal translation. It discusses emerging research areas, including cyberbullying language research, internet court discourse analysis, authorship analysis, expert assistance systems, and speaker identification and evidence of forensic phonetics. This Element provides valuable insights into the growth and potential of forensic linguistics in China, serving as a comprehensive resource for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of language and law.
Potential and challenges of depth-resolved three-dimensional MPM simulations: a case study of the 2019 ‘Salezer’ snow avalanche in Davos
Authors: Kyburz Michael Lukas , Sovilla Betty , Bühler Yves , Gaume Johan
Published: April 2024

Avalanche modeling is an essential tool to assess snow avalanche hazard. Today, most popular numerical approaches adopt depth-averaged equations. These methods are computationally efficient but limited in capturing processes occurring in the flow depth direction, e.g. erosion or deposition, which are often considered using ad hoc parameterizations or neglected completely. However, processes such as snow erosion, can crucially influence flow dynamics and run-out and are often not negligible. We address these issues by using a new three-dimensional (3-D) model, based on the material point method and finite strain elastoplasticity. To assess the possibilities and challenges associated with these highly detailed but computationally expensive calculations, we simulated the ‘Salezer’ snow avalanche that released in Davos, Switzerland in 2019. To reproduce the event in our simulations, we use the release areas mapped in a photogrammetric drone survey and estimate the snow conditions on the day of the event. We compare macroscopic features, such as flow outline and snow deposition of the simulated avalanche to field observations. An in-depth analysis of transient 3-D flow structures at the avalanche head not only demonstrates the degree of physical detail in the model, but also highlights challenges which still need to be addressed.