bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Swallowing Characteristics in Patients with Multiple System Atrophy Analyzed Using FEES Examination
Authors: Mozzanica Francesco , Pizzorni Nicole , Eplite Angelo , Ginocchio Daniela , Colombo Anna , Mora Gabriele , Ambrogi Federico , Warnecke Tobias , Schindler Antonio
Published: September 2023

Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) frequently experience dysphagia but only few studies analyzed its characteristics. The aim of this study was to describe the swallowing characteristics in these patients using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). In addition, the swallowing abilities in patients with predominantly cerebellar MSA (MSA-C) and predominantly parkinsonian MSA (MSA-P) were compared. Twenty-five patients with MSA (16 MSA-P and 9 MSA-C) were enrolled. Clinical data including age, sex, functional oral intake scale (FOIS) score, body mass index (BMI) and the results of the global disability-unified MSA rating scale (GD-UMSARS) were collected. Three different textures of food (liquid, semisolid, solid) were provided during FEES examination. The characteristics of dysphagia (safety, efficiency, phenotype) and laryngeal movement alterations were analyzed. Delayed pharyngeal phase (92%) and posterior oral incontinence (52%) were the phenotypes more frequently seen. Penetration was more frequent with Liquid (68%), while aspiration occurred only with Liquid (20%). Residues of ingested food were demonstrated both in the pyriform sinus and in the vallecula with all the consistencies. Vocal fold motion impairment was the laryngeal movement alteration most frequently encountered (56%). No significant differences between patients with MSA-P and MSA-C in the dysphagia characteristics and laryngeal movement alterations were found. Patients with MSA frequently experience swallowing impairment and altered laryngeal mobility. Dysphagia characteristics and laryngeal movements alterations seems to be similar in MSA-C and MSA-P.
Informational assessment of large scale self-similarity in nonlinear random field models
Authors: Angulo José M. , Ruiz-Medina María D.
Published: September 2023

Large-scale behavior of a wide class of spatial and spatiotemporal processes is characterized in terms of informational measures. Specifically, subordinated random fields defined by nonlinear transformations on the family of homogeneous and isotropic Lancaster–Sarmanov random fields are studied under long-range dependence (LRD) assumptions. In the spatial case, it is shown that Shannon mutual information between random field components for infinitely increasing distance, which can be properly interpreted as a measure of large scale structural complexity and diversity, has an asymptotic power law decay that depends on the underlying LRD parameter scaled by the subordinating function rank. Sensitivity with respect to distortion induced by the deformation parameter under the generalized form given by divergence-based Rényi mutual information is also analyzed. In the spatiotemporal framework, a spatial infinite-dimensional random field approach is adopted. The study of the large-scale asymptotic behavior is then extended under the proposal of a functional formulation of the Lancaster–Sarmanov random field class, as well as of divergence-based mutual information. Results are illustrated, in the context of geometrical analysis of sample paths, considering some scenarios based on Gaussian and Chi-Square subordinated spatial and spatiotemporal random fields.
Dezentrale Niederschlagswasserbewirtschaftung – Begriffe, Definitionen und Regelwerk
Authors: Neunteufel Bettina , König Albert , Muschalla Dirk
Published: September 2023

Klimawandel und Urbanisierung verlangen nach Anpassungsstrategien, um auf die damit verbundenen Folgen wie pluviale Überflutungen, anhaltende Hitze- und Trockenperioden und Reduktion des pflanzenverfügbaren Wassers im Boden zu antworten. Maßnahmen der dezentralen Niederschlagswasserbewirtschaftung sind ein vielversprechender Baustein, um auf die zukünftigen Herausforderungen reagieren zu können. Dabei sind Maßnahmen der dezentralen Niederschlagswasserbewirtschaftung seit den 1980er-Jahren bekannt. Im internationalen Kontext haben sich unterschiedlichste Begriffe etabliert – von natürlicher und dezentraler Niederschlagswasserbewirtschaftung über Low Impact Development (LID), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) bis zu Grün-Blauer Infrastruktur und Schwammstadt, die häufig auf ähnlichen Strategien und Technologien aufbauen. In Österreich ist für die Planung und Umsetzung von Maßnahmen der dezentralen Niederschlagswasserbewirtschaftung eine Vielzahl an Normen und Regelwerken zu berücksichtigen, die unterschiedlichste Anforderungen an die zu erstellenden Maßnahmen behandeln. Eine Zusammenfassung der maßgeblichen Regelwerke und eine systematische Kategorisierung und inhaltliche Zuordnung des vorhandenen Regelwerks erlaubt eine zielgerichtete Auswahl der zu berücksichtigenden Grundlagen. Aufgrund der fachlichen Breite der zu beachtenden Vorschriften und der Komplexität der Anforderungen an die Maßnahmen ist zukünftig eine fachübergreifende und interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit für Planung und Genehmigung unabdingbar.
All-solid-state chip utilizing molecular imprinted polymer for erythromycin detection in milk samples: Printed circuit board-based potentiometric system
Authors: Tantawy Mahmoud A. , Yehia Ali M. , Elbalkiny Heba T.
Published: September 2023

Detection of erythromycin (ERY) residues in commercial milk samples is crucial for the safety assessment. Herein, a printed circuit board was patterned as a feasible miniaturized potentiometric sensor for ERY determination in dairy samples. The proposed chip design fits to a 3.5-mm female audio plug to facilitate the potential measurements of working electrode versus reference one in this all-solid-state system. The sensor utilizes molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective recognition of the studied drug in such challenging matrix. The electrode stability is achieved through the addition of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nano-dispersion on its surface. The proposed device detects down to 6.6 × 10−8 M ERY with a slope of 51 mV/decade in the 1 × 10−7–1 × 10−3 M range. The results display high accuracy (99.9% ± 2.6) with satisfactory relative standard deviation for repeatability (1.6%) and reproducibility (5.0%). The effect of common antibiotic classes, namely, amphenicols, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines, can be neglected as evidenced by their calculated binding capacities towards the proposed MIP. The calculated selectivity coefficients also show a good electrode performance in the presence of naturally present inorganic ions allowing its application to different milk samples.

Graphical abstract
Supportive care and antiviral treatments in primary herpetic gingivostomatitis: a systematic review
Authors: Coppola Noemi , Cantile Tiziana , Adamo Daniela , Canfora Federica , Baldares Stefania , Riccitiello Francesco , Musella Gennaro , Mignogna Michele Davide D. , Leuci Stefania
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is the main pathogen responsible for herpes infections. In 13–30% of the cases, primary HSV-1 leads to the primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (PHGS), often a self-limiting infection; however, it can limit the ability to drink/eat with, sometimes, the need for hospitalization. Multiple therapeutic methods have been proposed. This systematic review aims to collect and critically appraise the available evidence about the clinical management of PHGS.

Materials and methods

Literature search including three databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase), study design, and data analysis were performed following PRISMA guidelines, according to the PICO tool (PROSPERO n° CRD42023391386). Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 and ROBINS-I.

Results

Five studies on a total of 364 patients (average age: 7.6 years) were identified. The treatment regimens were summarized in acyclovir; acyclovir + honey; fluids and analgesic; maalox + diphenhydramine; lidocaine; chlorhexidine (CHX); CHX + ialuronic acid; CHX + Mucosyte®; antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT); topical antiviral; topical antiviral + aPDT; and others.

Conclusions

Although PHGS is a disease with a high worldwide prevalence, the lack of consensus about therapeutic management indicates gaps in existing evidence. Most of the proposed treatment consists in symptomatic drugs with empiric regimens which are ineffective for the viral replication. The main limit to realize randomized clinical trial is due to the rapid onset and remission of the disease. In fact, the diagnostic delay, estimated in 72 h, decreases the effectiveness of any antiviral drugs.

Clinical relevance

Out of the five studies included in this systematic review, only one was able to provide some weak evidence that ACV is an effective treatment, improving healing of oral lesions and reducing duration of symptoms.
Digital Libraries, Epigraphy and Paleography: Bring Records from the Distant Past to the Present: Part II
Authors: Griffin Stephen M.
Published: September 2023

The two volumes of this Special Issue explore the intersections of digital libraries, epigraphy and paleography. Digital libraries research, practices and infrastructures have transformed the study of ancient inscriptions by providing organizing principles for collections building, defining interoperability requirements and developing innovative user tools and services. Yet linking collections and their contents to support advanced scholarly work in epigraphy and paleography tests the limits of current digital libraries applications. This is due, in part, to the magnitude and heterogeneity of works created over a time period of more than five millennia. The remarkable diversity ranges from the types of artifacts to the methods used in their production to the singularity of individual marks contained within them. Conversion of analogue collections to digital repositories is well underway—but most often not in a way that meets the basic requirements needed to support scholarly workflows. This is beginning to change as collections and content are being described more fully with rich annotations and metadata conforming to established standards. New use of imaging technologies and computational approaches are remediating damaged works and revealing text that has, over time, become illegible or hidden. Transcription of handwritten text to machine-readable form is still primarily a manual process, but research into automated transcription is moving forward. Progress in digital libraries research and practices coupled with collections development of ancient writtten works suggests that epigraphy and paleography will gain new prominence in the Academy.
A review and meta-analysis of stem cell therapies in stroke patients: effectiveness and safety evaluation
Authors: Hovhannisyan L. , Khachatryan S. , Khamperyan A. , Matinyan S.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Stem cells have been extensively used during the last decade to improve clinical outcomes after stroke. The dramatic increase in trials in this field has led us to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to understand the safety, effectiveness, and relative limitations of this type of intervention.

Method

This review summarizes the current evidence pooled from PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, EBSCOhost, http://clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded) databases for the use of stem cell therapies in stroke patients without combinations with other treatment modalities. The National Institutes of Health Stroke, modified Rankin Scales, and Barthel Index scores after external stem cell administration have been evaluated on the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after treatment. The random effect analysis was performed using the Review Manager 5.4.1. The characteristics of stem cell sources and their adverse effects have been discussed as well.

Findings

Although reasonably safe, the effectiveness evidence fluctuated to a large extent due to the heterogeneity of the clinical trials and the absence of a systematic approach. The stem cell sources and the administration window were not strongly associated with clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

Further studies should be conducted to understand the deep discrepancy between preclinical and clinical trials and to execute phase 3 clinical trials with robust control of study characteristics and outcomes.
External Validation of Robust Radiomic Signature to Predict 2-Year Overall Survival in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Jha Ashish Kumar , Sherkhane Umeshkumar B. , Mthun Sneha , Jaiswar Vinay , Purandare Nilendu , Prabhash Kumar , Wee Leonard , Rangarajan Venkatesh , Dekker Andre
Published: September 2023

Lung cancer is the second most fatal disease worldwide. In the last few years, radiomics is being explored to develop prediction models for various clinical endpoints in lung cancer. However, the robustness of radiomic features is under question and has been identified as one of the roadblocks in the implementation of a radiomic-based prediction model in the clinic. Many past studies have suggested identifying the robust radiomic feature to develop a prediction model. In our earlier study, we identified robust radiomic features for prediction model development. The objective of this study was to develop and validate the robust radiomic signatures for predicting 2-year overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This retrospective study included a cohort of 300 stage I–IV NSCLC patients. Institutional 200 patients’ data were included for training and internal validation and 100 patients’ data from The Cancer Image Archive (TCIA) open-source image repository for external validation. Radiomic features were extracted from the CT images of both cohorts. The feature selection was performed using hierarchical clustering, a Chi-squared test, and recursive feature elimination (RFE). In total, six prediction models were developed using random forest (RF-Model-O, RF-Model-B), gradient boosting (GB-Model-O, GB-Model-B), and support vector(SV-Model-O, SV-Model-B) classifiers to predict 2-year overall survival (OS) on original data as well as balanced data. Model validation was performed using 10-fold cross-validation, internal validation, and external validation. Using a multistep feature selection method, the overall top 10 features were chosen. On internal validation, the two random forest models (RF-Model-O, RF-Model-B) displayed the highest accuracy; their scores on the original and balanced datasets were 0.81 and 0.77 respectively. During external validation, both the random forest models’ accuracy was 0.68. In our study, robust radiomic features showed promising predictive performance to predict 2-year overall survival in NSCLC.
Scalable Detector Design for a High-Resolution Fast-Neutron Radiography Panel
Authors: Young Christian X. , Browning Chloe A. , Thurber Ryan J. , Smalley Matthew R. , Liesenfelt Michael J. , Hayward Jason P. , McFarlane Nicole , Cooper Michael P. , Preston Jeff R.
Published: September 2023

Development of a scalable flat-panel neutron radiography device is needed to meet the nondestructive testing needs of a growing industrial market. Flood field images from a Cs-137 gamma source and a Cf-252 fission neutron source were generated using a detector composed of a 3-mm-thick sheet of EJ-200, and 3-mm-thick sheet of acrylic light spreader, an 8 $$\times $$
×
8 array of SensL MICROFJ-60035-TSV SiPMs, and an IDEAS ROSSPAD readout module. The readout module can be tiled together with similar systems to create a panel of any size, and is only limited by the number of available Ethernet ports in a switching system. A collimated gamma line image demonstrated a 90% spatial resolution of approximately 0.47 line pairs per centimeter and a 10% spatial resolution of approximately 2.32 line pairs per centimeter. A neutron edge image demonstrated a 90% spatial resolution of approximately 0.70 line pairs per centimeter and a 10% spatial resolution of approximately 3.35 line pairs per centimeter. Both of these images show the ability to generate radiographs with sub-SiPM spatial resolution. Using these readout modules, a large-scale radiographic panel can be developed by tiling ROSSPAD modules together.
Meclizine moderates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation in mice through the regulation of AKT/ NF-κβ/ERK/JNK signaling pathway
Authors: Mostafa Rasha E. , Asaad Gihan F.
Published: September 2023

Neuroinflammation is identified as significant inflammatory reactions occurring in the central nervous system. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates innate immune reactions and is used as an in vivo animal model for the investigation of inflammation. Meclizine (MCLZ) is a histamine antagonist with potential neuroprotective qualities. Forty adult male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n = 10). Group 1 served as a control negative group. Groups 2–4 were injected with LPS (5 mg/kg; i.p). Group 2 served as LPS-control. Groups 3 & 4 were given MCLZ (12.5 & 25 mg/kg; p.o) respectively for 14 days. LPS administration resulted in significant neuroinflammation in mice as was revealed by significant inflammatory histopathological changes and positive immunohistochemical staining of glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP) accompanied by significant elevations of brain tissue contents of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-κβ), protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and C-Jun N-Terminal Kinases (JNK). MCLZ treatment significantly down-regulated all the aforementioned parameters in mice brains. Moreover, MCLZ treatment ameliorated the inflammatory histopathological changes and GFAP immunostaining in brain tissues. The current study identifies for the first time the protective anti-neuroinflammatory effects of MCLZ against LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice. MCLZ protected against neuroinflammation via the amelioration of inflammatory histopathological changes as well as neuronal GFAP immunostaining and down-regulated the AKT/NF-κβ/ERK/JNK signaling pathway. MCLZ is anticipated as a potential protective candidate for the addition to the treatment protocol of neuroinflammation.
An experimental test of the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect using an immersive virtual reality classroom
Authors: Hasenbein Lisa , Trautwein Ulrich , Hahn Jens-Uwe , Soller Stephan , Göllner Richard
Published: September 2023

Academic self-concept plays a central role in successful learning and is substantially shaped by social comparisons. Research on the so-called Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect (BFLPE) has yielded a highly robust and generalizable pattern of negative effects of higher class/school average achievement on students’ self-concept when controlling for individual achievement. However, most BFLPE studies have not provided information about the causes behind or the mechanisms underlying the proposed effects. To address this, we used a fully immersive virtual reality (IVR) classroom to experimentally test the extent to which students recognized performance-related classroom behavior as implicit social comparison information and how these perceptions explained differences in students’ self-concepts. Participants (N = 381 sixth-grade students) experienced an authentic yet standardized IVR teaching situation with virtual classmates who exhibited different performance levels (operationalized as 20% vs. 35% vs. 65% vs. 80% of classmates raising their hands). Hand-raising behavior had a significant positive effect on students’ perceptions of the class’ performance level (d20% vs. 65% = 0.60; d20% vs. 80% = 1.24). In line with the BFLPE, results showed a negative effect of higher performing classmates on students’ situational self-concept (d20% vs. 80% = 0.30). Students’ perceptions of the class’ performance level fully explained the effect of classmates’ hand-raising behavior on students’ situational self-concept. The study’s experimental approach provided new insights into the emergence of social comparison effects in the classroom, highlighting the major role of students’ perceptions of their classmates’ performance-related behavior, and moreover demonstrated the general potential of using IVR in classroom research.
Deep neural network-estimated age using optical coherence tomography predicts mortality
Authors: Chen Ruiye , Zhang Shiran , Peng Guankai , Meng Wei , Borchert Grace , Wang Wei , Yu Zhen , Liao Huan , Ge Zongyuan , He Mingguang , Zhu Zhuoting
Published: September 2023

The concept of biological age has emerged as a measurement that reflects physiological and functional decline with ageing. Here we aimed to develop a deep neural network (DNN) model that predicts biological age from optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of 84,753 high-quality OCT images from 53,159 individuals in the UK Biobank were included, among which 12,631 3D-OCT images from 8,541 participants without any reported medical conditions at baseline were used to develop an age prediction model. For the remaining 44,618 participants, OCT age gap, the difference between the OCT-predicted age and chronological age, was calculated for each participant. Cox regression models assessed the association between OCT age gap and mortality. The DNN model predicted age with a mean absolute error of 3.27 years and showed a strong correlation of 0.85 with chronological age. After a median follow-up of 11.0 years (IQR 10.9–11.1 years), 2,429 deaths (5.44%) were recorded. For each 5-year increase in OCT age gap, there was an 8% increased mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08, CI:1.02–1.13, P = 0.004). Compared with an OCT age gap within ± 4 years, OCT age gap less than minus 4 years was associated with a 16% decreased mortality risk (HR = 0.84, CI: 0.75–0.94, P = 0.002) and OCT age gap more than 4 years showed an 18% increased risk of death incidence (HR = 1.18, CI: 1.02–1.37, P = 0.026). OCT imaging could serve as an ageing biomarker to predict biological age with high accuracy and the OCT age gap, defined as the difference between the OCT-predicted age and chronological age, can be used as a marker of the risk of mortality.
Surgical instrument wrap: a pilot recycling initiative
Authors: Rooney David James , Linehan Laura , Burke Cathy
Published: September 2023

Background

Seven per cent of general waste and 20% of healthcare risk waste produced in acute hospitals in Ireland comes from operating theatres. Surgical wrap comprises 11% of operating theatre waste.

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to pilot the implementation of a recycling initiative for surgical instrument set wrap in an operating theatre in Ireland. Secondary aims included quantification of the surgical wrap diverted from general waste to recycling streams over a 5-week period and estimation of the annual carbon emissions associated with gynaecology surgical wrap use in Cork.

Methods

The amount of polypropylene surgical wrap generated by a single gynaecology theatre at Cork University Maternity Hospital was prospectively quantified from 24/1/22 to 1/3/22. At the end of the study period, individual sheets of polypropylene wrap were counted and dimensions were measured to calculate the total surface area of surgical wrap saved for recycling.

Results

A total of 66 surgeries were performed over the 5-week study period. Two hundred twenty-one individual sheets of surgical wrap were collected, equating to 282.1 m2 of polypropylene wrap. An estimated 11,564 m2 of surgical wrap could be recycled annually from the gynaecology theatre service in Cork with an associated annual carbon emissions equivalent of at least 2.2 tonnes of CO2.

Conclusion

Diversion of surgical wrap from general waste and clinical waste streams to the recycling stream is achievable in every operating theatre. Small changes to operating theatre waste disposal practices have the potential to yield significant reductions to theatre waste outputs and to hospital carbon emissions.
Preliminary assessment of road dust from Portuguese motorways: chemical profile, health risks, and ecotoxicological screening
Authors: Casotti Rienda Ismael , Nunes Teresa , Amato Fulvio , Lucarelli Franco , Kováts Nora , Hubai Katalin , Alves Célia A.
Published: September 2023

Among non-exhaust emissions, road dust resuspension represents a rather important contribution to particulate matter in urban areas. This study aimed to achieve a chemical characterisation of road dust particulate matter (PM10) on two motorway sections, one rural and one urban, and to explore the related health and ecotoxicological risks. Measured PM10 dust loadings reached very low levels (0.66–1.49 mg m-2) compared to equivalent studies in other road environments in Portugal and other countries. Emission factors ranged from 33 to 62 mg veh−1 km−1. The carbonaceous content represented 14% of the total PM10 mass, whereas the highest contribution to the mass was given by mineral matter. Elements such as Si, Al, Ca, Fe and K accounted for almost three quarters of the total element mass for all samples, whilst Cu and Zn, mostly associated with brake and tyre wear, were the most enriched elements in relation to the soil composition. Nonetheless, Ti and Zr presented the highest non-carcinogenic risks for human health. Despite the low amounts of particulate matter in the aqueous solution, the ecotoxicological screening with the Aliivibrio fisheri bioluminescence inhibition bioassay allowed to classify the samples as toxic.
Description of Novel Molecular Factors in Lumbar DRGs and Spinal Cord Factors Underlying Development of Neuropathic Pain Component in the Animal Model of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Malek Natalia , Mlost Jakub , Kostrzewa Magdalena , Rajca Jolanta , Starowicz Katarzyna
Published: September 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorder, with pain accompanied by functional impairment, as the most pronounced clinical symptom. Currently used pharmacotherapy involves symptomatic treatment that do not always provide adequate pain relief. This may be due to concomitance of central sensitization and development of neuropathic features in OA patients. Here we performed studies in the animal model of OA to investigate of the neuropathic component. Intraarticular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA, 1 mg) was used to induce OA in Wistar male rats. Development of pain phenotype was assessed by behavioral testing (PAM test and von Frey’s test), while corresponding changes in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs L3–L5) and spinal cord (SC) gene expression were assessed by means of qRT-PCR technique. We also performed microtomography of OA-affected knee joints to correlate the level of bone degradation with observed behavioral and molecular changes. We observed gradually developing remote allodynia after MIA treatment, indicating the presence of neuropathic component. Our results showed that, among DRGs innervating knee joint, development of central sensitization is most likely due to peripheral input of stimuli through DRG L5. In SC, development of secondary hypersensitivity correlated with increased expression of TAC1 and NPY. Our studies provided molecular records on abnormal activation of pain transmission markers in DRG and SC during development of OA that are responsible for the manifestation of neuropathic features. The obtained results increase insight into molecular changes occurring in the neuronal tissue during OA development and may contribute to readdressing treatment paradigms.
s-CRIq: the online short version of the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire
Authors: Mondini Sara , Pucci Veronica , Pastore Massimiliano , Gaggi Ombretta , Tricomi Pier Paolo , Nucci Massimo
Published: September 2023

Background

The wide use of the term Cognitive Reserve (CR) is in need of a clear and shared definition of its concept and of the development of new tools, quick and easy to use and updated for the people of today. This study describes the online short CRIq (s-CRIq), the new shorter version of the CRIq, following an item analysis revision, and compares the data distribution of different samples.

Methods

The s-CRIq was administered online to 435 people while another 440 filled out the s-CRIq in self-administration. A further 588 participants had been administered the original paper-and-pencil long CRIq and 344 the online long CRIq.

Results

The major difference in the databases of s-CRIq versus the long versions is an increased score in education and in leisure activity. However, the density distributions of the total score of CRI in the 4 databases share 64% of their areas, and at least two of them share 84%.

Conclusion

The s-CRIq proved to be a simple and easy-to-administer tool. Similarly, to the original version, the s-CRIq is freely available on the web, and it is our hope that it will be of fruitful use for researchers and clinicians alike.
Conceptual design and optimisation of a novel hybrid device for capturing offshore wind and wave energy
Authors: Faraggiana E. , Sirigu M. , Ghigo A. , Petracca E. , Mattiazzo G. , Bracco G.
Published: September 2023

The access to the offshore wind resource in the deep sea requires the development of innovative solutions which reduce the cost of energy. Novel technologies propose the hybrid combination of wind and wave energy to improve the synergy between these technologies sharing costs, such as mooring and electrical connexion. This work proposes a novel hybrid wind and wave energy system integrating a floating offshore wind turbine with three-point absorbers wave energy converters (WECs). The WECs are an integral part of the floating structure and contribute significantly to the hydrostatic and dynamic stability of the system. Their geometry is optimised considering a cylindrical, semi-cylindrical and spherical shape for the Pantelleria case study. The cylindrical shape with the largest radius and the lowest height is the optimal solution in terms of reducing structural costs and maximising the performance of the WECs. The in-house hydrostatic stability tool and the time domain model MOST are used to optimise the WECs, with a combined meta-heuristic genetic algorithm with the Kriging surrogate model and a local Nelder–Mead optimization in the final simulations. The power of the WECs is estimated with both linear and variable motor flow hydraulic PTOs to obtain a more realistic electrical power generation. Generally, the hybrid device proved to be more competitive than the floating wind turbine alone, with a LCOE reduction up to 11%. Performance of the hybrid device can be further improved when more energetic sites are considered, as the energy generated by the WECs is higher.
The Dangerous Art of Text Mining
Authors: Guldi Jo
Published: September 2023

The Dangerous Art of Text Mining celebrates the bold new research now possible because of text mining: the art of counting words over time. However, this book also presents a warning: without help from the humanities, data science can distort the past and lead to perilous errors. The book opens with a rogue's gallery of errors, then tours the ground-breaking analyses that have resulted from collaborations between humanists and data scientists. Jo Guldi explores how text mining can give a glimpse of the changing history of the past - for example, how quickly Americans forgot the history of slavery. Textual data can even prove who was responsible in Congress for silencing environmentalism over recent decades. The book ends with an impassioned vision of what text mining in defence of democracy would look like, and why humanists need to be involved.
The new frontier of microstructural impurity research in polar ice
Authors: Stoll Nicolas , Bohleber Pascal , Dallmayr Remi , Wilhelms Frank , Barbante Carlo , Weikusat Ilka
Published: September 2023

Deciphering the localisation of solid and dissolved impurities on the micron-scale in glacial ice remains a challenge, but is critical to understand the integrity of ice core records and internal deformation. Here we report on the state-of-the-art in microstructural impurity research by highlighting recent progress in bringing together cryo-Raman spectroscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We show the potential of both methods and discuss possibilities to improve inter-method approaches aiming for a more holistic understanding of the evolution of impurity localisation throughout the ice column, including post-depositional processes. In this framework, we elaborate on future research priorities such as LA-ICP-MS imaging on firn samples and integrating a large cryo-cell with imaging capabilities.
An application of the Causal Roadmap in two safety monitoring case studies: Causal inference and outcome prediction using electronic health record data
Authors: Williamson Brian D. , Wyss Richard , Stuart Elizabeth A. , Dang Lauren E. , Mertens Andrew N. , Neugebauer Romain S. , Wilson Andrew , Gruber Susan
Published: September 2023

Background:

Real-world data, such as administrative claims and electronic health records, are increasingly used for safety monitoring and to help guide regulatory decision-making. In these settings, it is important to document analytic decisions transparently and objectively to assess and ensure that analyses meet their intended goals.

Methods:

The Causal Roadmap is an established framework that can guide and document analytic decisions through each step of the analytic pipeline, which will help investigators generate high-quality real-world evidence.

Results:

In this paper, we illustrate the utility of the Causal Roadmap using two case studies previously led by workgroups sponsored by the Sentinel Initiative – a program for actively monitoring the safety of regulated medical products. Each case example focuses on different aspects of the analytic pipeline for drug safety monitoring. The first case study shows how the Causal Roadmap encourages transparency, reproducibility, and objective decision-making for causal analyses. The second case study highlights how this framework can guide analytic decisions beyond inference on causal parameters, improving outcome ascertainment in clinical phenotyping.

Conclusion:

These examples provide a structured framework for implementing the Causal Roadmap in safety surveillance and guide transparent, reproducible, and objective analysis.
On the role of viscoelasticity in mucociliary clearance: a hydrodynamic continuum approach
Authors: Choudhury Anjishnu , Filoche Marcel , Ribe Neil M. , Grenier Nicolas , Dietze Georg F.
Published: September 2023

We present numerical and analytical predictions of mucociliary clearance based on the continuum description of a viscoelastic mucus film, where momentum transfer from the beating cilia is represented via a Navier-slip boundary condition introduced by Bottier et al. (PLoS Comput. Biol., vol. 13, issue 7, 2017a, e1005552). Mucus viscoelasticity is represented via the Oldroyd-B model, where the relaxation time and the viscosity ratio have been fitted to experimental data for the storage and loss moduli of different types of real mucus, ranging from healthy to diseased conditions. We solve numerically the fully nonlinear governing equations for inertialess flow, and develop analytical solutions via asymptotic expansion in two limits: (i) weak viscoelasticity, i.e. low Deborah number; (ii) low cilia beat amplitude (CBA). All our approaches predict a drop in the mucus flow rate in relation to the Newtonian reference value, as the cilia beat frequency is increased. This relative drop increases with decreasing CBA and slip length. In diseased conditions, e.g. mucus properties characteristic of cystic fibrosis, the drop reaches 30 % in the physiological frequency range. In the case of healthy mucus, no significant drop is observed, even at very high frequency. This contrasts with the deterioration of microorganism propulsion predicted by the low-amplitude theory of Lauga (Phys. Fluids, vol. 19, issue 8, 2007, 083104), and is due to the larger beat amplitude and slip length associated with mucociliary clearance. In the physiological range of the cilia beat frequency, the low-amplitude prediction is accurate for both healthy and diseased conditions. Finally, we find that shear-thinning, modelled via a multi-mode Giesekus model, does not significantly alter our weakly viscoelastic and low-amplitude predictions based on the Oldroyd-B model.
How to Not Secure Public Trust in Science: Representative Values Versus Polarization and Marginalization
Authors: Le Bihan Soazig
Published: September 2023

The demise of the value-free ideal constitutes a threat to public trust in science. One proposal is that, whenever making value judgments, scientists rely only on democratic values. Because the influence of democratic values on scientific claims and recommendations is legitimate, public trust in science is warranted. I challenge this proposal. Appealing to democratic values will not suffice to secure trust because of at least two obstacles: polarization and marginalization.
Sex differences in iron status during military training: a prospective cohort study of longitudinal changes and associations with endurance performance and musculoskeletal outcomes
Authors: O’Leary Thomas J. , Jackson Sarah , Izard Rachel M. , Walsh Neil P. , Coombs Charlotte V. , Carswell Alexander T. , Oliver Samuel J. , Tang Jonathan C. Y. , Fraser William D. , Greeves Julie P.
Published: September 2023

This study investigated sex differences in Fe status, and associations between Fe status and endurance and musculoskeletal outcomes, in military training. In total, 2277 British Army trainees (581 women) participated. Fe markers and endurance performance (2·4 km run) were measured at the start (week 1) and end (week 13) of training. Whole-body areal body mineral density (aBMD) and markers of bone metabolism were measured at week 1. Injuries during training were recorded. Training decreased Hb in men and women (mean change (–0·1 (95 % CI –0·2, –0·0) and –0·7 (95 % CI –0·9, –0·6) g/dl, both P < 0·001) but more so in women (P < 0·001). Ferritin decreased in men and women (–27 (95 % CI –28, –23) and –5 (95 % CI –8, –1) µg/l, both P ≤ 0·001) but more so in men (P < 0·001). Soluble transferrin receptor increased in men and women (2·9 (95 % CI 2·3, 3·6) and 3·8 (95 % CI 2·7, 4·9) nmol/l, both P < 0·001), with no difference between sexes (P = 0·872). Erythrocyte distribution width increased in men (0·3 (95 % CI 0·2, 0·4)%, P < 0·001) but not in women (0·1 (95 % CI –0·1, 0·2)%, P = 0·956). Mean corpuscular volume decreased in men (–1·5 (95 % CI –1·8, –1·1) fL, P < 0·001) but not in women (0·4 (95 % CI –0·4, 1·3) fL, P = 0·087). Lower ferritin was associated with slower 2·4 km run time (P = 0·018), sustaining a lower limb overuse injury (P = 0·048), lower aBMD (P = 0·021) and higher beta C-telopeptide cross-links of type 1 collagen and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (both P < 0·001) controlling for sex. Improving Fe stores before training may protect Hb in women and improve endurance and protect against injury.
The Fiction of the Seven Letters in the Apocalypse: Representing Heavenly Authority in the Shadow of Paul
Authors: Frankfurter David
Published: September 2023

While scholars have traditionally taken Revelation’s “letters to the seven churches” (Rev 2–3) as documentation for the experiences of the Christ-movement in those cities, this article argues that the letters amount to a fictional device—that the Apocalypse appropriates epistolary forms in response to the increasing authority of early Pauline collections among the late first-century Asia Minor Christ-movements. With its divine epistolary authority and heavenly sevenfold “collection,” the Apocalypse attempts to exceed and denigrate Pauline authority in the Christ-movement, and it elevates a Jewish Christ-devotion based in priestly apocalyptic traditions. In the end, we can see John of Patmos both as a competitor to the Pauline tradition and as a witness to the earliest circulation of Pauline collections.
Nutrition research and practice with transgender and gender non-conforming populations
Authors: Linsenmeyer Whitney
Published: September 2023

The purpose of the present article is to describe the current state of sex and gender data collection in nutrition science research, discuss the effects of flawed data collection practices, highlight considerations for transgender and gender non-conforming populations and propose a sex- and gender-informed approach to human subjects research. Sex and gender are separate constructs that are often conflated in nutrition research and practice. Current nutrition surveillance programmes in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland do not accurately capture sex and gender data, which undermines the accuracy of the analyses and excludes gender minorities. Transgender and gender non-conforming populations have distinct clinical and psychosocial nutrition considerations that require further research to inform nutrition policy and practice, such as anthropometric and biochemical changes with hormone therapy, eating disorders, food insecurity and nutrition as a source of empowerment or expression of gender identity. Researchers can apply a sex- and gender-informed approach to human subjects research by treating sex and gender as separate, relevant demographic data, appreciating gender as a fluid construct, and approaching data collection on gender minorities with sensitivity to privacy and confidentiality.
Mothers’ and fathers’ infant-directed speech have similar acoustic properties, but these are not associated with direct or indirect measures of word comprehension in 8-month-old infants
Authors: ROSSLUND Audun , HAGELUND Silje , MAYOR Julien , KARTUSHINA Natalia
Published: September 2023

Previous research on infant-directed speech (IDS) and its role in infants’ language development has largely focused on mothers, with fathers being investigated scarcely. Here we examine the acoustics of IDS as compared to adult-directed speech (ADS) in Norwegian mothers and fathers to 8-month-old infants, and whether these relate to direct (eye-tracking) and indirect (parental report) measures of infants’ word comprehension. Forty-five parent-infant dyads participated in the study. Parents (24 mothers, 21 fathers) were recorded reading a picture book to their infant (IDS), and to an experimenter (ADS), ensuring identical linguistic context across speakers and registers. Results showed that both mothers’ and fathers’ IDS had exaggerated prosody, expanded vowel spaces, as well as more variable and less distinct vowels. We found no evidence that acoustic features of parents’ speech were associated with infants’ word comprehension. Potential reasons for the lack of such a relationship are discussed.
Conversations with Caves: The Role of Pareidolia in the Upper Palaeolithic Figurative Art of Las Monedas and La Pasiega (Cantabria, Spain)
Authors: Wisher Izzy , Pettitt Paul , Kentridge Robert
Published: September 2023

The influence of pareidolia has often been anecdotally observed in examples of Upper Palaeolithic cave art, where topographic features of cave walls were incorporated into images. As part of a wider investigation into the visual psychology of the earliest known art, we explored three hypotheses relating to pareidolia in cases of Late Upper Palaeolithic art in Las Monedas and La Pasiega Caves (Cantabria, Spain). Deploying current research methods from visual psychology, our results support the notion that topography of cave walls played a strong role in the placement of figurative images—indicative of pareidolia influencing art making—although played a lesser role in determining whether the resulting images were relatively simple or complex. Our results also suggested that lighting conditions played little or no role in determining the form or placement of images, contrary to what has been previously assumed. We hypothesize that three ways of artist–cave interaction (‘conversations’) were at work in our sample caves and suggest a developmental scheme for these. We propose that these ‘conversations’ with caves and their surfaces may have broader implications for how we conceive of the emergence and development of art in the Palaeolithic.
On the zeroes of hypergraph independence polynomials
Authors: Galvin David , McKinley Gwen , Perkins Will , Sarantis Michail , Tetali Prasad
Published: September 2023

We study the locations of complex zeroes of independence polynomials of bounded-degree hypergraphs. For graphs, this is a long-studied subject with applications to statistical physics, algorithms, and combinatorics. Results on zero-free regions for bounded-degree graphs include Shearer’s result on the optimal zero-free disc, along with several recent results on other zero-free regions. Much less is known for hypergraphs. We make some steps towards an understanding of zero-free regions for bounded-degree hypergaphs by proving that all hypergraphs of maximum degree
$\Delta$
have a zero-free disc almost as large as the optimal disc for graphs of maximum degree
$\Delta$
established by Shearer (of radius
$\sim 1/(e \Delta )$
). Up to logarithmic factors in
$\Delta$
this is optimal, even for hypergraphs with all edge sizes strictly greater than
$2$
. We conjecture that for
$k\ge 3$
,
$k$
-uniform linear hypergraphs have a much larger zero-free disc of radius
$\Omega (\Delta ^{- \frac{1}{k-1}} )$
. We establish this in the case of linear hypertrees.
Thermal Conductivity of Hydrogen at High Pressure and High Temperature: Implications to Giant Planets
Authors: Shieh Sean R. , Hsieh Wen‐Pin , Tsao Yi‐Chih
Published: September 2023

Hydrogen (H2) is the most abundant constituent in giant planets, but its thermal conductivity Λ under extreme pressure‐temperature (P‐T) conditions remains largely unknown. Here we report the Λ of H2 from ambient to 60.2 GPa at 300 K and from 300 to 773 K at 2.1 GPa. At 300 K, the Λ of liquid H2 fluctuates at ∼0.7–1.1 W m−1 K−1. Upon crystallization to H2‐I phase, the Λ jumps to 5.5 W m−1 K−1 at 7.2 GPa, and monotonically increases with pressure to ∼27 W m−1 K−1 at 60.2 GPa. Upon heating, the Λ of liquid H2 at 2.1 GPa scales with T0.68. Moreover, the density (ρ)‐dependent compressional sound velocity (Vp) of liquid and solid H2 derived from Brillouin frequency data both follow the Birch's law. Besides the novel insights into the physics of thermal transport in H2 under extreme conditions, our results significantly advance the modeling of Λ‐Vp‐ρ relationship in a planet with H2.
More Frequent and Persistent Heatwaves Due To Increased Temperature Skewness Projected by a High‐Resolution Earth System Model
Authors: Gao Yang , Wu Yubing , Guo Xiuwen , Kou Wenbin , Zhang Shaoqing , Leung L. Ruby , Chen Xiaodong , Lu Jian , Diffenbaugh Noah S. , Horton Daniel E. , Yao Xiaohong , Gao Huiwang , Wu Lixin
Published: September 2023

Heatwaves are strongly associated with temperature distributions, but the mechanisms by which distributions are influenced by climate change remains unclear. Comparing simulations from a high‐spatial resolution Community Earth System Model (CESM‐HR) with those from low‐resolution models, we identify substantial improvements by CESM‐HR in reproducing observed Northern Hemisphere summer temperature skewness, as well as the frequency, intensity, persistence, and total heatwave days. Temperature skewness is strongly linked to land‐atmosphere interactions and atmospheric circulation. Under global warming projections, some regions exhibit enhanced temperature skewness, along with more frequent and persistent heatwaves of greater intensity. We find that in energy‐limited regimes, such as India, negative skewness in latent heat flux facilitates large positive skewness in sensible heat flux, which modulates near‐surface air temperatures. Skewness differences of latent and sensible heat fluxes are amplified under global warming, increasing the temperature skewness. We find that this contrasting flux mechanism is active in several heatwave‐prone regions.