bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enso influence on water vapor transport and thermodynamics over Northwestern South America
Authors: Ruiz-Vásquez Melissa , Arias Paola A. , Martínez J. Alejandro
Published: February 2024

The interannual variability of hydroclimatic conditions in Northwestern South America, especially precipitation, is mainly influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We explore potential mechanisms that affect precipitation occurrence in Northwestern South America during El Niño and La Niña events over the period 1980–2019, using data from the ERA5 reanalysis. We look at the atmospheric moisture contribution from different sources using the Dynamic Recycling Model to track water vapor trajectories. Interestingly, conditions with reduced precipitation during El Niño events can take place along with increased precipitable water. To understand this, we analyze thermodynamic conditions in the atmosphere that are necessary for precipitation to occur over the region, such as convective available potential energy, convective inhibition, lifting condensation level, and low-level relative humidity. With this approach, we find more favorable thermodynamic conditions for the occurrence of precipitation during La Niña events, even if the content of water vapor is equal or even less than during El Niño events. We also look at the structure of the regional Hadley and Walker circulation in both types of events and find that a weaker ascending motion during El Niño events also inhibits convection. This study provides an integral picture of how precipitation anomalies over Northwestern South America during ENSO events are related to dynamic and thermodynamic conditions and sources of atmospheric moisture.
Dynamic indentation of viscoelastic orthotropic layer supported by a Winkler–Pasternak foundation
Authors: Çömez İsa
Published: February 2024

In this study, the two-dimensional dynamic contact problem between a rigid flat punch and a viscoelastic orthotropic layer is investigated. The motivation of the study is to provide a better understanding of the vertical vibration of the two-parameter Winkler–Pasternak foundation, which has not yet been investigated. For the contact problem, the mixed boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces are transformed into linear equations using the Fourier transform technique and Helmholtz functions. Based on the Gauss–Chebyshev integration formula, the singular integral equation is obtained and solved numerically. As a result of the solutions, the effects of various parameters on the contact stresses are analyzed and examples are given. It was found that the Winkler foundation modulus does not affect the dynamic contact stress, while the Pasternak foundation modulus significantly affects the contact stress.
Investigating metabolic dysregulation in serum of triple transgenic Alzheimer’s disease male mice: implications for pathogenesis and potential biomarkers
Authors: Zhuang Hongbin , Cao Xueshan , Tang Xiaoxiao , Zou Yongdong , Yang Hongbo , Liang Zhiyuan , Yan Xi , Chen Xiaolu , Feng Xingui , Shen Liming
Published: February 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that lacks convenient and accessible peripheral blood diagnostic markers and effective drugs. Metabolic dysfunction is one of AD risk factors, which leaded to alterations of various metabolites in the body. Pathological changes of the brain can be reflected in blood metabolites that are expected to explain the disease mechanisms or be candidate biomarkers. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of targeted metabolites within peripheral blood of AD mouse model, with the purpose of exploring the disease mechanism and potential biomarkers. Targeted metabolomics was used to quantify 256 metabolites in serum of triple transgenic AD (3 × Tg-AD) male mice. Compared with controls, 49 differential metabolites represented dysregulation in purine, pyrimidine, tryptophan, cysteine and methionine and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Among them, adenosine, serotonin, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, and acetylcholine play a key role in regulating neural transmitter network. The alteration of S-adenosine-l-homocysteine, S-adenosine-l-methionine, and trimethylamine-N-oxide in AD mice serum can served as indicator of AD risk. The results revealed the changes of metabolites in serum, suggesting that metabolic dysregulation in periphery in AD mice may be related to the disturbances in neuroinhibition, the serotonergic system, sleep function, the cholinergic system, and the gut microbiota. This study provides novel insights into the dysregulation of several key metabolites and metabolic pathways in AD, presenting potential avenues for future research and the development of peripheral biomarkers.
Automatic caries detection in bitewing radiographs—Part II: experimental comparison
Authors: Tichý Antonín , Kunt Lukáš , Nagyová Valéria , Kybic Jan
Published: February 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare the detection of caries in bitewing radiographs by multiple dentists with an automatic method and to evaluate the detection performance in the absence of a reliable ground truth.

Materials and methods

Four experts and three novices marked caries using bounding boxes in 100 bitewing radiographs. The same dataset was processed by an automatic object detection deep learning method. All annotators were compared in terms of the number of errors and intersection over union (IoU) using pairwise comparisons, with respect to the consensus standard, and with respect to the annotator of the training dataset of the automatic method.

Results

The number of lesions marked by experts in 100 images varied between 241 and 425. Pairwise comparisons showed that the automatic method outperformed all dentists except the original annotator in the mean number of errors, while being among the best in terms of IoU. With respect to a consensus standard, the performance of the automatic method was best in terms of the number of errors and slightly below average in terms of IoU. Compared with the original annotator, the automatic method had the highest IoU and only one expert made fewer errors.

Conclusions

The automatic method consistently outperformed novices and performed as well as highly experienced dentists.

Clinical significance

The consensus in caries detection between experts is low. An automatic method based on deep learning can improve both the accuracy and repeatability of caries detection, providing a useful second opinion even for very experienced dentists.
Development of Medical Imaging Data Standardization for Imaging-Based Observational Research: OMOP Common Data Model Extension
Authors: Park Woo Yeon , Jeon Kyulee , Schmidt Teri Sippel , Kondylakis Haridimos , Alkasab Tarik , Dewey Blake E. , You Seng Chan , Nagy Paul
Published: February 2024

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques require access to large inter-institutional cohorts of data to enable the development of robust models, e.g., targeting the identification of disease biomarkers and quantifying disease progression and treatment efficacy. The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP CDM) has been designed to accommodate a harmonized representation of observational healthcare data. This study proposes the Medical Imaging CDM (MI-CDM) extension, adding two new tables and two vocabularies to the OMOP CDM to address the structural and semantic requirements to support imaging research. The tables provide the capabilities of linking DICOM data sources as well as tracking the provenance of imaging features derived from those images. The implementation of the extension enables phenotype definitions using imaging features and expanding standardized computable imaging biomarkers. This proposal offers a comprehensive and unified approach for conducting imaging research and outcome studies utilizing imaging features.
Medical students’ motivations for participating in an elective focused on social inequalities and health disparities
Authors: Arps Shahna , Noviski Krista McCarthy , Tucker Lauren , Tutwiler Ameisha
Published: February 2024

In this study, we examine students’ reasons for pursuing elective training focused on medical racism and systemic health inequities at a midwestern medical school. Data collection included semi-structured interviews with students who participated in an optional course focused on these topics. We analyzed their motivations, goals, and interests using reflexive thematic analysis and created three themes based on students’ responses. Theme (1) “pre-existing conditions” focuses on students’ knowledge, beliefs, worldviews and experience prior to the class. Theme (2) “enacting change” examines their desires to become effective physicians and improve medicine overall. Theme (3) “creating community” considers their preferences for a supportive and connected learning and social environment. We discuss the findings within the context of adult learning theory and Self-Determination Theory. The research provides insight about the overt and underlying factors that drive medical students’ participation in training focused on social inequality. We also share recommendations for curriculum development and future research based on the patterns we found in students’ discussions of their needs and expectations.
Moderately supervised learning: definition, framework and generality
Authors: Yang Yongquan
Published: February 2024

Learning with supervision has achieved remarkable success in numerous artificial intelligence (AI) applications. In the current literature, by referring to the properties of the labels prepared for the training dataset, learning with supervision is categorized as supervised learning (SL) and weakly supervised learning (WSL). SL concerns the situation where the training dataset is assigned with ideal (complete, exact and accurate) labels, while WSL concerns the situation where the training dataset is assigned with non-ideal (incomplete, inexact or inaccurate) labels. However, various solutions for SL tasks under the era of deep learning have shown that the given labels are not always easy to learn, and the transformation from the given labels to easy-to-learn targets can significantly affect the performance of the final SL solutions. Without considering the properties of the transformation from the given labels to easy-to-learn targets, the definition of SL conceals some details that can be critical to building the appropriate solutions for specific SL tasks. Thus, for practitioners in various AI application fields, it is desirable to reveal these details systematically. This article attempts to achieve this goal by expanding the categorization of SL and investigating the sub-type that plays the central role in SL. More specifically, taking into consideration the properties of the transformation from the given labels to easy-to-learn targets, we firstly categorize SL into three narrower sub-types. Then we focus on the moderately supervised learning (MSL) sub-type that concerns the situation where the given labels are ideal, but due to the simplicity in annotation, careful designs are required to transform the given labels into easy-to-learn targets. From the perspectives of the definition, framework and generality, we conceptualize MSL to present a complete fundamental basis to systematically analyse MSL tasks. At meantime, revealing the relation between the conceptualization of MSL and the mathematicians’ vision, this article as well establishes a tutorial for AI application practitioners to refer to viewing a problem to be solved from the mathematicians’ vision.
Responsible Design Thinking for Sustainable Development: Critical Literature Review, New Conceptual Framework, and Research Agenda
Authors: Baldassarre Brian , Calabretta Giulia , Karpen Ingo Oswald , Bocken Nancy , Hultink Erik Jan
Published: February 2024

In the 1960s, influential thinkers defined design as a rational problem-solving approach to deal with the challenges of sustainable human development. In 2009, a design consultant and a business academic selected some of these ideas and successfully branded them with the term “design thinking.” As a result, design thinking has developed into a stream of innovation management research discussing how to innovate faster and better in competitive markets. This article aims to foster a reconsideration of the purposes of design thinking moving forward, in view of the sustainable development challenges intertwined with accelerating innovation in a perpetual economic growth paradigm. To this end, we use a problematization method to challenge innovation management research on design thinking. As part of this method, we first systematically collect and critically analyze the articles in this research stream. We uncover a prominent focus on economic impact, while social and environmental impacts remain largely neglected. To overcome this critical limitation, we integrate design thinking with responsible innovation theorizing. We develop a framework for responsible design thinking, explaining how to apply this approach beyond a private interest and competitive advantage logic, to address sustainable development challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, poverty, and injustice. The framework contributes to strengthening the practical relevance of design thinking and its theoretical foundations. To catalyze this effort, we propose an agenda for future research.
Students’ and facilitators’ experiences with synchronous and asynchronous online dialogic discussions and e-facilitation in understanding the Nature of Science
Authors: Mansour Nasser
Published: February 2024

The existing literature lacks a precise understanding of how online facilitation and dialogic discussions can positively impact students’ comprehension of the Nature of Science (NoS). This study delves into the experiences of students and facilitators engaged in synchronous and asynchronous online dialogic discussions and e-facilitation to enhance our understanding of NoS. An innovative experiment employed a digital dialogue game to engage postgraduate students in a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) secondary science course. The participants included sixty-five PGCE science students and three lecturers specializing in different science disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology). Qualitative data collection methods and analysis, including transcripts of online discussions about NoS topics, were followed by critical event recall interviews to identify specific online dialogue events that significantly contributed to the comprehension of NoS. The findings contribute significantly to comprehending students’ processes in grasping complex and debatable topics such as Nature of Science (NoS) within online dialogic discussions supported by e-facilitation. They emphasize the importance of establishing an open and expansive dialogic space, with a focus on the crucial roles of e-facilitators. The results also highlight a tension between active and passive roles in both synchronous and asynchronous online discussions. Additionally, the study sheds light on the influence of space, time, and texts in understanding NoS through e-facilitated online dialogic discussions. Notably, the research emphasizes the live chat room’s significance within Interloc, accentuating its role as a social space fostering a sense of community and a safe environment for inquiry in online dialogue which supported understanding NoS.
On the Averaging and Closure of Fiber Orientation Tensors in Virtual Process Chains
Authors: Krauß Constantin , Bauer Julian Karl , Mitsch Johannes , Böhlke Thomas , Kärger Luise
Published: February 2024

Fiber orientation tensors (FOT) are widely used to approximate statistical orientation distributions of fibers within fiber-reinforced polymers. The design process of components made of such fiber-reinforced composites is usually accompanied by a virtual process chain. In this virtual process chain, process-induced FOT are computed in a flow simulation and transferred to the structural simulation. Within the structural simulation, effective macroscopic properties are identified based on the averaged information contained in the FOT. Solving the field equations in flow simulations as well as homogenization of effective stiffnesses necessitates the application of a closure scheme, computing higher-order statistical moments based on assumptions. Additionally, non-congruent spatial discretizations require an intermediate mapping operation. This mapping operation is required, if the discretization, i.e., mesh, of the flow simulation differs from the discretization of the structural simulation. The main objective of this work is to give an answer to the question: Does the sequence of closure and mapping influence the achieved results? It will turn out, that the order influences the result, raising the consecutive question: Which order is beneficial? Both questions are addressed by deriving a quantification of the closure-related uncertainty. The two possible sequences, mapping followed by closure and closure followed by mapping, yield strongly different results, with the magnitude of the deviation even exceeding the magnitude of a reference result. Graphical consideration reveals that for both transversely isotropic and planar FOT-input, invalid results occur if the mapping takes place prior to closure. This issue is retrieved by orientation averaging stiffness tensors. As a by-product, we explicitly define for the first time the admissible parameter space of orthotropic fourth-order fiber orientation tensors and define a distance measure in this parameter space.
Trace element levels in the muscles of three tern species (Aves: Laridae) from the western Arabian Gulf: environmental assessment and implications for conservation
Authors: Yacoubi Lamia , Savoca Dario , El Zrelli Radhouan Belgacem , Gopalan Jinoy , Nazal Mazen , Lin Yu-Jia , Maccotta Antonella , Hamza Foued , Bhuyan Md. Simul , Arculeo Marco , Rabaoui Lotfi Jilani
Published: February 2024

In the Arabian Gulf (called also Persian Gulf; hereafter 'the Gulf'), Jana and Karan Islands are recognized as one of the most Important Bird Areas in the region. Many migratory breeding seabirds, like the Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii, White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa and Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus, depend on these islands during the breeding season. However, these aquatic wildlife species are suffering from intensified urban and industrial coastal development and various contamination events including wars and related oil spills. In this study, we used these three piscivorous top predator birds to analyse the levels of 19 trace elements (TEs; i.e. Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) in 15 muscular tissue samples from Jana and Karan Islands. PERMANOVA analysis showed no difference in contamination profile between sites nor between species probably due to their spatial and ecological proximity and therefore similar levels of exposure to TEs. Comparing these levels with existing literature, our results showed no particular concern for all elements, except for Al (maximum values recorded = 116.5 µg g−1 d.w.) and, in two samples, Ba (33.67 µg g−1 d.w.) and Pb (5.6 µg g−1 d.w.). The results can be considered as an initial step for supplementary evaluations with a larger number of samples and specified time intervals for the collection of specimens. This study provided baseline information on the pollution status of these two ecologically important sites which require a continuous biomonitoring programme.
Orbital septum attachment site on the levator aponeurosis sling for mild congenital blepharoptosis
Authors: Yang Jianwei , Song Lihua , Tan Yan , Zhang Lulu , Wang Juan , Liu Limin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the value of the orbital septum attachment site on the levator aponeurosis (OSASLA) sling in correcting mild congenital blepharoptosis.

Methods

A total of 60 patients (92 eyes) with mild congenital blepharoptosis (levator function ≥ 8 mm) were treated in our hospital from January to October 2021, and relevant data of these patients were collected. All patients underwent OSASLA sling for ptosis correction. The distances from the superior tarsal border to the OSASLA were measured. The primary outcome was the number of postoperative changes in the marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1). Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the distance from the superior tarsal border to the OSASLA and the height of the upper eyelid elevated was analyzed.

Results

Fifty-eight patients (89 eyes) successfully underwent OSASLA sling surgery. The preoperative MRD1 was 1.4–3.6 mm (mean 2.1 ± 0.5 mm), and the postoperative MRD1 was 3.4–5.0 mm (mean 3.7 ± 0.6 mm). The distance from the superior tarsal border to the OSASLA sling was significantly and positively correlated with the height of the upper eyelid elevation (r = 0.7328, P < 0.0001). The eyelid margin positions of the patients did not regress substantially during 6–18 months of follow-up.

Conclusions

Compared with the shortening of levator palpebrae superioris (LPS) and pleating of LPS, the OSASLA sling is a less invasive, more effective, and easy-operating surgery for mild congenital blepharoptosis.
Atypical Impact of Action Effect Delay on Motor Performance in Autism
Authors: Karsh Noam , Hartston Marissa , Hadad Bat-Sheva
Published: February 2024

Atypical sensory perception and motor impairments are primary features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that indicate atypical development and predict social and non-social challenges. However, their link is poorly understood. Sensory perception is often integrated with motor processes when a sensory effect is temporally contiguous with the motor response. Such sensory-motor coupling further improves motor behavior. Previous studies indicate alterations in sensory perception of action-effect temporal contiguity in ASD, which bares the question of how it may impact motor performance. People diagnosed with ASD and typically developed (TD) participants performed a speeded reaction-time task previously established to capture the facilitating impact of action’s perceptual effect on motor response selection. The sensitivity of this mechanism to delays in the effect was measured, manipulating the action-effect temporal contiguity in a within-subject design. An immediate action effect (compared to a No-effect condition) facilitated response selection in the TD group. This facilitation effect was evident in the ASD group but did not show the typical sensitivity to the effect delay. While in the TD group, RT was shorter in the short (225ms) compared to the long (675ms) action effect delay condition, this distinguished pattern was absent in the ASD group. The findings provide supporting evidence that atypical motor performance in ASD results, at least in part, from an altered sensory perception of action effect temporal contiguity. We discuss the results in light of the reduced perceptual specialization account in ASD and its potential for undermining adaptive sensorimotor processes.
Cu-Graphene water-based hybrid nanofluids: synthesis, stability, thermophysical characterization, and figure of merit analysis
Authors: Shaik Aabid Hussain , Chakraborty Samarshi , Saboor Shaik , Kumar Kodi Rajesh , Majumdar Aaroh , Rizwan Mohammed , Arıcı Müslüm , Chandan Mohammed Rehaan
Published: February 2024

Hybrid nanofluids are emerging as an alternative to conventional heat transfer fluids and nanofluids for improving the thermal efficiency of heat exchanging devices synergistically due to their outstanding thermophysical properties associated because of the dispersion of different types of nanoparticles as compared to mono nanofluids. This will help in optimizing fluid characteristics in different flow regimes for several applications. However, enhancing the thermal energy efficiency of heat exchangers is challenging owing to the deprived stability of hybrid nanofluids at greater volume concentrations. This work concentrated on the synthesizing, thermophysical depiction, and thermal performance estimation of stable water-based Cu-graphene hybrid nanofluids using very low volume concentrations of Cu and graphene hybrid nanostructures. Cu-graphene hybrid nanofluid was successfully synthesized by dispersing the synthesized Cu and graphene nanostructures (keeping the Cu concentration constant at 0.04 vol % and varying the graphene concentration from 0.01 to 0.1 vol %) in water. Hybrid nanofluids display excellent stability against aggregation for up to 7 weeks, as proven by higher zeta potential values. Thermophysical characteristics of the prepared hybrid nanofluids were effectively measured. The thermal conductivity of Cu-graphene hybrid nanofluids shows exceptional enrichment (~ 35%) at minimal concentrations of hybrid nanostructures. Viscosity of the water-based hybrid nanofluids shows remarkable enhancement as compared to water and represents the increasing trend in viscosity of the base fluid with respect to the increase in concentration of hybrid nanostructures. The thermal and rheological properties of hybrid nanofluids are effectively validated with existing theoretical models. In addition, the specific heat and pumping power of Cu-graphene hybrid nanofluids with respect to the volume concentration of hybrid nanostructures are calculated using the existing theoretical equations. A figure of merit (FOM) analysis was conducted for the synthesized hybrid nanofluids to gauge thermal efficiency and evaluate the applicability of these hybrid nanofluids under laminar and turbulent flow conditions.
$$\beta $$-Ensembles and higher genera Catalan numbers
Authors: Cassia Luca , Posch Vera , Zabzine Maxim
Published: February 2024

We propose formulas for the large N expansion of the generating function of connected correlators of the $$\beta $$
β
-deformed Gaussian and Wishart–Laguerre matrix models. We show that our proposal satisfies the known transformation properties under the exchange of $$\beta $$
β
with $$1/\beta $$

1
/
β

and, using Virasoro constraints, we derive a recursion formula for the coefficients of the expansion. In the undeformed limit $$\beta =1$$

β
=
1

, these coefficients are integers and they have the combinatorial interpretation of generalized Catalan numbers. For generic $$\beta $$
β
, we define the higher genus Catalan polynomials $$C_{g,\nu }(\beta )$$

C

g
,
ν

(
β
)

whose coefficients are integer numbers.
AS-Net: active speaker detection using deep audio-visual attention
Authors: Radman Abduljalil , Laaksonen Jorma
Published: February 2024

Active Speaker Detection (ASD) aims at identifying the active speaker among multiple speakers in a video scene. Previous ASD models often seek audio and visual features from long video clips with a complex 3D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture. However, models based on 3D CNNs can generate discriminative spatial-temporal features, but this comes at the expense of computational complexity, and they frequently face challenges in detecting active speakers in short video clips. This work proposes the Active Speaker Network (AS-Net) model, a simple yet effective ASD method tailored for detecting active speakers in relatively short video clips without relying on 3D CNNs. Instead, it incorporates the Temporal Shift Module (TSM) into 2D CNNs, facilitating the extraction of dense temporal visual features without the need for additional computations. Moreover, self-attention and cross-attention schemes are introduced to enhance long-term temporal audio-visual synchronization, thereby improving ASD performance. Experimental results demonstrate that AS-Net outperforms state-of-the-art 2D CNN-based methods on the AVA-ActiveSpeaker dataset and remains competitive with the methods utilizing more complex architectures.
Simplified Multi-head Mechanism for Few-Shot Remote Sensing Image Classification
Authors: Qiao Xujian , Xing Lei , Han Anxun , Liu Weifeng , Liu Baodi
Published: February 2024

The study of few-shot remote sensing image classification has received significant attention. Although meta-learning-based algorithms have been the primary focus of recent examination, feature fusion methods stress feature extraction and representation. Nonetheless, current feature fusion methods, like the multi-head mechanism, are restricted by their complicated network structure and challenging training process. This manuscript presents a simplified multi-head mechanism for obtaining multiple feature representations from a single sample. Furthermore, we perform specific fundamental transformations on remote-sensing images to obtain more suitable features for information representation. Specifically, we reduce multiple feature extractors of the multi-head mechanism to a single one and add an image transformation module before the feature extractor. After transforming the image, the features are extracted resulting in multiple features for each sample. The feature fusion stage is integrated with the classification prediction stage, and multiple linear classifiers are combined for multi-decision fusion to complete feature fusion and classification. By combining image transformation with feature decision fusion, we compare our results with other methods through validation tests and demonstrate that our algorithm simplifies the multi-head mechanism while maintaining or improving classification performance.
Different patient versus provider perspectives on living with Cushing’s disease
Authors: Halstrom Amanda , Lin I.-Hsin , Lin Andrew , Cohen Marc , Tabar Viviane , Geer Eliza B.
Published: February 2024

Context

Patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) face challenges living with and receiving appropriate care for this rare, chronic condition. Even with successful treatment, many patients experience ongoing symptoms and impaired quality of life (QoL). Different perspectives and expectations between patients and healthcare providers (HCPs) may also impair well-being.

Objective

To examine differences in perspectives on living with CD between patients and HCPs, and to compare care goals and unmet needs.

Design

Memorial Sloan Kettering Pituitary Center established an annual pituitary symposium for pituitary patients and HCPs. Through anonymous pre-program surveys distributed at the 2020 and 2022 symposia, patients and HCPs answered questions related to their own sense, or perception of their patients’ sense, of hope, choice, and loneliness in the context of living with CD.

Participants

From 655 participants over two educational events, 46 patients with CD and 116 HCPs were included. Median age of both groups was 51 years. 78.3% of the patients were female vs. 53.0% of the HCPs.

Results

More patients than HCPs reported they had no choices in their treatment (21.7% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.001). More patients reported feeling alone living with CD than HCPs’ perception of such (60.9% vs. 45.5%, P = 0.08). The most common personal care goal concern for patients was ‘QoL/mental health,’ vs. ‘medical therapies/tumor control’ for HCPs. The most common CD unmet need reported by patients was ‘education/awareness’ vs. ‘medical therapies/tumor control’ for HCPs.

Conclusions

CD patients experience long term symptoms and impaired QoL which may in part be due to a perception of lack of effective treatment options and little hope for improvement. Communicating experiences and care goals may improve long term outcomes for CD patients.
An Interesting Correlation Between the Peak Slope and Peak Value of a Sunspot Cycle
Authors: Pesnell W. Dean
Published: February 2024

The maximum slope of the sunspot number during the rising phase of a sunspot cycle has an excellent correlation with the maximum value of the sunspot number during that cycle. This is demonstrated using a Savitzky–Golay filter to both smooth and calculate the derivative of the sunspot-number data. Version 2 of the International Sunspot Number ($S$
S
) is used to represent solar activity. The maximum of the slope during the rising phase of each cycle was correlated against the peaks of solar activity. Using three different correlation fits, the average predicted amplitude for Solar Cycle 25 is 130.7 ± 0.5, among the best correlations in solar predictions. A possible explanation for this correlation is given by the similar behavior of a shape function representing the time variation of the sunspot number. This universal function also provides the timing of the solar maximum by the time from the slope maximum to the peak in the function as late 2023 or early 2024. A Hilbert transform gives similar results, which are caused by the dominance of the 11-yr sunspot-cycle period in a Fourier fit of the sunspot number.
Differences and similarities in radial growth of Betula species to climate change
Authors: Liu Di , An Yang , Li Zhao , Wang Zhihui , Zhao Yinghui , Wang Xiaochun
Published: February 2024

Betula platyphylla and Betula costata are important species in mixed broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests. However, the specific ways in which their growth is affected by warm temperatures and drought remain unclear. To address this issue, 60 and 62 tree-ring cores of B. platyphylla and B. costata were collected in Yichun, China. Using dendrochronological methods, the response and adaptation of these species to climate change were examined. A “hysteresis effect” was found in the rings of both species, linked to May–September moisture conditions of the previous year. Radial growth of B. costata was positively correlated with the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI), the precipitation from September to October of the previous year, and the relative humidity in October of the previous year. Growth of B. costata is primarily restricted by moisture conditions from September to October. In contrast, B. platyphylla growth is mainly limited by minimum temperatures in May–June of both the previous and current years. After droughts, B. platyphylla had a faster recovery rate compared to B. costata. In the context of rising temperatures since 1980, the correlation between B. platyphylla growth and monthly SPEI became positive and strengthened over time, while the growth of B. costata showed no conspicuous change. Our findings suggest that the growth of B. platyphylla is already affected by warming temperatures, whereas B. costata may become limited if warming continues or intensifies. Climate change could disrupt the succession of these species, possibly accelerating the succession of pioneer species. The results of this research  are of great significance for understanding how the growth changes of birch species under warming and drying conditions, and contribute to understanding the structural adaptation of mixed broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests under climate change.
Ethnobiological kinds and material grounding: comments on Ludwig
Authors: Reydon Thomas A. C. , Ereshefsky Marc
Published: February 2024

In a recent article, David Ludwig proposed to reorient the debate on natural kinds away from inquiring into the naturalness of kinds and toward elucidating the materiality of kinds. This article responds to Ludwig’s critique of a recently proposed account of kinds and classification, the Grounded Functionality Account, against which Ludwig offsets his own account, and criticizes Ludwig’s proposal to shift focus from naturalness to materiality in the philosophy of kinds and classification.
In temperate Europe, fire is already here: The case of The Netherlands
Authors: Stoof Cathelijne R. , Kok Edwin , Cardil Forradellas Adrián , van Marle Margreet J. E.
Published: February 2024

Landscape fires are usually not associated with temperate Europe, yet not all temperate countries record statistics indicating that actual risks remain unknown. Here we introduce new wildfire statistics for The Netherlands, and summarize significant events and fatalities. The period 2017–2022 saw 611 wildfires and 405 ha burned per year, which Copernicus’ European Forest Fire Information System satellite data vastly underestimate. Fires burned more heathland than forest, were small (mean fire size 1.5 ha), were caused by people, and often burned simultaneously, in Spring and in Summer drought. Suppression, restoration and traffic delays cost 3 M€ year−1. Dozens of significant events illustrate fire has never been away and has major societal impact amidst grave concerns for firefighter safety. Since 1833, 31 fatalities were reported. A legal framework is needed to ensure continuity of recordkeeping, as the core foundation of integrated fire management, to create a baseline for climate change, and to fulfill international reporting requirements.
The importance of the multidisciplinary team in the decision-making process of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Fancellu Alessandro , Pasqualitto Valerio , Cottu Pietrina , Giuliani Giuliana , Grasso Lavinia , Ariu Maria Laura , Porcu Alberto , Sanna Valeria
Published: February 2024

Background and objectives

Recent literature suggests that rates of breast conservation surgery (BCS) are lower than expected in patients submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to underscore the role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the decision-making process of patients who underwent breast surgery after NAC.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study on patients with breast cancer treated according to an algorithm developed at the Breast Unit of Northern Sardinia between January 2019 and May 2023. Data collected included demographics, tumor characteristics, upfront treatment (surgery or NAC), type of primary surgery (BCS or mastectomy [Ma]) and patients’ adherence to the treatment proposed by the MDT.

Results

Overall, 1061 women were treated during the study period, of whom 164 received NAC (Group A) and 897 upfront surgery (Group B). In group A, conversion from BCS ineligibility to BCS eligibility was observed in 47 patients (40.1%). Final surgery in patients who became BCS-eligible after NAC was BCS in 42 cases (89.3%) and Ma in 5 (10.6%). Rates of patients’ adherence to the treatment proposed by the MDT were significantly better in the Group A (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the MDT has a pivotal role in increasing the rates of breast conservation in women submitted to NAC.
Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Post-breast Surgery Pain Syndrome
Authors: Chang Philip , Wu Sammy , Emos Marc Ramos
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to provide a practical framework for the diagnosis and treatment of post-breast surgery pain syndrome.

Recent Findings

There has been increasing evidence that nerve blocks, regional anesthetic blocks, and surgeries including fat grafting and targeted muscle reinnervation may be effective in treating post-breast surgery pain syndrome.

Post-breast surgery pain syndrome is identified as clinically affecting the upper extremity and chest wall on the post-surgical side. There are several treatment options including topicals, oral medications, therapeutic interventions, and surgeries which may be discussed and explored with affected patients.
Influence of the 3D architecture and surface roughness of SiOC anodes on bioelectrochemical system performance: a comparative study of freeze-cast, 3D-printed, and tape-cast materials with uniform composition
Authors: da Rosa Braun Pedro Henrique , Kuchenbuch Anne , Toselli Bruno , Rezwan Kurosch , Harnisch Falk , Wilhelm Michaela
Published: February 2024

3D-printed anodes for bioelectrochemical systems are increasingly being reported. However, comparisons between 3D-printed anodes and their non-3D-printed counterparts with the same material composition are still lacking. In addition, surface roughness parameters that could be correlated with bioelectrochemical performance are rarely determined. To fill these gaps, slurries with identical composition but different mass fractions were processed into SiOC anodes by tape-casting, freeze-casting, or direct-ink writing. The current generation was investigated using electroactive biofilms enriched with Geobacter spp. Freeze-cast anodes showed more surface pores and the highest surface kurtosis of 5.7 ± 0.5, whereas tape-cast and 3D-printed anodes showed a closed surface porosity. 3D-printing was only possible using slurries 85 wt% of mass fraction. The surface pores of the freeze-cast anodes improved bacterial adhesion and resulted in a high initial (first cycle) maximum current density per geometric surface area of 9.2 ± 2.1 A m−2. The larger surface area of the 3D-printed anodes prevented pore clogging and produced the highest current density per geometric surface area of 12.0 ± 1.2 A m−2. The current density values of all anodes are similar when the current density is normalized over the entire geometric surface as determined by CT-scans. This study highlights the role of geometric surface area in normalizing current generation and the need to use more surface roughness parameters to correlate anode properties, bacterial adhesion, and current generation.
Association of personality traits and socio-environmental factors with COVID-19 pandemic-related conspiratorial thinking in the D-A-CH region
Authors: Han Emilie , Weitzer Jakob , Birmann Brenda M. , Bertau Martin , Zenk Lukas , Caniglia Guido , Laubichler Manfred D. , Schernhammer Eva S. , Steiner Gerald
Published: February 2024

Misinformation, lack of trust, and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic have fostered the emergence of new conspiracy theories. In August 2021, we examined the association of individual personality traits and socio-environmental factors with high belief in pandemic-related conspiracies through an online survey among 3,067 quota-sampled German-speaking adults residing in the D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). In multivariable-adjusted regression models, pandemic-related conspiracy belief was, first, negatively associated with tertile (T) of complexity thinking, optimism, and higher level of education (complexity thinking, ORT3vs.T1: 0.43, 95% CI 0.32–0.57, Ptrend < 0.01; optimism, ORT3vs.T1: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30–0.56, Ptrend < 0.01; higher education, ORT3vs. T1: 0.67, 0.50-0.89; Ptrend <0.01) and second, positively associated with regular participation in religious meetings, not having recently voted, unwillingness of oneself or one’s close contacts to vaccinate, past COVID-19 infection and disapproval of COVID-19 mitigation measures. Our findings highlight the importance to foster complexity understanding through targeted interventions, such as in education settings, to help curb the spread of conspiracy theories. We conclude that, in order to effectively address the challenges posed by pandemic-related conspiracy theories, policymakers must acknowledge the impact of conspiracy beliefs on public health decisions while promoting transparent communication and interdisciplinary (between scientific disciplines) and transdisciplinary (between science and society) research, as well as science literacy and science diplomacy collaboration.
Automatic printed circuit board inspection: a comprehensible survey
Authors: Fonseca Luis Augusto Libório Oliveira , Iano Yuzo , Oliveira Gabriel Gomes de , Vaz Gabriel Caumo , Carnielli Giulliano Paes , Pereira Júlio César , Arthur Rangel
Published: February 2024

The printed circuit board (PCB) plays a critical role in any electronic product, and its manufacturing quality assurance is responsible for substantially impacting the final product’s price. Hence, research and development (R&D) for better inspection methods have been an internationally growing subject. Regarding the multiple PCB inspection paradigms, the visual investigation of these boards represents the majority of modern techniques. Thus, the present survey collects the most impacting studies over the last 25 years, highlighting their operation strategies and how they evolved until recently, including introducing artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to increase their overall performance and lower operating costs. Furthermore, this work calls attention to the importance of public PCB datasets to contribute to developing such methods and provide benchmarking references. Finally, the most recent challenges in the field are described and discussed.
Control of Digitaria insularis (L.) Fedde in eucalyptus forests: shading increases sensitivity to glyphosate applied alone and in a mixture with carfentrazone-ethyl
Authors: Ferreira Guilherme Augusto Paiva , Donato Luan Mateus Silva , Montes William Gomes , Rocha Leonardo Michel , Tuffi Santos Leonardo David
Published: February 2024

Shading, the predominant condition in most of the eucalyptus cultivation cycle, causes changes in the morphological and physiological weed's characteristics, which can alter their responses to glyphosate and carfentrazone-ethyl, important herbicides for the crop. The objective was to evaluate the influence of light on the efficiency of glyphosate and carfentrazone-ethyl used alone and in a mixture in Digitaria insularis control, a priority pest in the crop. The experiment was carried out in a 3 × 6 factorial scheme. The first factor corresponded to 3 cultivation environments (full sunlight, 45 and 63% shading) and the second factor to doses of glyphosate and carfentrazone-ethyl applied isolated (1920 and 40 g ai ha−1) and mixed (1536 + 8; 1152 + 16; 768 + 24 and 384 + 32 g ai ha−1), respectively. Shading increased D. insularis sensitivity to glyphosate alone and in a mixture with carfentrazone-ethyl. In shading, the glyphosate application alone at a dose of 1920 g ha−1 and in a mixture with carfentrazone-ethyl at doses of 1536 + 8 and 1152 + 16 g ha−1 were efficient in D. insularis control. In the environment of 63% shading, the dose of 768 + 24 g ha−1 was also efficient in this species control. None of the doses were effective in controlling D. insularis in full sunlight. Isolated carfentrazone-ethyl was inefficient in controlling D. insularis, regardless of the growth environment. Shading increases the quantum yield of photosystem II and reduces the electron transport rate, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of D. insularis. In shady environments, it is possible to control D. insularis with lower glyphosate doses, used alone and mixed with carfentrazone-ethyl.
Born in Blood
Authors: Gac Scott
Published: February 2024

Born in Blood investigates one of history's most violent undertakings: The United States of America. People the world over consider violence in the United States as measurably different than that which troubles the rest of the globe, citing reasons including gun culture, the American West, Hollywood, the death penalty, economic inequality, rampant individualism, and more. This compelling examination of American violence explains a political culture of violence from the American Revolution to the Gilded Age, illustrating how physical force, often centered on racial hierarchy, sustained the central tenets of American liberal government. It offers an important story of nationhood, told through the experiences and choices of civilians, Indians, politicians, soldiers, and the enslaved, providing historical context for understanding how violence has shaped the United States from its inception.