bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translation, adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the Quality of Life in a Child’s Chronic Disease Questionnaire for the Swedish context
Authors: Blomberg Karin , Farnik Małgorzata , Eriksson Mats 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The aim of this study was to translate, adapt, and psychometrically evaluate the Quality of Life in a Child’s Chronic Disease Questionnaire (QLCCDQ) for the Swedish context. The QLCCDQ was translated into Swedish and adapted to the Swedish context. Data for psychometric testing were obtained through a survey of parents of children and adolescents (n = 627) with chronic diseases: asthma and type 1 diabetes mellitus, with a total of 173 responses (27.6%). Face and content validity of the instrument was assessed, and floor and ceiling effects were measured. Internal consistency was measured with Cronbach’s alpha and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. The EFA gave a two-factor solution with an eigenvalue > 1 explaining 73.9% of total variance for the Swedish version. The new subscales are family life and activities (eight questions) and emotions and symptoms (four questions). Three questions concerning anxiety, worry, and guilt loaded < 0.6 and were excluded.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the Swedish version of the QLCCDQ is a reliable and valid questionnaire. The instrument may be useful for clinical screening of families who have the greatest need for supportive interventions. However, this should be further evaluated.

What is known:
• A child's chronic disease influences quality of life of its family members.
• Few instruments are designed to measure the impact on families.
What is new:
•
The Swedish version of the Quality of Life in a Child’s Chronic Disease Questionnaire has two subscales
compared to the original's five.
•
The instrument may potentially be useful for clinical screening of families who have the greatest need for
supportive interventions.
Long-term reoperation risk of thoracic to pelvis instrumentation for spinal deformity: a longitudinal study of 7,062 patients
Authors: Nilssen Paal K. , Narendran Nakul , Skaggs David L. , Walker Corey T. , Mikhail Christopher M. , Nomoto Edward , Tuchman Alexander 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To perform a large-scale assessment of reoperation risk among spine deformity patients undergoing thoracic to pelvis surgery.

Methods
The PearlDiver database was queried for spinal deformity patients (scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis, sagittal plane deformity) undergoing at minimum, a T12-pelvis operation (2010–2020). CPT codes identified lumbar arthrodesis procedures that included pelvic fixation and ≥ 7 levels of posterior instrumentation on the same day. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Reoperations included subsequent arthrodesis, decompression, osteotomy, device insertion, and pelvic fixation procedures. Multivariable regression analysis described associations between variables and reoperation risk.

Results
7,062 patients met criteria. Overall reoperation rate was 23.2%. Reoperation rate at 2- and 5-year was 16.9% and 22.1% respectively. 10-year reoperation-free probability was 73.7% (95% CI: 72.4–74.9%). Multivariable analysis revealed higher reoperation risk for patients with kyphosis and ≥ 13 levels of posterior instrumentation. Patients who received interbody cages had a lower reoperation risk. No association was found between the presence or absence of osteotomy procedures and reoperation risk. Lastly, linear regression analyses revealed no significant relationship between age or ECI and risk for subsequent operations did not independently influence reoperation.

Conclusions
This study, representing a real-world cohort of over six times the largest current prospective data set, found a 2-year reoperation rate of 17%, similar to previous studies, suggesting study group findings are applicable to a broader population. Preoperative kyphosis and ≥ 13 levels of posterior instrumentation was associated with higher reoperation risk, while the use of interbody cages was protective. Age, medical comorbidities, and osteotomies did not predict reoperations.
Integrating youth mental health practice nurses into general practice: effects on outpatient mental health care utilization among children and adolescents
Authors: Koet Lukas B. M. , Verhoog Sanne , Erdem Özcan , Gerger Heike , Bindels Patrick J. E. , de Schepper Evelien I. T. , Jansen Wilma 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIntegration of child mental health services in general practice may improve early detection and treatment and reduce strain on specialized services. In this study we investigated whether outpatient mental health care utilization and associated costs in children and adolescents were affected by the introduction of youth mental health practice nurses (YMHPNs) in general practice. We linked healthcare data of the Rijnmond Primary Care Database to municipal registry data on child outpatient mental health care expenditures between 2019 and 2022. Using mixed models, we assessed if the presence of a YMHPN in practices was associated with outpatient mental health care utilization. Our cohort consisted of 33,971 children aged 0–17 years registered in 38 general practices in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 5.5% of these children attended outpatient mental health services between 2019 and 2022. The proportion of children utilizing outpatient mental health care and associated costs increased over time. After correction for practice demographics and trends over time, the presence of a YMHPN in a practice was associated with small non-significant reductions in the number of children receiving outpatient care (Rate Ratio = 0.99, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.06) and associated costs (-395.80 euros 95%CI -1431.27 to 639.67) compared with practices without YMHPN. Considering the study limitations, we cautiously concluded that the introduction of YMHPNs in general practice was not associated with significant changes in outpatient mental health care utilization one to four years after implementation. Future studies should elucidate the long-term impact and underlying changes in pathways to care due to the introduction of the YMHPN.
Political arenas of infrastructure development—the case of a dam project in Kenya
Authors: Rieber Arne , Müller-Mahn Detlef 
Published: December 2024

AbstractState-led infrastructure development plays an increasingly important role in social transformation, especially in the Global South, which is also pushing the topic on research agendas in the social sciences in general and in development geography in particular. However, large infrastructure projects are often not completed as originally planned, and they may even end before implementation. This raises the question of how infrastructure and social transformation are related, especially if plans do not materialize. The paper presents an empirical approach to capturing the co-evolution of these two spheres of change in terms of a ‘political arena of infrastructure development’. The arena is defined as a socially constructed space of contestation and strategic collaboration at an intermediate scale, characterized by a specific composition of temporality, spatiality, and performativity. Its focal point is the infrastructure development project, which characterizes the arena as a site of future-making. By conceptualizing the co-evolution of infrastructure and society in terms of a political arena, we highlight the contestation and strategic alliances of infrastructural futures. The concept offers insights into the contentious politics of infrastructure development, resource conflicts and land-use interventions from a political ecology perspective. We apply the concept to the case of the Crocodile Jaw Dam project in Kenya, which was repeatedly proposed in development plans, but has never materialized to date. Serving as a heuristic, the concept of political arenas of infrastructure development guides the research process, helping to identify key topics and dynamics within the socio-political landscape of infrastructure projects.
Analysis of chemical-looping method for production of hydrogen gas from sewage sludge
Authors: Shiraki Toshiyuki , Okumura Satoshi , Uehara Satoshi , Harada Hiroki , Takaoka Masaki 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe objective of this study is to develop a highly efficient technology for producing hydrogen from sewage sludge using chemical-looping technology. In this study, laboratory-scale gasification experiments were conducted on sewage sludge samples. The effects of CaO as a carrier of oxygen or carbon (C) and as a gasification accelerator were evaluated. Lab-scale tests using a tube-type electric furnace showed that gasification of CaO-mixed dry sludge with steam resulted in substantial absorption of CO2 by CaO at 600 ℃ and 700 ℃ and the concentration of H2 in the gas reached 70 vol.%. The gasification was significantly accelerated in CaO-mixed steam gasification compared with pyrolysis gasification and steam gasification of dry sludge in the absence of the CaO mixture. The hydrogen gas (H2) recovery rate also increased, and tar with a high C weight ratio and high calorific value was recovered. Almost the entire C in the sewage sludge was gasified at 800 ℃. Therefore, this method (pyrolysis with steam and CaO) was shown to be effective as one of the hydrogen production methods from sewage sludge.
Relation Between 3 and 2D Wrinkling Factors in Turbulent Premixed Flames
Authors: Klein Markus , Chakraborty Nilanjan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The magnitude of the wrinkled flame surface area in turbulent premixed flames divided by its projection in the direction of flame propagation, known as the wrinkling factor, is a fundamental quantity for the purpose of analysis and modelling premixed combustion, for example, in flame surface density based modelling approaches. According to Damköhler’s hypothesis it is closely related to the turbulent burning velocity, an equally important measure of the overall burning rate of a wrinkled flame. Three-dimensional evaluation of the area of highly wrinkled flames remains difficult and experiments are often based on planar measurements. As a result of this, model development and calibration require an extension of 2D measurements to 3D data. Different relations between 2D and 3D wrinkling factors are known in literature and will be discussed in the present work using a variety of direct numerical simulation (DNS) databases combined with theoretical arguments. It is shown, based on an earlier analysis, that the isotropic distribution of the surface area weighted probability density function of the angle between the normal vectors on the measurement plane and the flame surface, provides a very simple relationship, stating that the ratio between 3D and 2D flame surface area is given by

$$4/\pi $$

4
/
π

, which is found to be in excellent agreement with DNS data of statistically planar turbulent premixed flames.
Precedent-based reasoning with incomplete information for human-in-the-loop decision support
Authors: Odekerken Daphne , Bex Floris , Prakken Henry 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWe define and study the notions of stability and relevance for precedent-based reasoning, focusing on Horty’s result model of precedential constraint. According to this model, precedents constrain the possible outcomes for a focus case, which is a yet undecided case, where precedents and the focus case are compared on their characteristics (called dimensions). In this paper, we refer to the enforced outcome for the focus case as its justification status. In contrast to earlier work, we do not assume that all dimension values of the focus case or the precedent cases have been established with certainty: rather, each dimension is assigned a set of possible values. We define a focus case as stable if its justification status is the same for every choice of the possible values. For focus cases that are not stable, we study the task of identifying relevance: which possible values should be excluded to make the focus case stable? In addition, we introduce the notion of possibility to verify if a user can assign an outcome to an unstable focus case without making the case base of precedents inconsistent. We show how the tasks of identifying justification, stability, relevance and possibility can be applied for human-in-the-loop decision support. Finally, we discuss the computational complexity of these tasks and provide efficient algorithms.
Understanding observable historical pest dynamics through a data rescue approach
Authors: O’Donnell Ultan , McGee Conor Francis , Bourke Andy , M Yearsley Jon 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Long-term historical data on the presence of invasive pests can inform current pest management. By examining correlations between shifts in pest occurrences and various potential drivers, we can better inform decision-making and management strategies. However, the availability of such long-term data is often limited. We apply a data rescue protocol to recover difficult-to-access pest information from periodical annual forestry reports on the island of Ireland from 1970 to 2020, resulting in an open-access dataset of pest dynamics and their management for the island. We combined the pest dataset with auxiliary weather data to estimate the effects of surveying effort, control measures and weather upon observed pest outbreak dynamics. A first-order auto-logistic regression model was used to model rates of transition between observed presences and absences of non-native insects, fungi, chromista, and bacteria. The results provide evidence that multi-year systematic surveillance efforts have improved the detection of pest species before they have arrived and help towards preventing false absences of invaded species being recorded. We provide reporting recommendations for invasive species which would improve the usability of reported data to better understand observed pest dynamics going forward. Our methodology for data collection and analysis serves as a blueprint for other regions of the world and other invasive species assemblages where data is physically available but not ready for analysis.
Self-Compassion Mediates the Associations of Mindfulness with Physical, Psychological, and Occupational Well-Being Among Chinese Kindergarten Teachers
Authors: Leung Tuen Yung , Lam Chun Bun , Chung Kevin Kien Hoa 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAs the caregivers and educators of young children, kindergarten teachers often have to make spontaneous decisions and deal with challenging situations on a daily basis. The well-being of kindergarten teachers is of interest to parents, teacher trainers, and policymakers, as whether kindergarten teachers do well physically, psychologically, and occupationally has important implications for young children—the future pillars of society. Therefore, it is important to examine factors that may contribute to our understanding of the well-being of kindergarten teachers. This cross-sectional study examined whether mindfulness was linked to Chinese kindergarten teachers’ physical, psychological, and occupational well-being and tested self-compassion as a mediator. Online questionnaire data were collected from 336 kindergarten teachers working in Hong Kong, China (mean age = 31.6 years; 86% of them were women). Kindergarten teachers rated their physical well-being (indicated by physical health and voice disorder symptoms), psychological well-being (indicated by life satisfaction and depressive symptoms), and occupational well-being (indicated by job satisfaction and turnover intentions) as well as their mindfulness and self-compassion. Structural equational modeling revealed that mindfulness was associated with all three aspects of well-being and self-compassion mediated such associations. Theoretically, findings highlighted the multidimensional nature of kindergarten teachers’ well-being and the roles of intrapersonal factors—such as mindfulness and self-compassion—in understanding it. Practically, findings pointed to the potential utility of supporting kindergarten teachers’ well-being by targeting their mindfulness and self-compassion.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Parental Overprotective Measure: Toward a Reliable and Practical Assessment Tool
Authors: Elfström Sigrid , Åhlen Johan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Parental overprotection is thought to be a risk factor for childhood anxiety disorders. The Parental Overprotection Measure (POM) is a self-assessment scale that has been used in many studies, however, no article has comprehensively explored its psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the POM to secure reliable, replicable, and comparable results. Using an item-response theoretical framework, we aimed to address five basic criteria of psychometric quality: one-dimensionality, ordered response categories, invariance, targeting, and reliability. Furthermore, we aimed to identify and exclude any items that did not contribute significantly, to create a concise and practical scale. A total of 1092 parents of children aged 4–12 years were recruited through an online advertisement and completed an anonymous online survey during September and October 2020. Out of the 19 items of the original scale, eight were excluded due to unsatisfactory psychometric properties and/or because of not being judged by experts as harmonious with the concept of parental overprotection. The retained items constituted the POM-11, a brief scale with sound psychometric properties that has the potential for use in both research and clinical settings.
Design and synthesis of a new chiral macrocyclic dilactam and its characterization by NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction
Authors: Sanchez-Perez Divina P. , Gómez-Calvario Victor , Jiménez Jacqueline , Velasco Manuel , Mendoza Angel , Juárez Jorge R. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIn this study, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of a new chiral macrocyclic dilactam (1) using (R)-phenylglycinol as a key building block. Macrocyclic polyether dilactams, such as this compound, have garnered attention for their ability to form complexes with cations, anions, heavy-metal ions, and neutral organic molecules, displaying potential biological applications as molecular or ion receptors and antibiotics. Building on our expertise in synthesizing chiral piperidine derivatives for alkaloid synthesis, we employed efficient diastereoselective strategies to develop this macrocycle. The complete structural assignment, crucial for correlating structural patterns with biological activity, was achieved through two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. This work provides valuable insights into the design of diaza-crown ethers with potential applications in supramolecular systems and medicinal chemistry.
In varietate concordia – cluster analysis of EQ-5D-5L value sets in European Union countries
Authors: Pinheiro Vera , Feldens Tallys , Haagsma Juanita A. , Santos João Vasco 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
The transferability of health policies in the European Union (EU) faces challenges due to economic, political, and healthcare system factors, including cross-country differences in health preferences. In order to aid policymaking, previous research has grouped EU countries based on geographical proximity or literature-based criteria, but not on health preference data. The EQ-5D-5L instrument, which measures health-related quality of life and reflects unique national health preferences shaped by cultural and social factors, is used to evaluate policies, technologies and interventions, but has not been used to group countries. Thus, this study aims to identify clusters of EU-27 countries with similar preference patterns using published EQ-5D-5L value sets.

Methods
Hierarchical agglomerative clustering was employed on 13 EU-27 countries’ EQ-5D-5L value sets, first analyzing regression coefficients for each dimension-level and then creating a simulated coefficient distribution considering uncertainty.

Findings
Five clusters of EU-27 countries emerged: (1) Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany); (2) Hungary, Italy, Portugal; (3) Poland, Romania; (4) France, Spain; (5) Denmark, Ireland. All clusters except cluster 5 gave higher importance to “Pain and Discomfort”; all clusters except cluster 1 gave less importance to “Usual Activities”. “Anxiety and Depression” and “Pain and Discomfort” had the largest heterogeneity in valuation across severity level.

Interpretation
Identified clusters of countries with distinct health preferences provide insights for health policy transferability in the EU. Recognizing countries with similar health preferences can aid EU policymaking and transferability efforts, particularly in early-stage policymaking, while also fostering closer collaboration on health policy decisions and best practice sharing. Further development of national value sets within the EU is necessary for a more accurate representation.
A regional analysis of the impact of remittances on health expenditures: evidence from Mexico
Authors: Mora-Rivera Jorge , García-Amador Martha Cecilia , van Gameren Edwin 
Published: December 2024

AbstractUsing a quasi-experimental technique and data from the 2020 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey, we not only provide evidence that both internal and international remittances have a positive impact on various categories of health expenditures in Mexican households, but also highlight regionally heterogeneous effects. International remittances have a larger impact at the household level, whereas internal remittances impact a greater number of households. In western Mexico, with its long-standing international migratory tradition, remittances from abroad have more pronounced impacts. Internal remittances are more relevant in the poorer south-southeast, a region known for having inadequate access to healthcare services. These findings are associated with structural socioeconomic disparities that characterize Mexico, and are also linked to whether the additional income is perceived permanent or transitory.
An autotuning approach to select the inter-GPU communication library on heterogeneous systems
Authors: Cámara Jesús , Cuenca Javier , Galindo Victor , Vicente Arturo , Boratto Murilo 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIn this work, an automatic optimisation approach for parallel routines on multi-GPU systems is presented. Several inter-GPU communication libraries (such as CUDA-Aware MPI or NCCL) are used with a set of routines to perform the numerical operations among the GPUs located on the compute nodes. The main objective is the selection of the most appropriate communication library, the number of GPUs to be used and the workload to be distributed among them in order to reduce the cost of data movements, which represent a large percentage of the total execution time. To this end, a hierarchical modelling of the execution time of each routine to be optimised is proposed, combining experimental and theoretical approaches. The results show that near-optimal decisions are taken in all the scenarios analysed.