bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental study on flexural performance of composite slabs with bent bars and postcast ultrahigh‐performance concrete joints
Authors: Zhao Yong , Hong Haoyang , Liu Xian 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis paper describes the use of joints with bent bars and postcast ultrahigh‐performance concrete (UHPC) joints to enable formwork‐free and support‐free construction of composite slabs. To investigate their flexural performance, static loading tests on three full‐scale simply‐supported slabs and one monolithic slab were carried out. Flexural capacity, stiffness, and crack development were recorded, resulting on flexural failure experienced by all specimens. Main cracks of composite specimens developed along the UHPC–normal concrete interface, and cracks on both sides of the UHPC joint developed evenly, similar with that of the monolithic specimen. Besides, composite slabs and a monolithic slab showed similar flexural capacity. UHPC joint was not cracked when failure occurred, and bottom bars were anchored and connected in the UHPC joint, proving that the flexural anchorage method is feasible. The average strain of the composite specimen across the UHPC joint was still consistent with the assumption of plain section, and there was an approximate linear relationship between the expansion width of the joint at the bottom of the slab and the maximum crack width at bottom bars. Moreover, middle bars contributed to the flexural capacity and stiffness of composite specimens, while horse stool reinforcement may effectively prevent the interface shear failure on the composite interface. Based on test results, the formula to control cracking of UHPC is given in this paper. The design methods on flexural capacity, stiffness, and expansion width of composite slabs are also presented and discussed.
Performance of QUiPP App v.2 tool for prediction of preterm birth in asymptomatic high‐risk women attending preterm specialist clinic: external validation study
Authors: Creswell L. , Rolnik D. L. , Burke B. , Daly S. , O'Gorman N. 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo validate externally the QUiPP App v.2 algorithms in an independent cohort of high‐risk asymptomatic women attending a preterm birth (PTB) surveillance clinic in Ireland.MethodsThis was a retrospective, single‐center, observational study assessing discrimination and calibration of the QUiPP App v.2 at six predetermined clinical timepoints (PTB at < 30, < 34 and < 37 weeks of pregnancy and PTB within 1, 2 and 4 weeks of testing). Discrimination was assessed by estimating the area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curve (AUC) and sensitivity at fixed false‐positive rates of 5%, 10% and 20%. Model calibration was assessed to evaluate the concordance between expected and observed outcomes. P‐values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. No adjustments for treatment effects were made.ResultsOverall, 762 women with 1660 PTB surveillance clinic visits using the QUiPP App v.2 between 2019 and 2022 were analyzed. The study population included 142 (18.6%) patients who later experienced PTB. The QuiPP App's performance in the prediction of short‐term outcomes, such as birth within 1 week (AUC, 0.866 (95% CI, 0.755–0.955)), 2 weeks (AUC, 0.721 (95% CI, 0.569–0.854)) and 4 weeks (AUC, 0.775 (95% CI, 0.699–0.842)), and delivery at < 30 weeks (AUC, 0.747 (95% CI, 0.613–0.865)), was superior to its ability to predict longer‐term outcomes (PTB at < 37 weeks: AUC, 0.631 (95% CI, 0.596–0.668)). Calibration was generally good for low‐risk results, as the predicted risk in these patients tended to match the observed incidence. However, in women deemed to be at greater risk of PTB, the predicted probability superseded the observed incidence of PTB.ConclusionsThe QUiPP App v.2 accurately discriminates women who are at short‐term risk of PTB. A ‘treatment paradox’ may influence calibration in high‐risk women. Further research is needed to ascertain if QuiPP treatment thresholds can be safely adjusted in women receiving prophylactic treatment to prevent PTB, and whether this improves the outcome. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Stage‐based recipient and donor outcome in twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome treated by fetoscopic laser surgery using Solomon technique
Authors: Kyvernitakis I. , Rosner M. , Birk A. , Goodman L. , Herlands L. , Wohlmuth P. , Laurie M. , Millard S. , Kush M. , Miller J. , Baschat A. A. 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo evaluate twin survival stratified by Quintero stage in patients with twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) after Solomon laser treatment.MethodsThis was a single‐center study at Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy, investigating a cohort of consecutive twin pregnancies treated with the Solomon laser technique for TTTS. Preoperative Quintero stage, perioperative characteristics and obstetric factors were investigated in relation to neonatal survival of the recipient and donor twins at discharge. Determinants of twin survival were evaluated using univariate logistic regression and cumulative survival probability analyses.ResultsOf 402 pregnancies with TTTS that underwent Solomon laser treatment, 80 (19.9%) were diagnosed with Quintero Stage‐I TTTS, 126 (31.3%) with Stage II, 169 (42.0%) with Stage III and 27 (6.7%) with Stage IV. Post‐laser twin anemia polycythemia sequence or recurrent TTTS occurred in 19 (4.7%) patients and 11 (2.7%) required repeat laser surgery. Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes occurred in 150 (37.3%) patients and median gestational age at delivery was 32 + 1 weeks. In 303 (75.4%) patients, both twins were alive at discharge; 67/80 (83.8%) were Stage I, 101/126 (80.2%) were Stage II, 113/169 (66.9%) were Stage III and 22/27 (81.5%) were Stage IV (P = 0.062). Donor twin survival was lower than that of recipients in cases with Stage‐III TTTS (118/169 (69.8%) vs 145/169 (85.8%) (χ2 = 26.076, P < 0.0001)). Higher intertwin size discordance and absent or reversed umbilical artery (UA) end‐diastolic velocity (EDV) were associated with donor demise (Nagelkerke R2, 0.38; P < 0.001). Overall, spontaneous post‐laser donor demise occurred in 53 (39.6%) patients, accounting for the majority of all losses. Cumulative donor survival decreased from 92% to 65% when intertwin size discordance was >30% and to 48% when UA‐EDV was absent or reversed (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe Solomon laser technique achieves TTTS resolution and double twin survival in a high proportion of cases. Recipient and donor survival is comparable unless there is significant intertwin size discordance and placental dysfunction. This degree of unequal placental sharing, typically found in Stage‐III TTTS, is the primary factor preventing double survival due to a higher rate of donor demise. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
‘All I do is fight fires’: Qualitative exploration of UK veterinarians’ attitudes towards and experiences of pre‐purchase consultations regarding brachycephalic dogs
Authors: Pound Lauren , Farrow Michelle , O'Neill Dan , Deane David J. , Packer Rowena M. A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundDemand for brachycephalic dogs has dramatically increased over the past decade, despite growing evidence of strong associations between brachycephaly and severe, chronic disease. Positive post‐purchase attitudes of owners towards brachycephalic dogs are highly intractable, facilitated by normalisation of breed‐related disease and strong dog–owner bonds. Veterinarian‐led pre‐purchase consultations (PPCs) have been promoted as an opportunity to influence acquisition decisions regarding brachycephalic dogs.MethodsUsing reflexive thematic analysis, this qualitative study investigated veterinarians’ attitudes towards, and experiences of, engaging in PPCs for brachycephalic dogs.ResultsVeterinarians described significant structural barriers, such as lack of time and staff, and perceptual barriers, such as perceived futility, negative outcomes of PPCs and public distrust in the profession, that combine to inhibit many veterinarians from offering or delivering brachycephalic PPCs. Some of these barriers are intractable at an individual‐veterinarian level and lead to moral distress due to conflicts between veterinarians’ responsibilities to animal welfare versus clients' and business needs, with resultant censorship of authentic views on brachycephalic ownership compromising professional integrity and autonomy.LimitationsWider views and/or experiences may exist outside of the sampled population.ConclusionStronger veterinary leadership, including from the RCVS, BVA and veterinary corporates, is now urgently required to build profession‐wide solutions that overcome the barriers identified to create public‐facing consensus and innovative solutions to the ‘brachycephalic crisis’.
Preventable deaths in hospitalized trauma patients
Authors: Alao David O. , Cevik Arif Alper , Al Shamsi Fayez , Mousa Hussam , Elnikety Sherif , Benour Mahmoud , Al‐Bluwi Ghada S. M. , Abu‐Zidan Fikri M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAimTo study the preventable trauma deaths of hospitalized patients in the United Arab Emirates and to identify opportunities for improvement.MethodsWe analyzed the Abu Dhabi Emirate Trauma Registry data of admitted patients who died in the emergency department or in hospital from 2014 to 2019. A panel of experts categorize the deaths into not preventable (NP), potentially preventable (PP), and definitely preventable (DP).ResultsA total of 405 deaths were included, and 82.7% were males. The majority (89.1%) were NP, occurring mainly in the emergency department (40.4%) and the intensive care unit (49.9%). The combined potentially preventable and preventable death rate was 10.9%. The median (Interquartile range) age of the DP was 57.5 (37–76) years, compared with 32 (24–42) and 34 (25–55) years for NP and PP, respectively (p = 0.008). Most of the PP deaths occurred in the intensive care unit (55.6%), while the DP occurred mainly in the ward (50%). Falls accounted for 25% of PP and DP. Deficiencies in airway care, hemorrhage control, and fluid management were identified in 25%, 43.2% and 29.5% of the DP/PP deaths, respectively. Seventy‐two percent of the Airway deficiencies occurred in the prehospital, while 34.1% of hemorrhage control deficiencies were in the emergency department. Fluid management deficiencies occurred in the emergency department and the operation theater.ConclusionsDP and PP deaths comprised 10.9% of the deaths. Most of the DP occurred in the emergency department and ward. Prehospital Airway and in‐hospital hemorrhage and excessive fluid were the main areas for opportunities for improvement.
Mobile Devices and Autonomy: Individual-Level Effects
Authors: Aylsworth Timothy , Castro Clinton 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this chapter, we offer a review of the empirical findings that animate our concerns about the effects of mobile devices on individuals (the troublesome findings about the effects of mobile devices on collectives is reviewed in Chap. 7). We begin by clarifying what we mean by mobile devices, noting that these devices are not our only concern. We also explain why they are our primary concern. In short, we are especially concerned by mobile devices because their mobility, combined with their ability to track our behavior and provide real-time feedback to it, make them powerful behavior modification devices. After explaining how mobile devices can modify our behavior and why—given the structure of the attention economy—the interests of the developers of these technologies are not always in alignment with our own, we show that there is reason to think that mobile devices have detrimental effects on all eight facets of autonomy outlined in the preceding chapter.
The Duty to Promote Digital Minimalism in Ourselves
Authors: Aylsworth Timothy , Castro Clinton 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn the 1950s, duties to the self became unpopular in mainstream moral philosophy. We explain why some ethicists became skeptical of them, and we present Kant’s position on duties to oneself. Kantian moral philosophers have long maintained the existence of duties to oneself. After presenting this historical backdrop, we then provide our definition of digital minimalism; we understand this as a virtue—a robust disposition to do what is morally required. Given the conclusions of the last two chapters (viz. that autonomy matters morally and that mobile devices undermine autonomy), we argue that you have a moral duty to protect your autonomy from this threat. We define digital minimalism as the disposition to use mobile devices for a reasonable amount of time in light of your chosen ends. We conclude by showing how this duty fits in within the broader taxonomy of Kant’s ethical duties. In our view, the duty to be a digital minimalist is an imperfect duty because it is a duty to promote an obligatory end (one’s own perfection).
The China-Singapore Chongqing Connectivity Project: A Cornerstone for Bilateral Relations
Authors: Yu Hong 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAs part of a country’s overall diplomatic strategy, (Hocking, Localizing Foreign Policy: Non-Central Governments and Multilayered Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 1993) argues that its central government can effectively use local external cooperation to break down sensitive and difficult political issues to the local level, thereby helping to reduce external pressures on the central government and helping state institutions to reduce the burden of complex policy implementations.
Coalescence of Geodesics and the BKS Midpoint Problem in Planar First-Passage Percolation
Authors: Dembin Barbara , Elboim Dor , Peled Ron 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe consider first-passage percolation on $\mathbb{Z}^{2}$ with independent and identically distributed weights whose common distribution is absolutely continuous with a finite exponential moment. Under the assumption that the limit shape has more than 32 extreme points, we prove that geodesics with nearby starting and ending points have significant overlap, coalescing on all but small portions near their endpoints. The statement is quantified, with power-law dependence of the involved quantities on the length of the geodesics.The result leads to a quantitative resolution of the Benjamini–Kalai–Schramm midpoint problem. It is shown that the probability that the geodesic between two given points passes through a given edge is smaller than a power of the distance between the points and the edge.We further prove that the limit shape assumption is satisfied for a specific family of distributions.Lastly, related to the 1965 Hammersley–Welsh highways and byways problem, we prove that the expected fraction of the square {−n,…,n}2 which is covered by infinite geodesics starting at the origin is at most an inverse power of n. This result is obtained without explicit limit shape assumptions.
User-centered AI-based voice-assistants for safe mobility of older people in urban context
Authors: Jnr. Bokolo Anthony 
Published: February 2024

AbstractVoice-assistants are becoming increasingly popular and can be deployed to offers a low-cost tool that can support and potentially reduce falls, injuries, and accidents faced by older people within the age of 65 and older. But, irrespective of the mobility and walkability challenges faced by the aging population, studies that employed Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based voice-assistants to reduce risks faced by older people when they use public transportation and walk in built environment are scarce. This is because the development of AI-based voice-assistants suitable for the mobility domain presents several techno–social challenges. Accordingly, this study aims to identify user-centered service design and functional requirements, techno–social factors, and further design an architectural model for an AI-based voice-assistants that provide personalized recommendation to reduce falls, injuries, and accidents faced by older people. Accordingly, a scoping review of the literature grounded on secondary data from 59 studies was conducted and descriptive analysis of the literature and content-related analysis of the literature was carried out. Findings from this study presents the perceived techno-socio factors that may influences older people use of AI-based voice-assistants. More importantly, this study presents user-centred service design and functional requirements needed to be considered in developing voice-assistants suitable for older people. Implications from this study provides AI techniques for implementing voice-assistants that provide safe mobility, walkability, and wayfinding for older people in urban areas.
Comparison of the symmetric hyperbolic thermodynamically compatible framework with Hamiltonian mechanics of binary mixtures
Authors: Sýkora Martin , Pavelka Michal , Peshkov Ilya , Minakowski Piotr , Klika Václav , Romenski Evgeniy 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHow to properly describe continuum thermodynamics of binary mixtures where each constituent has its own momentum? The Symmetric Hyperbolic Thermodynamically Consistent (SHTC) framework and Hamiltonian mechanics in the form of the General Equation for Non-Equilibrium Reversible-Irreversible Coupling (GENERIC) provide two answers, which are similar but not identical, and are compared in this article. They are compared both analytically and numerically on several levels of description, varying in the amount of detail. Namely, a reduction to a more common one-momentum setting is shown, where the effects of the second momentum translate into diffusive fluxes. Both SHTC and GENERIC can thus be interpreted as a method specifying diffusive flux in standard theory. The GENERIC equations, stemming from the Liouville equation, contain terms expressing self-advection of the relative velocity by itself, which lead to a vorticity-dependent diffusion matrix after the reduction. The SHTC equations, on the other hand, do not contain such terms. We also discuss the possibility to formulate a theory of mixtures with two momenta and only one temperature that is compatible with the Liouville equation and possesses the Hamiltonian structure, including Jacobi identity.
Hölder continuity of weak solutions to evolution equations with distributed order fractional time derivative
Authors: Kubica Adam , Ryszewska Katarzyna , Zacher Rico 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe study the regularity of weak solutions to evolution equations with distributed order fractional time derivative. We prove a weak Harnack inequality for nonnegative weak supersolutions and Hölder continuity of weak solutions to this problem. Our results substantially generalise analogous known results for the problem with single order fractional time derivative.
Removing outliers from the normative database improves regional atrophy detection in single-subject voxel-based morphometry
Authors: Schultz Vivian , Hedderich Dennis M. , Schmitz-Koep Benita , Schinz David , Zimmer Claus , Yakushev Igor , Apostolova Ivayla , Özden Cansu , Opfer Roland , Buchert Ralph 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Single-subject voxel-based morphometry (VBM) compares an individual T1-weighted MRI to a sample of normal MRI in a normative database (NDB) to detect regional atrophy. Outliers in the NDB might result in reduced sensitivity of VBM. The primary aim of the current study was to propose a method for outlier removal (“NDB cleaning”) and to test its impact on the performance of VBM for detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

Methods
T1-weighted MRI of 81 patients with biomarker-confirmed AD (n = 51) or FTLD (n = 30) and 37 healthy subjects with simultaneous FDG-PET/MRI were included as test dataset. Two different NDBs were used: a scanner-specific NDB (37 healthy controls from the test dataset) and a non-scanner-specific NDB comprising 164 normal T1-weighted MRI from 164 different MRI scanners. Three different quality metrics based on leave-one-out testing of the scans in the NDB were implemented. A scan was removed if it was an outlier with respect to one or more quality metrics. VBM maps generated with and without NDB cleaning were assessed visually for the presence of AD or FTLD.

Results
Specificity of visual interpretation of the VBM maps for detection of AD or FTLD was 100% in all settings. Sensitivity was increased by NDB cleaning with both NDBs. The effect was statistically significant for the multiple-scanner NDB (from 0.47 [95%-CI 0.36–0.58] to 0.61 [0.49–0.71]).

Conclusion
NDB cleaning has the potential to improve the sensitivity of VBM for the detection of AD or FTLD without increasing the risk of false positive findings.
Comparison of AirSeal versus conventional insufflation system for retroperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wei Mengchao , Yang Wenjie , Zhou Jingmin , Ye Zixing , Ji Zhigang , Dong Jie , Xu Weifeng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
AirSeal is a valve-less trocar insufflation system which is widely used in robotic urologic surgeries. More evidence is needed concerning the application and cost of AirSeal in retroperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Methods
We conducted a randomized controlled trial enrolling 62 patients who underwent retroperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy from February 2022 to February 2023 in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Patients were randomly assigned into AirSeal insufflation (AIS) group and conventional insufflation (CIS) group. The primary outcome was the rate of subcutaneous emphysema (SCE).

Results
The SCE rate in the AIS group (12.9%) was significantly lower than that in the CIS group (35.5%) (P = 0.038). Lower maximum end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) (41 vs 45 mmHg, P = 0.011), PaCO2 at the end of the operation (40 vs 45 mmHg, P < 0.001), maximum tidal volume (512 vs 570 ml, P = 0.003), frequency of lens cleaning (3 vs 5, P < 0.001), pain score at 8 h (3 vs 4, P = 0.025), 12 h (2 vs 3, P = 0.029) postoperatively and at time of discharge (1 vs 2, P = 0.002) were observed in the AIS group, despite a higher hospitalization cost (68,197 vs 64658RMB, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified insufflation approach was the only influencing factor for the occurrence of SCE events.

Conclusion
AirSeal insufflation system exhibited similar efficacy and improved safety for retroperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy than conventional insufflation system, despite an affordable increase of hospitalization costs.