bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Research on the temperature control of a cryogenic urine storage system based on improved adaptive LADRC
Authors: Zhu Changjian , Jiang Yu , Shen Donghua , Zhao Youpeng 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Routine urine tests play a vital role in the diagnosis of kidney and urinary system diseases, with test outcomes directly affecting disease diagnosis. However, if urine is exposed to room temperature for extended periods, it may lead to rapid degradation of the sample, thus affecting the accuracy of the test. Therefore, for urine that requires long-term storage for testing, it is necessary to control the temperature within an appropriate range during the collection process to effectively preserve the activity of urinary proteins and ensure the reliability of the test. To address this issue, a cryogenic urine storage system was developed, and a fuzzy LADRC temperature control algorithm combined with a Smith predictor was proposed, specifically designed for optimizing the temperature stability during urine collection and storage processes. Initially, the characteristics of the cryogenic storage system were analyzed. A simulation model combining the fuzzy LADRC with a Smith predictor was built using the MATLAB/Simulink simulation toolkit, and a comparative simulation was conducted. The simulation results showed that the proposed algorithm significantly improved the time-domain response performance compared to PID control, verifying the superiority of the algorithm over PID control. The final experimental results demonstrated that the fuzzy LADRC temperature control algorithm with the Smith predictor essentially eliminated overshoot, with improvements in speed and stability compared to PID control.
Scatterometric defect measurements – uncertainty assessment by means of a virtual instrument and a statistical analysis
Authors: Rahman Tajim Md Hasibur , Stöbener Dirk , Fischer Andreas 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Defects in nanostructured surfaces have to be detected in or close to the manufacturing process in the production environment. For this purpose, scatterometry promises a non-contact approach with in-process capability. However, the achievable measurement uncertainty with a scatterometric measurement principle is difficult to assess by means of experiments. Especially for nano-surfaces with stochastic features, a large sample size is required. In addition, the influence of the natural uncertainty due to the inherent surface stochastics, which causes an ultimate uncertainty limit, remains hidden. Therefore, a virtual experimentation in combination with a statistical evaluation is proposed for the uncertainty assessment of scatterometric defect measurements of nanostructured surface. One virtual experiment calculates the scattered light distribution from a randomized modelled surface. For the uncertainty assessment, (a) multiple defective surfaces with the same defect grade are modelled, (b) the surfaces’ scattered light distributions are simulated, (c) the signal processing is applied for obtaining the virtual measurement results of the defect grade, and (d) the uncertainty is determined. The proposed virtual method is realized and demonstrated for defective ZnO nanograss surfaces, where the vacancy of nanograss is the studied defect as an example. As central results for the exemplarily studied defect grade measurement, the determined achievable mean uncertainty due to the nanostructure randomness is

3.2

%
,

and the effect of the detector shot noise is negligibly small. Furthermore, the proposed method is universally applicable for any type of nanostructure/defect, and for any scatterometric principle, to clarify the respective potential for the reliable detection of nanostructure defects.
Introduction
Authors: Gould Philip 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The book’s Introduction establishes the historical and theoretical terms of reading Civil War literature in context of the power of the federal state. It surveys historical and literary scholarship about wartime culture in the North and clarifies the critical stakes of reorienting our focus on the federal state rather than the nation and nationalism—categories that have been central to Civil War scholarship. The Introduction introduces the importance of the book’s central categories of analysis: propaganda, censorship, and treason and loyalty, and goes on to familiarize readers with the political crises in the North arising from secession and subsequently President Lincoln’s declaration of his “war power” to preserve the Union.
Epilogue
Authors: Gould Philip 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The Epilogue revisits the contexts and applications of this study for our contemporary political and cultural crisis. It reflects on discourses of treason, rights, and censorship in American culture today, comparing Lincoln and Civil War political battles to the January 6th Insurrection, book-banning efforts in public libraries and schools, and numerous other controversies today where conspiracy theories and political violence are rife. These involve state government censorship, Florida’s “anti-woke” legislation, the harassment of public librarians, and numerous other events in America’s culture wars, where free speech and censorship are subjected to today’s version of Civil War politics.
Aesthetic Non-Naturalism
Authors: Evers Daan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Aesthetic non-naturalism is the view that there are objective aesthetic truths that hold in virtue of sui generis facts. This view is seldom explicitly endorsed in philosophical aesthetics. I argue that many aestheticians should treat it as the view to beat, since (a) their commitments favour aesthetic realism, (b) non-naturalistic forms of aesthetic realism are particularly promising and (c) non-naturalists have reasonable answers to four important objections.
L2 Pragmatic Development in Constructing and Negotiating Contextual Meanings
Authors: Chen Xi , Brown Lucien 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The way in which L2 learners construct pragmatic and social meanings, including stances and identities, is emerging as an important research concern. In this study, we explore how L2 learners develop the ability to construct and negotiate pragmatic and social meanings, with a focus on meanings manifested in specific contexts, namely, contextual meanings. Specifically, we trace the development made by a group of 30 L2 Korean learners in their understanding of the contextual meanings of Korean first-person pronouns over the provision of L1- and L2-generated input and an awareness raising activity. Our findings reveal that provision of input of the underlying stereotypical meanings facilitated learners’ (re-)construction and negotiation of contextual meanings. The learners developed from oversimplistic form-meaning connections to more context-based and internally logical interpretations of contextual meanings, constructed new contextual meanings from the input, and agentively negotiated between the input and their existing indexical systems. The findings raise important pedagogical implications, including reconsideration of the assessment of pragmatic and sociolinguistic competence.
Improving the Impact of BODY-Q Scores Through Minimal Important Differences in Body Contouring Surgery: An International Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Dalaei Farima , Dijkhorst Phillip J , Möller Sören , Klassen Anne F , de Vries Claire E E , Poulsen Lotte , Kaur Manraj N , Thomsen Jørn Bo , Hoogbergen Maarten , Voineskos Sophocles H , Repo Jussi P , Opyrchal Jakub , Paul Marek Adam , Busch Kay-Hendrik , Cogliandro Annalisa , Rose Michael , Cano Stefan J , Pusic Andrea L , Sørensen Jens A 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
The BODY-Q is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure for comprehensive assessment of treatment outcomes specific to patients undergoing body contouring surgery (BCS). However, for the BODY-Q to be meaningfully interpreted and used in clinical practice, minimal important difference (MID) scores are needed. A MID is defined as the smallest change in outcome measure score that patients perceive as important.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to determine BODY-Q MID estimates for patients undergoing BCS to enhance the interpretability of the BODY-Q.

Methods
Data from an international, prospective cohort from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland were included. Two distribution-based methods were used to estimate MID: 0.2 standard deviations of mean baseline scores and the mean standardized response change of BODY-Q scores from baseline to 3 years postoperatively.

Results
A total of 12,554 assessments from 3237 participants (mean age 42.5 ± 9.3 years; BMI 28.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2) were included. Baseline MID scores ranged from 1 to 5 on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) scales and 3 to 6 on the appearance scales. The estimated MID scores from baseline to 3-year follow-up ranged from 4 to 5 for HRQL and from 4 to 8 on the appearance scales.

Conclusions
The BODY-Q MID estimates from before BCS to 3 years postoperatively ranged from 4 to 8 and are recommended for interpretation of patients’ BODY-Q scores, evaluation of treatment effects of different BCS procedures, and calculation of sample size for future studies.

Level of Evidence: 3
Regulatory autonomy in digital trade agreements
Authors: Burri Mira , Kugler Kholofelo 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Digital trade agreements have become integral fora for regulating cross-border digital commercial transactions, including data flows. Deeper commitments in the area of digital trade have however raised serious concerns over the erosion of countries’ regulatory autonomy, prompting the inclusion of an array of safeguards within these treaties. This article undertakes a comprehensive examination of these safeguard mechanisms, which include carve-outs, transition periods, the right to regulate, and exception clauses. By shedding light on the nuances of these safeguard provisions, as well as their complex interplay with commitments made, the article provides a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of digital trade governance and its implications for national regulatory autonomy. Based on existing jurisprudence and legal doctrine, the article also tests the scope of the provided policy space, the trade-offs between flexibility and legal certainty, and examines how future-proof the bounds of regulatory autonomy are, considering the highly fluid technological environment.
Comparing loss of p16 and MTAP expression in detecting CDKN2A homozygous deletion in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
Authors: Vizcaino M Adelita , Giannini Caterina , Vaubel Rachael A , Nguyen Aivi T , Trejo-Lopez Jorge A , Raghunathan Aditya , Jenkins Sarah M , Jenkins Robert B , Zepeda Mendoza Cinthya J 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXAs) harbor CDKN2A homozygous deletion in &gt;90% of cases, resulting in loss of p16 expression by immunohistochemistry. Considering the proximity of MTAP to CDKN2A and their frequent concurrent deletions, loss of MTAP expression may be a surrogate for CDKN2A homozygous deletion. We evaluated p16 and MTAP expression in 38 patient PXAs (CNS WHO grade 2: n = 23, 60.5%; grade 3: n = 15, 39.5%) with available chromosomal microarray data to determine whether MTAP can be utilized independently or in combination with p16 to predict CDKN2A status. CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and MTAP homozygous deletion were present in 37 (97.4%), 36 (94.7%), and 25 (65.8%) cases, respectively. Expression of p16 was lost in 35 (92.1%) cases, equivocal in one (2.6%), and failed in 2 (5.3%), while MTAP expression was lost in 27 (71.1%) cases, retained in 10 (26.3%), and equivocal in one (2.6%). This yielded a sensitivity of 94.6% for p16 and 73.0% for MTAP in detecting CDKN2A homozygous deletion through immunohistochemistry. MTAP expression was lost in the 2 cases with failed p16 staining (combined sensitivity of 100%). Our findings demonstrate that combined p16 and MTAP immunostains correctly detect CDKN2A homozygous deletion in PXA, while MTAP expression alone shows reduced sensitivity.
Association of Staphylococcus aureus Bacterial Load and Colonization Sites With the Risk of Postoperative S. aureus Infection
Authors: Troeman Darren P R , Hazard Derek , van Werkhoven Cornelis H W , Timbermont Leen , Malhotra-Kumar Surbhi , Wolkewitz Martin , Ruzin Alexey , Sifakis Frangiscos , Harbarth Stephan , Kluytmans Jan A J W ,   ASPIRE-SSI Study Group, Goossens Herman , Vlaeminck Jelle , Vilken Tuba , Xavier Basil Britto , Lammens Christine , Bonten Marc , van Esschoten Marjolein , Paling Fleur , Recanatini Claudia , Coenjaerts Frank , Selman Brett , Tkaczyk Christine , Weber Susanne , Ekkelenkamp Miquel , van der Laan Lijckle , Vierhout Bas , Couvé-Deacon Elodie , David Miruna , Chadwick David , Llewelyn Martin , Ustianowski Andrew , Bateman Tony , Mawer Damian , Carevic Biljana , Konstantinovic Sonja , Djordjevic Zorana , del Toro López María Dolores , Horcajada Juan P , Escudero Dolores , Rojo Miquel Pujol , de la Torre Cisneros Julián , Castelli Francesco , Nardi Giuseppe , Barbadoro Pamela , Altmets Mait , Mitt Piret , Todor Adrian , Turconi Serban Ion Bubenek , Corneci Dan , Săndesc Dorel , Gheorghita Valeriu , Brat Radim , Hanke Ivo , Neumann Jan , Tomáš Tomáš , Laffut Wim , Van den Abeele Annemie , Van Rooij Sanne , Schasfoort Edith , Brugman Curt , Couperus Janet , Van Beek Karin , Cuperus Nienke , Corthals Sophie , Bryssinck Liesbeth , Solomon Stalin , Chapelle Sabine , Vanderstraeten Anouk 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
The independent effects of extranasal-only carriage, carriage at multiple bodily sites, or the bacterial load of colonizing Staphylococcus aureus (SA) on the risk of developing SA surgical site infections and postoperative bloodstream infections (SA SSI/BSIs) are unclear. We aimed to quantify these effects in this large prospective cohort study.

Methods
Surgical patients aged 18 years or older were screened for SA carriage in the nose, throat, or perineum within 30 days before surgery. SA carriers and noncarriers were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in a 2:1 ratio. Weighted multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the independent associations between different measures of SA carriage and occurrence of SA SSI/BSI within 90 days after surgery.

Results
We enrolled 5004 patients in the study cohort; 3369 (67.3%) were SA carriers. 100 SA SSI/BSI events occurred during follow-up, and 86 (86%) of these events occurred in SA carriers. The number of colonized bodily sites (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.5–8.5) and an increasing SA bacterial load in the nose (aHR, 1.8–3.4) were associated with increased SA SSI/BSI risk. However, extranasal-only carriage was not independently associated with SA SSI/BSI (aHR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.9–2.5).

Conclusions
Nasal SA carriage was associated with an increased risk of SA SSI/BSI and accounted for the majority of SA infections. Higher bacterial load, as well as SA colonization at multiple bodily sites, further increased this risk.
Syphilis Complicating Pregnancy and Congenital Syphilis
Authors: Stafford Irene A. , Workowski Kimberly A. , Bachmann Laura H. 
Published: July 2024

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2024;390:242–253)
Passage of the bacteria Treponema pallidum through the placenta is a known cause of congenital syphilis and continues to represent a global disease burden. Since 2001, rates of syphilis have increased in individuals of reproductive age and in infants, with rates reaching their highest in nearly 30 years in 2021.
Touch Helps Hearing: Evidence From Continuous Audio-Tactile Stimulation
Authors: Fu Xueying , Smulders Fren T. Y. , Riecke Lars 
Published: July 2024

Objectives:
Identifying target sounds in challenging environments is crucial for daily experiences. It is important to note that it can be enhanced by nonauditory stimuli, for example, through lip-reading in an ongoing conversation. However, how tactile stimuli affect auditory processing is still relatively unclear. Recent studies have shown that brief tactile stimuli can reliably facilitate auditory perception, while studies using longer-lasting audio-tactile stimulation yielded conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ongoing pulsating tactile stimulation on basic auditory processing.

Design:
In experiment 1, the electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded while 24 participants performed a loudness-discrimination task on a 4-Hz modulated tone-in-noise and received either in-phase, anti-phase, or no 4-Hz electrotactile stimulation above the median nerve. In experiment 2, another 24 participants were presented with the same tactile stimulation as before, but performed a tone-in-noise detection task while their selective auditory attention was manipulated.

Results:
We found that in-phase tactile stimulation enhanced EEG responses to the tone, whereas anti-phase tactile stimulation suppressed these responses. No corresponding tactile effects on loudness-discrimination performance were observed in experiment 1. Using a yes/no paradigm in experiment 2, we found that in-phase tactile stimulation, but not anti-phase tactile stimulation, improved detection thresholds. Selective attention also improved thresholds but did not modulate the observed benefit from in-phase tactile stimulation.

Conclusions:
Our study highlights that ongoing in-phase tactile input can enhance basic auditory processing as reflected in scalp EEG and detection thresholds. This might have implications for the development of hearing enhancement technologies and interventions.
Cost-Utility Analysis of Bilateral Cochlear Implants for Children With Severe-to-Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Ting-Hsuen , Lin Pei-Hsuan , Fang Te-Yung , Wu Chen-Chi , Wang Pa-Chun , Ko Yu 
Published: July 2024

Objectives:
Cochlear implants are an option for children with sensorineural hearing loss who do not benefit from hearing aids. Although bilateral cochlear implantation (CI) has been shown to enhance hearing performance and quality of life, its cost-effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of bilateral CI compared with bimodal hearing for children with sensorineural hearing loss in Taiwan from both the perspectives of patients and Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration (TNHIA).

Design:
A four-state Markov model was utilized in the study, including “use the first internal device,” “use the second internal device,” “use the third internal device,” and “death.” Health utility values were obtained from a local survey of health professionals and then adjusted by a scale to reflect both the negative impact of aging on hearing and the time needed to develop the full benefit of treatment in the earliest years of life. The cost data were derived from a caregiver survey, hospital databases, clinical experts, and the TNHIA. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated over the lifetime horizon and presented as cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of simultaneous bilateral CI, sequential bilateral CI, and bimodal hearing. In addition, one-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate the impact of uncertainty and the robustness of the model.

Results:
The base-case analysis showed that children with bilateral CI gained more QALYs while incurring more costs when compared with those with bimodal hearing. From the TNHIA perspective, compared with bimodal hearing, the ICER of simultaneous bilateral CI was New Taiwan Dollars 232,662 per QALY whereas from the patient perspective, the ICER was New Taiwan Dollars 1,006,965 per QALY. Moreover, simultaneous bilateral CI dominated sequential bilateral CI from both perspectives. Compared with bimodal hearing, the ICER of sequential bilateral CI did not exceed twice the gross domestic product per capita in Taiwan from either perspective. One-way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the utility gain of bilateral CI compared with bimodal hearing was the most impactful parameter from both perspectives. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the base-case analysis results.

Conclusions:
Our findings reveal that bilateral CI was cost-effective when using the threshold of one to three times the 2022 gross domestic product per capita in Taiwan from both the TNHIA and patient perspectives. Future research incorporating cost and effectiveness data from other dimensions is needed to help decision-makers assess the cost-effectiveness of bilateral CI more comprehensively.
Evaluating Changes in Adult Cochlear Implant Users’ Brain and Behavior Following Auditory Training
Authors: Jeon Eun Kyung , Driscoll Virginia , Mussoi Bruna S. , Scheperle Rachel , Guthe Emily , Gfeller Kate , Abbas Paul J. , Brown Carolyn J. 
Published: July 2024

Objectives:
To describe the effects of two types of auditory training on both behavioral and physiological measures of auditory function in cochlear implant (CI) users, and to examine whether a relationship exists between the behavioral and objective outcome measures.

Design:
This study involved two experiments, both of which used a within-subject design. Outcome measures included behavioral and cortical electrophysiological measures of auditory processing. In Experiment I, 8 CI users participated in a music-based auditory training. The training program included both short training sessions completed in the laboratory as well as a set of 12 training sessions that participants completed at home over the course of a month. As part of the training program, study participants listened to a range of different musical stimuli and were asked to discriminate stimuli that differed in pitch or timbre and to identify melodic changes. Performance was assessed before training and at three intervals during and after training was completed. In Experiment II, 20 CI users participated in a more focused auditory training task: the detection of spectral ripple modulation depth. Training consisted of a single 40-minute session that took place in the laboratory under the supervision of the investigators. Behavioral and physiologic measures of spectral ripple modulation depth detection were obtained immediately pre- and post-training. Data from both experiments were analyzed using mixed linear regressions, paired t tests, correlations, and descriptive statistics.

Results:
In Experiment I, there was a significant improvement in behavioral measures of pitch discrimination after the study participants completed the laboratory and home-based training sessions. There was no significant effect of training on electrophysiologic measures of the auditory N1-P2 onset response and acoustic change complex (ACC). There were no significant relationships between electrophysiologic measures and behavioral outcomes after the month-long training. In Experiment II, there was no significant effect of training on the ACC, although there was a small but significant improvement in behavioral spectral ripple modulation depth thresholds after the short-term training.

Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that auditory training improves spectral cue perception in CI users, with significant perceptual gains observed despite cortical electrophysiological responses like the ACC not reliably predicting training benefits across short- and long-term interventions. Future research should further explore individual factors that may lead to greater benefit from auditory training, in addition to optimization of training protocols and outcome measures, as well as demonstrate the generalizability of these findings.