bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Scaling of Material Removal Rate with High Surface Quality Through Combined Laser Processes
Authors: Buser Matthias , Hofele Markus , Menold Tobias , Riegel Harald , Michalowski Andreas 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn the field of ultrashort pulse laser processing, the effective utilization of average power provided by todays laser systems presents an almost unsolvable challenge. This study aims to address this challenge in the context of laser volume ablation. We propose a solution for utilization of high average power while producing a high-quality finish, even when starting from arbitrary surfaces. The approach combines closed loop laser volume ablation, laser cleaning and laser polishing in a subsequent process strategy. The closed loop approach enables ablative laser processes to be used to produce precise target geometries and surfaces, even if the initial geometry of the component is very different from the target geometry. One application example is the post-processing of components manufactured using additive processes such as laser powder bed fusion. Therefore, we demonstrate automated removal of support structures and finishing of a sample made of AlSi10Mg material by laser powder bed fusion. The combination of laser ablation and laser polishing made it possible to significantly increase the productivity of the post-processing and achieving a surface roughness of Ra = 0.3 µm.
Pre-operative ultrasound mapping before arteriovenous fistula formation: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chlorogiannis David-Dimitris , Bousi Stelios-Elion , Zachiotis Marinos , Chlorogiannis Anargyros , Kyriakoulis Ioannis , Bellos Ioannis 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Arteriovenous fistula represents the preferred vascular access for patients with kidney failure requiring hemodialysis. Surgeons have traditionally used physical examination to identify the most suitable vessels. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate whether ultrasound mapping should be routinely performed before arteriovenous fistula creation.

Methods
Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and CENTRAL were systematically searched from inception to November 1, 2022. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing routine ultrasound mapping to physical examination in terms of arteriovenous fistula patency were included. Meta-analysis was performed by fitting random-effects models. The study protocol has been prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023402390).

Results
Overall, 18 studies were included, comprising 3655 participants. Routine pre-operative ultrasound mapping was associated with significantly lower rates of primary arteriovenous fistula failure (Risk Ratio-RR: 0.56, 95% confidence intervals-CI: 0.37–0.84, low certainty). A significant outcome was observed by separately pooling randomized controlled trials (RR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.25–0.54). Routine ultrasound mapping was also associated with significantly higher rates of 1-year primary arteriovenous fistula patency (RR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19–1.47, moderate certainty). This effect remained significant in the analysis of randomized controlled trials (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02–1.56).

Conclusions
Implementing routine pre-operative ultrasound mapping of vessels is associated with significantly better outcomes in terms of early arteriovenous fistula failure and primary patency rates at 12 months. Further research should confirm the long-term benefits of routine ultrasound examination and evaluate its cost-effectiveness in different populations.

Graphical Abstract
“They Were Just Eating to Live”: The Social Archaeology of Ottoman Foodways and Ceramics
Authors: Vroom Joanita 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe article offers a large-scope assessment of archaeological and ethnoarchaeological research on foodways within the core Mediterranean heartlands of the Ottoman Empire. It integrates evidence from a range of historical and archaeological sources, both terrestrial and underwater. After presenting an overview of 30 years of scholarship on the subject, it introduces the Ottoman manner of eating, cooking, and dining with the help of glazed tablewares and unglazed coarse wares from archaeological contexts. Furthermore, it shows the means of transportation and the trade routes for foodstuffs, as well as the ways in which they were cooked and consumed, from the sultan’s court to country folk in rural villages.
Revisiting Enduring Labour Questions and Social Reproduction Dynamics in Rural Zimbabwe’s Post Land Reform Context: Implications on Citizen Welfare and Wellbeing
Authors: Chipenda Clement 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEnduring agrarian labour questions and social reproduction dynamics in former settler colonies like Zimbabwe have always been a subject of much scholarly interest. Two decades after Zimbabwe’s controversial fast track land reform programme (FTLRP), the agrarian labour questions and social reproduction dynamics are receiving renewed attention. This is partly attributable to an uneasy political transition, neo-liberal economic trajectories, and the perceived reversals of the policies of the Robert Mugabe administration. With these changes occurring, questions are arising on how this is implicating on agrarian labour and social reproduction in the resettlement areas created by the FTLRP. In a context of trying to understand the outcomes of land and agrarian reform framed within the transformative social policy conceptual framework, this article explores emergent agrarian labour and social reproduction dynamics in the two rural districts of Goromonzi and Zvimba in rural Zimbabwe. Using an interpretive research paradigm and a mixed methods research approach, the study elicited responses from 200 small to medium scale farmers who are beneficiaries of the FTLRP. Arguing from the position that land and agrarian reforms are an overlooked vector of social policy, the article investigated the extent to which the FTLRP has facilitated the creation of employment opportunities, enhanced the productive and reproductive capacities of land reform beneficiaries, enabled wealth distribution and improved rural livelihoods. The article shows that despite the emergent capitalist trajectories and the continued super exploitation of labour reminiscent of the settler colonial era, empirical field-based evidence suggests that redistributive land reform has contributed to socio-economic transformation and enhanced citizens welfare and wellbeing. This is shown as having been evident in the realm of agrarian labour and social reproduction.
Preventing healthcare-associated MRSA bacteremia: getting to the root of the problem
Authors: Borg Michael A. , Suda David , Tartari Ermira , Farrugia Claire , Xuereb Deborah , Borg Inguanez Monique 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Introduction:
Bloodstream infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remain a major challenge in most countries worldwide.

Setting:
We describe a quasi-experimental sequential intervention at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, to reduce hyper-prevalence of healthcare-associated MRSA bacteremia (HA-MRSA-B).

Interventions:
The hospital initiated a hand hygiene (HH) campaign in 2008 to improve alcohol hand rub (AHR) use. In 2011, this was followed by root cause analysis (RCA) of all HA-MRSA-B cases and finally universal MRSA admission screening in 2014. Change-point analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the interventions.

Results:
The effect of the HH campaign became evident when AHR consumption reached 40 L/1000 occupied bed days (BD). RCAs identified intravascular devices as the likely risk factor in 83% of all HA-MRSA-B; specifically non-tunneled double-lumen hemodialysis catheters (36%), peripheral venous cannulas (25%), and central venous catheters (22%). Interventions to improve their management resulted in the greatest reduction of HA-MRSA-B rates. They were informed by the RCA findings and targeted behavior change through education, motivation, and system change. Universal MRSA admission screening provided the final decline in incidence. Each intervention affected HA-MRSA-B rates after a lag period of approximately 18–24 months. Overall, HA-MRSA-B incidence decreased from 1.72 cases/10000BD in 2008 to 0.18/10000BD in 2019; a reduction of almost 90%. Intravenous device interventions were also associated with a reduction of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia rates.

Conclusions:
Significant improvement in HA-MRSA-B is possible, even in highly endemic regions. It requires well-planned behavior change interventions which are compatible with local context and culture.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Access to Cancer Surgery: Analysis of Surgical Wait Times in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Shojaei Delaram , Bakos Brendan , Loree Jonathan , Mah Allison , So Alan , McGahan Colleen , Phang Terry P , Brown Carl James 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjective:As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread, efforts were made to preserve resources for the anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients in British Columbia, Canada. However, the relationship between COVID-19 hospitalizations and access to cancer surgery is unclear. In this project, we analyze the impact of COVID-19 patient volumes on wait time for cancer surgery.Methods:We conducted a retrospective study using population-based datasets of regional surgical wait times and COVID-19 patient volumes. Weekly median wait times for urgent, nonurgent, cancer, and noncancer surgeries, and maximum volumes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were studied. The results were qualitatively analyzed.Results:A sustained association between weekly median wait time for priority and other cancer surgeries and increase hospital COVID-19 patient volumes was not qualitatively discernable. In response to the first phase of COVID-19 patient volumes, relative to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, wait time were shortened for urgent cancer surgery but increased for nonurgent surgeries. During the second phase, for all diagnostic groups, wait times returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. During the third phase, wait times for all surgeries increased.Conclusion:Cancer surgery access may have been influenced by other factors, such as policy directives and local resource issues, independent of hospitalized COVID-19 patient volumes. The initial access limitations gradually improved with provincial and institutional resilience, and vaccine rollout.
Generation of millijoule-level sub-5 fs violet laser pulses
Authors: Xie Xinhua , Hung Yi , Deng Yunpei , Cavalieri Adrian L. , Baltuška Andrius , Johnson Steven L. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWe demonstrate the generation, spectral broadening and post-compression of second harmonic pulses using a thin beta barium borate (BBO) crystal on a fused-silica substrate as the nonlinear interaction medium. By combining second harmonic generation in the BBO crystal with self-phase modulation in the fused-silica substrate, we efficiently generate millijoule-level broadband violet pulses from a single optical component. The second harmonic spectrum covers a range from long wave ultraviolet (down to 310 nm) to visible (up to 550 nm) with a bandwidth of 65 nm. Subsequently, we compress the second harmonic beam to a duration of 4.8 fs with a pulse energy of 0.64 mJ (5 fs with a pulse energy of 1.05 mJ) using chirped mirrors. The all-solid free-space apparatus is compact, robust and pulse energy scalable, making it highly advantageous for generating intense second harmonic pulses from near-infrared femtosecond lasers in the sub-5 fs regime.
THE STRONG AND SUPER TREE PROPERTIES AT SUCCESSORS OF SINGULAR CARDINALS
Authors: ADKISSON WILLIAM 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe strong tree property and ITP (also called the super tree property) are generalizations of the tree property that characterize strong compactness and supercompactness up to inaccessibility. That is, an inaccessible cardinal
$\kappa $
is strongly compact if and only if the strong tree property holds at
$\kappa $
, and supercompact if and only if ITP holds at
$\kappa $
. We present several results motivated by the problem of obtaining the strong tree property and ITP at many successive cardinals simultaneously; these results focus on the successors of singular cardinals. We describe a general class of forcings that will obtain the strong tree property and ITP at the successor of a singular cardinal of any cofinality. Generalizing a result of Neeman about the tree property, we show that it is consistent for ITP to hold at
$\aleph _n$
for all
$2 \leq n < \omega $
simultaneously with the strong tree property at
$\aleph _{\omega +1}$
; we also show that it is consistent for ITP to hold at
$\aleph _n$
for all
$3 < n < \omega $
and at
$\aleph _{\omega +1}$
simultaneously. Finally, turning our attention to singular cardinals of uncountable cofinality, we show that it is consistent for the strong and super tree properties to hold at successors of singulars of multiple cofinalities simultaneously.
Mechanism design and dynamic switching modal control of the wheel-legged separation quadruped robot
Authors: Cao Jiandong , Zhang Jinzhu , Wang Tao , Meng Jiahao , Li Senlin , Li Miao 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCurrently, most wheel-legged robots need to complete the switching of the wheel-and-leg modal in a stationary state, and the existing algorithms of statically switching the wheel-leg modal cannot meet the control requirements of multimodal switching dynamically for robots. In this paper, to achieve efficient switching of the wheel-and-leg modal for a quadruped robot, the novel transformable mechanism is designed. Then, a multimodal coordination operation control framework based on multiple algorithms is presented, incorporating the minimum foot force distribution method (algorithm No.1), the minimum joint torque distribution method (algorithm No.2), and the method of combining the single rigid body dynamic model with quadratic programming (algorithm No.3). In the process of switching wheel-leg modal dynamically, the existing algorithm No.3 is prone to produce the wrong optimal force due to the change of the whole-body rotational inertia. Therefore, an improved algorithm No.1 and algorithm No.2 are proposed, which do not consider the change in the body’s inertia. The control effects of the three algorithms are compared and analyzed by simulation. The results show that algorithm No.3 can maintain a small error in attitude angle and speed tracking regardless of whether the robot is under multilegged support or omnidirectional walking compared to the other two algorithms. However, proposed algorithms No.1 and No.2 can more accurately track the target speed when the robot is walking with wheels raising and falling. Finally, a multi-algorithm combination control scheme formulated based on the above control effects has been demonstrated to be effective for the dynamic switching of the wheel-and-leg modal.
CE Workshop 01: Mindfulness Meditation Induced Analgesia Engages Multiple Unique Brain Mechanisms
Authors: Zeidan Fadel 
Published: December 2023

Abstract & Learning Objectives:For millenniums, mindfulness was believed to diminish pain by reducing the influence of self-appraisals of noxious sensations. Today, mindfulness meditation is a highly popular and effective pain therapy that is believed to engage multiple, nonplacebo-related mechanisms to attenuate pain. Recent evidence suggests that mindfulness meditation-induced pain relief is associated with the engagement of unique cortico-thalamo-cortical nociceptive filtering mechanisms. The proposed talk will provide a succinct, yet comprehensive delineation demonstrating that brief mindfulness-based mental training significantly reduces acutely evoked chronic low back pain through non-opioidergic mechanisms. Recent findings indicate that mindfulness-based pain relief, after brief mental training, can significantly uncouple self-referential from nociceptive neural mechanisms, an important finding for the millions of individuals seeking a fast-acting and non-pharmacologic pain treatment. Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to:
1.Recognize if mindfulness reduces pain2.Describe brain mechanisms supporting mindfulness-based pain relief3.List the physiological systems supporting mindfulness
CE Workshop 02: Bi/Multilingualism and its Impact on Stroke/Neurodegenerative Disease
Authors: Alladi Suvarna 
Published: December 2023

Abstract & Learning Objectives:Modifying risk factors by using effective cognitive strategies across the life-course may prevent or delay up to 40% of dementias through enhancing reserve/resilience. Reserve/Resilience is an emerging concept and refers to the ability of the brain to cope with neuropathology and neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence suggests that bi/multilingualism is associated with cognitive advantages and improves resilience against dementia, stroke and other cognitive disorders. Seven thousand languages are spoken across the world and speaking a second/third or more languages is a natural phenomenon. Further, with globalization, societies are becoming increasingly linguistically diverse and half of the world’s population is bi/multilingual. Exploring beneficial effects of bi/multilingualism will have an impact on dementia risk reduction and recovery from brain injury. Bi/Multilingualism has been demonstrated to delay age at onset of dementia and also improve cognitive and language recovery after stroke. Advantages to executive function are thought to underlie its beneficial effects. Cortical morphometric, white matter connectivity and functional brain changes in bilinguals represent the neural basis for its effect on cognitive reserve/resilience. In this presentation, insights from studies that have explored the role of bi/multilingualism in impacting cognitive resilience against dementia and stroke will be discussed in the context of global research.Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to:
1.Describe the impact of bilingualism on age at onset and cognitive manifestations of dementia and stroke2.Discuss the mechanisms that underlie the potentially protective effects of bilingualism in dementia and stroke3.Describe the role of bi/multilingualism on cognitive reserve/resilience in disorders of the brain
CE Workshop 03: Stroke in the Developing Brain: Mechanisms, Outcomes, and Intervention
Authors: Westmacott Robyn 
Published: December 2023

Abstract & Learning Objectives:Over the past 10-15 years, significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatrics stroke. Accordingly, the focus of much research has turned to understanding factors that determine neurological and neuropsychological outcomes in this population. This Continuing Education (CE) course will start by defining key terms in the field of pediatric stroke and reviewing current understanding of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and medical treatment. Next, we will review recent neuropsychological literature on cognitive outcomes following pediatric stroke, highlighting the vulnerability of the developing brain, the long-term deficits that often result from early disruption of brain function and subsequent brain development, and the significant variability in outcomes seen across individuals. Heterogeneity in outcomes has been linked to a range of clinical and demographic factors, including those related to the brain (e.g., stroke type, lesion location and size, adaptive and maladaptive patterns of reorganization), the child (e.g., age at stroke, age at assessment, comorbid neurological conditions) and the environment (family stress, parent mental health, educational support). Multi-disciplinary approaches to intervention will also be discussed. Finally, directions for future research will also be outlined, as we are just starting to understand how these factors interact to impact neurocognitive outcome and resiliency following pediatric stroke.Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to:
1.Describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and neurological outcomes associated with stroke in infants and children2.Illustrate the variability in neuropsychological outcomes after pediatric stroke and highlight important determining factors of these outcomes3.Apply current research into outcomes and treatments to neuropsychological practice
CE Workshop 04: Cancer Survivorship Across the Lifespan: Mechanisms and Modifiable Factors
Authors: Krull Kevin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract & Learning Objectives:Long-term survivors of pediatric cancer are at elevated risk for cognitive impairment, which manifests in different ways at different times throughout survivorship. Although some cognitive impairment may result from the cancer itself, as is the case with a brain tumor, impairment has been consistently associated with exposure to CNS-directed therapies like neurosurgery, cranial irradiation, intrathecal chemotherapy or high dose intravenous methotrexate or cytarabine. Additionally, survivors who do not receive CNS-directed therapies are also at elevated risk for cognitive impairment following cancer therapy that disrupts systemic organ function vital to brain health, e.g., cardiac, pulmonary or endocrine function. Risk for cognitive impairment is further exacerbated by adverse events during cancer therapy (e.g., severe infection, recurrent general anesthesia) and health behaviors following cancer therapy (e.g., physical activity, sleep). The type and severity of cognitive impairment in long-term survivors of pediatric cancer may evolve and grow over time, with emerging evidence suggesting some survivors are at risk for accelerated cognitive aging and early onset dementia. Over the course of the survivor’s lifespan, the prevalence and impact of cognitive deficits will be determined by a complex interaction between premorbid development and environment, cancer therapy and clinical care, and post-treatment recovery and physical health. The timing and type of these events will dictate the approach to screening and monitoring for cognitive impairment, and will determine the best course for therapeutic intervention to facilitate future cognitive and emotional health.Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to:
1.Describe direct and indirect sources of cognitive impairment in long-term survivors of pediatric cancer2.Discuss how cognitive impairment may change over the lifespan of survival following treatment for pediatric cancer3.Identify modifiable targets for interventions to facilitate cognitive health in long-term survivors of pediatric cancer