bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical and micro‐characterization of alkali‐activated concrete under high‐temperature exposure
Authors: Pratap Bheem , Paswan Rajesh Kumar , Kumar Pramod 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn the event of a fire, the performance of concrete becomes pivotal for structural integrity. Concrete undergoes significant changes in its mechanical properties when exposed to high temperatures. This study investigates the mechanical and micro‐characterization of concrete incorporating ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) under ambient and exposed conditions. The study examines alkali‐activated concrete (AAC) by implementing sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) as alkali activators. Three different fractions of GGBFS and alkali activators (AAs) were employed in the concrete mixes. The mechanical properties of the AAC were evaluated under ambient and elevated temperatures, and the results were compared with those of Portland slag cement (PSC). The study's findings indicate that AAC outperforms PSC, and the study recommends using 93% GGBFS with 7% AAs as a suitable replacement for PSC. The mechanical properties of AAC are enhanced by 20%–47% at ambient conditions. The strength loss for the AAC with increased temperature is also less than that of the PSC concrete.
Effects of Students' Contact With the English Language and Its Users on Students' Preferences for Global Englishes Language Teaching
Authors: Funada Natsuno 
Published: October 2024

AbstractStudies on Global Englishes (GE)‐related pedagogical and curricular innovations emphasize the importance of exposing students to the diversity of English and its users. However, they do not provide direct evidence of changes in students' attitudes. The reliability and validity of existing quantitative instruments for measuring students' attitudes toward GE‐related ideologies in English language teaching (ELT) have not been thoroughly evaluated. Consequently, more rigorous research is needed to understand these attitudes and promote curriculum changes. This mixed‐methods study addresses this need by linking students' contact with English users, “traditional” ELT, and Global Englishes Language Teaching (GELT) attitudes. The study utilized 436 validated participant responses to validated scales and two focus group interviews within the Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. Results from partial least squares structural equation modeling were supported by focus group data analysis, showing that student contact predicted their preferences for GELT. Additionally, the study found that this relationship was partially mediated by students' preferences for “traditional” ELT, adding complexity to GE‐related innovations in EFL contexts. This article discusses the pedagogical implications for addressing challenges in changing attitudes and provides recommendations for further research.
Acquisition of Sociophonetic Variation in an EFL Context: Evidence from Production, Perception, and Awareness
Authors: Gnevsheva Ksenia 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the acquisition of sociophonetic competence by English as a foreign language learners in production and perception. Adult learners of English completed speaking, listening, and questionnaire tasks, aimed at assessing their acquisition of sociolinguistic constraints on (ING). First, they were interviewed and read 30 sentences, containing the target variable, in English. Next, they participated in a listening task where they had to discriminate between more and less formal sentences, varying in the (ING) variant. Lastly, they completed an awareness and biographical questionnaire. An analysis of the speaking task revealed partial acquisition of variable rules: The alveolar variant was more likely to appear in verbs and the velar one—after an alveolar consonant. Style was not significant. Participants also did not distinguish between velar and alveolar variants in perception of formality. Measures of English proficiency and exposure did not predict acquisition of (ING) in production and perception. The questionnaire revealed minimal awareness of (ING) and other phonetic/phonological variables, which may be one of the contributing factors to its incomplete acquisition in production and perception.
Predicting neonatal mortality prior to discharge from hospital in prenatally diagnosed left congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Shinar S. , Otvodenko A. , Kajal D. , Chiu P. P. L. , Lee S. , Shah P. S. , Van Mieghem T. , Kunpalin Y. , Guerguerian A.‐M. , Ryan G. , Abbasi N. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo evaluate the association of standardized prenatal imaging parameters and immediate neonatal variables with mortality prior to discharge in infants with isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (LCDH), and to compare the performance of ultrasound‐ and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based severity grading for the prediction of neonatal mortality.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of infants with prenatally diagnosed isolated LCDH referred to a single tertiary center between 2008 and 2020. Fetuses with right or bilateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia, additional major structural anomaly or known genetic condition, as well as cases that underwent fetal intervention or declined postnatal intervention, were excluded. Ultrasound and MRI images were reviewed retrospectively. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed, incorporating prenatal and immediate neonatal factors to analyze the association with neonatal mortality prior to discharge, and a prediction calculator was generated. The performance of ultrasound and that of MRI for the prediction of neonatal mortality were compared.ResultsOf 253 pregnancies with fetal CDH, 104 met the inclusion criteria, of whom 77 (74%) neonates survived to discharge. Seventy‐five fetuses underwent both prenatal ultrasound and MRI. On multivariable analysis, observed/expected (o/e) lung‐to‐head ratio and o/e total fetal lung volume were associated independently with neonatal death (adjusted odds ratio, 0.89 (95% CI, 0.83–0.95) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.84–0.97), respectively), whereas liver position was not. There was no significant difference in predictive performance between using ultrasound and MRI together (area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curve (AUC), 0.85 (95% CI, 0.76–0.93)) compared with using ultrasound alone (AUC, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72–0.90); P = 0.19). The addition of neonatal parameters (gestational age at birth and small‐for‐gestational age) did not improve model performance (AUC, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.80–0.95)) compared with the combined ultrasound and MRI model (P = 0.22). There was poor agreement between severity assessment on ultrasound and MRI (Cohen's κ, 0.19). Most discrepancies were seen among cases deemed to be non‐severe on ultrasound and severe on MRI, and outcomes were more consistent with MRI‐based prognostication.ConclusionsIn fetuses with prenatally diagnosed isolated LCDH, mortality prediction using standardized ultrasound and MRI measurements performed reasonably well. In cases classified as non‐severe on ultrasound, MRI is recommended, as it may provide more accurate prognostication and assist in the determination of candidacy for fetal intervention. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Estimating Regional Rental Prices on LAU 2 Municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia
Authors: Alfken Christoph , Articus Charlotte , Brenzel Hanna , Emmenegger Jana , Münnich Ralf , Rohde Johannes 
Published: October 2024

AbstractRecently, rental prices came more and more into focus in policy. Latest developments show highly different developments among cities and rural regions. The Ukraine and energy crises caused additional impact on high rental prices due to an imbalance of supply and demand, as well as to affordable living space especially in big cities. Hence, reliable estimates are of major importance for evidence-based policy. However, available data sources are either subject to selection biases, e.g. web-scraped data, or hardly allow accurate estimates on small regional scale. The present chapter derives small area estimates on LAU 2 level using classical and spatial Fay–Herriot methods in contrast to rental prices from Internet platforms. The data in use are official data from the federal state North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.
Short and longterm outcome of minimally invasive therapy of median arcuate ligament syndrome
Authors: Butz Frederike , Haase Oliver , Martin Friederike , Hillebrandt Karl Herbert , Knitter Sebastian , Schöning Wenzel , Raschzok Nathanael , Pratschke Johann , Krenzien Felix 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare disorder caused by compression of the celiac artery (CA) by the median arcuate ligament (MAL). Common symptoms include postprandial abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. While laparoscopic MAL division has long been considered the procedure of choice, robotic-assisted procedures have been increasingly used since their introduction. Aim of this study was to evaluate peri- and postoperative outcomes after minimally invasive MAL release.

Methods
A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing minimally invasive MAL release at the Department of Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, between 2014 and 2023 was performed.

Results
20 patients met the inclusion criteria and underwent either laparoscopic (n = 3) or robotic (n = 17) MAL release. Most common preoperative symptoms were postprandial abdominal pain (90%), weight loss (45%), diarrhea (30%), and nausea (25%). Comparing laparoscopic and robotic surgery, neither the median duration of surgery (minutes: 98 (90–290) vs. 125 (80–254); p = 0.765), the median length of hospital stay (days: 4 (3–4) vs. 5 (3–6); p = 0.179) and intraoperative blood loss (< 50 ml in both groups, p = 1.0) showed significant differences. Peak systolic velocity in the CA was significantly reduced postoperatively (cm/s: 320 (200–765) vs. 167 (100–500), p < 0.001). Postoperatively, 17 (85%) patients reported symptom improvement, while 4 (20%) patients had no symptom relief at last follow-up. In 3 cases, follow-up imaging showed evidence of respiratory-related CA stenosis.

Conclusion
Despite being complex and challenging procedures, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted MAL release are safe procedures with low risk of postoperative complications and good longterm outcomes.
Exploring the “led” in health professional student-led experiences: a scoping review
Authors: Lising Dean , Copley Jodie , Hill Anne , Martyniuk Julia , Patterson Freyr , Quinlan Teresa , Parker Kathryn 
Published: October 2024

AbstractTo support a complex health system, students are expected to be competent leaders as well as competent clinicians. Intentional student leadership development is needed in health professional education programs. Student-led experiences such as student-run clinics and interprofessional training wards, are practice-based learning opportunities where learners provide leadership to clinical services and/or address a gap in the system. Given the absence of leadership definitions and concepts, this scoping review explored how student leadership is conceptualized and developed in student-led experiences. The review was conducted in accordance with best practices in scoping review methodology within the scope of relevant practice-based student-led experiences for health professional students. The research team screened 4659 abstracts, identified 315 articles for full-text review and selected 75 articles for data extraction and analysis. A thematic analysis produced themes related to leadership concepts/theories/models, objectives, facilitation/supervision, assessment and evaluation of curriculum. While responding to system gaps within health professional care, student-led experiences need to align explicit leadership theory/concepts/models with curricular objectives, pedagogy, and assessments to support health professional education. To support future student-led experiences, authors mapped five leadership student role profiles that were associated with student-led models and could be constructively aligned with theory and concepts. In addition to leveraging a student workforce to address system needs, student-led experiences must also be a force for learning through a reciprocal model of leadership and service to develop future health professionals and leaders.
Herding cats: integrative leadership strategies in inter- and transdisciplinary research programs
Authors: Deutsch Lisa , Björnsen Astrid , Fischer Andreas M. , Hama Angela Michiko , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Zurbrügg Christian , Hoffmann Sabine 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
This paper focuses on the critical role of integrative leadership in inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) research programs. ITD programs have become one of academia’s responses to address contemporary sustainability challenges. Fulfilling the promise of such programs is extraordinarily challenging for all involved participants, but especially for program leaders who have to ensure that the perspectives of the involved program participants become truly integrated and that final and useful synthesis outputs are created. We present six core leadership challenges and respective strategies to address them to advance integration within ITD programs. These challenges include (1) mastering complexity and ambiguity, (2) advancing decision-making with lateral leadership, (3) ensuring responsibility and accountability, (4) setting program boundaries, (5) selecting suitable projects, and (6) dealing with misconceptions. We derived these challenges and respective strategies from both leading and studying in-depth three ITD programs focusing on sustainability issues in Switzerland. With this paper, we intend to promote awareness about the range of leadership challenges in ITD programs and provide actionable knowledge, which can support in particular fellow and future leaders, but also funders and heads of research institutions in their efforts to realize the integrative potential of such programs.

Graphical abstract

Image 1: © Eawag: Lisa Deutsch & Sabine Hoffmann; Stückelberger Cartoons: Christof Stückelberger, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Two new species of Clusia (Clusiaceae) endemic to Costa Rica
Authors: Luján Manuel , Wodcke Emma , Hammel Barry 
Published: October 2024

SummaryDuring the preparation of Clusiaceae for the Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica, several new species of Clusia L. were identified but left with lettered informal names. Here, we formally describe two of those. Clusia dotana Hammel can be distinguished most assuredly from morphologically related species by its pistillate flowers with 24 – 26 (– 42) staminodes and the unusual large mass of yellow arillate tissue covering the seeds. Clusia osaensis Hammel is similar to C. dotana but distinct by having relatively longer inflorescences (5 – 15 cm vs 4.5 cm), pistillate flowers with 16 staminodes, and seeds covered in an orange aril. These two new species are known from a limited number of localities and are endemic to mountain and lowland forests on the Pacific slopes in central and southern Costa Rica.
MFE-SSNet: Multi-Modal Fusion-Based End-to-End Steering Angle and Vehicle Speed Prediction Network
Authors: Huang Yi , Liu Wenzhuo , Li Yaoyu , Yang Lei , Jiang Hanqi , Li Zhiwei , Li Jun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn the field of autonomous vehicles, accurately predicting steering angle and speed is a pivotal task. This task affects the accuracy of the final decision of the autonomous vehicle and is the basis for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the autonomous vehicle. Previous studies have often relied on data from only one or two modalities to make predictions for steering angle and vehicle speed, which were often inadequate. In this paper, the authors propose a Multi-Modal Fusion-Based End-to-End Steering Angle and Vehicle Speed Prediction Network (MFE-SSNet). The network innovatively extends the one-stream and two-stream structure to a three-stream structure and cleverly extracts features of images, steering angles, and vehicle speeds using HRNet and LSTM layers. In addition, in order to fully fuse the feature information of different modal data, this paper also proposes a local attention-based feature fusion module. This module improves the fusion of different modal feature vectors by capturing the interdependencies in the local channels. Experimental results demonstrate that MFE-SSNet outperforms the current state-of-the-art model on the publicly available Udacity dataset.
Appropriateness of Empiric Initiation of Meropenem in the Intensive Care Unit as Determined by Internal Medicine Residents
Authors: Ishtiaq Ufaq , Acosta Katherine , Akabusi Chika , Noble Kelcey , Gujadhur Nili , Cluzet Valerie 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate the appropriateness of empiric initiation of meropenem in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine the agreement between internal medicine (IM) residents and infectious diseases (ID) physicians/pharmacists on appropriateness.

Design:
Retrospective observational study.

Setting:
ICU in a tertiary care community teaching hospital.

Participants:
Adult patients admitted to the ICU and started empirically on meropenem between April 1 and October 31, 2021.

Methods:
Meropenem usage was categorized as appropriate or inappropriate according to criteria developed from previously published indications and modified by ID physicians/pharmacists to reflect local practices. Two investigators (an IM resident and either an ID physician or pharmacist) assessed the appropriateness, with a second ID physician resolving any disagreements. Inter-rater reliability was measured using the kappa statistic.

Results:
Ninety-seven participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 68 (SD, 17.0) years. Pneumonia was the most common infection (30.9%). Among the participants, 92.8% received an ID consultation, with 55.6% of these occurring before meropenem initiation. IM residents deemed 56.7% of meropenem administrations appropriate, whereas an ID physician/pharmacist deemed only 48.5% appropriate, agreeing on 79.4% of cases (kappa statistic 0.59, P <.001). After a third reviewer’s assessment was included, agreement between the resident and at least one of the two reviewers reached 90.7% (kappa 0.81, P <.001).

Conclusions:
Approximately half of empiric meropenem started in the ICU was deemed inappropriate using institution-specific criteria. There was good agreement between IM residents and ID physicians/pharmacists on meropenem appropriateness. IM residents could contribute to antimicrobial stewardship efforts, like prospective audit and feedback, using standardized criteria for appropriateness.
Comparative Analysis of Burn Injuries in Toddler and Preschool Children: Implications for Triage and Outcome Assessment
Authors: Ozel Mehmet , Yilmaz Sarper , Tatliparmak Ali Cankut , Ak Rohat 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objective
This study aims to compare the demographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of burn injuries in toddler and preschool children, and to validate the American Burn Association (ABA) Burn Triage Decision Matrix in the Turkish pediatric population.

Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 684 pediatric burn patients (494 toddlers, 190 preschoolers) admitted to our burn center over a 5-year period. Variables including gender, burn etiology, burn area, depth, treatment modalities, complications, length of hospital stay, and mortality were analyzed. The performance of the ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix was evaluated in both groups.

Results
Scalding was the predominant cause of burns in both groups, with a significant difference in the involvement of anterior trunk (p = 0.027). The mean Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) was comparable between the groups (p = 0.286). There was no significant difference in mortality rates (p = 0.385), treatment modalities, and complications. The ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix demonstrated consistency in triaging the severity of burn injuries, with a notable discrepancy observed in the moderate risk category of toddler group.

Conclusions
This study highlights the distinct characteristics and outcomes of burn injuries in different pediatric age groups. The ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix’s validation suggests its utility in enhancing triage accuracy and resource allocation in pediatric populations, especially in disaster-prone regions.
Feature, specification and evidence framework for communicating design rationale
Authors: Mirabito Yakira , Tchatchouang Kayo Megane Annaelle , Goucher-Lambert Kosa 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Design rationale is the justification behind a product component, often captured via written reports and oral presentations. Research shows that the structure and information used to communicate and document rationale significantly influence human behavior. To better understand the influence of design rationale on engineering design, we investigate the information engineers and designers include in design rationales in written reports. Eight hundred and forty-six pages of student engineering design reports from 28 teams representing 116 individuals were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach and compared across project types. The rationales from the reports were coded inductively into concepts and later applied to five industry reports consisting of 218 pages. The findings reveal a spectrum of rationales underpinning design decisions. Grounded in the data, the feature, specification and evidence (FSE) framework emerged as a feature-based and low-effort capture approach. We discuss the need to improve design communication in engineering design, through structuring rationales (i.e., using the proposed FSE framework or other representations) and improving technical writing skills. Lastly, by enhancing design rationale communication and documentation practices, significant benefits can be realized for computational support tools such as automatic rationale extraction or generative approaches.