bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation in octogenarians: one year outcomes from the cryo global registry
Authors: Lawin Dennis , Lawrenz Thorsten , Chun K. R. Julian , Lim Hong-Euy , Obidigbo Valentine , Selma Jada M. , Peytchev Peter , Nguyen Dinh Quang , Földesi Csaba , Stellbrink Christoph ,   the Cryo AF Global Registry Investigators
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Limited information is available on the safety and efficacy of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, global utilization of CBA in this population (≥ 80 years old) has not been reported. This study’s objectives were to determine the use, efficacy, and safety of CBA to treat octogenarians suffering from AF.

Methods
In this sub-analysis of the Cryo Global Registry, 12-month outcomes of treating AF via CBA in octogenarians were compared to patients < 80 years old. Efficacy was evaluated as time to a ≥ 30 s atrial arrhythmia (AA) recurrence. Healthcare utilization was determined via repeat ablations and hospitalizations. Improvement upon disease burden was evaluated through patient reporting of symptoms and the EQ-5D-3L quality of life (QoL) survey.

Results
The octogenarian cohort (n = 101) had a higher prevalence of females (51.5% vs 35.7%) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores (4.2 ± 1.3 vs 2.0 ± 1.5) compared to the control cohort (n = 1573, both p < 0.01). Even when adjusting for baseline characteristics and antiarrhythmic drug usage, freedom from AA recurrence at 12 months (80.6% vs 78.9%, HRadj:0.97 [95% CI:0.59–1.58], p = 0.90) was comparable between octogenarians and control, respectively. Similar serious adverse event rates were observed between octogenarians (5.0%) and control (3.2%, p = 0.38). The groups did not differ in healthcare utilization nor reduction of AF-related symptoms from baseline to follow-up, but both experienced an improvement in QoL at 12 months.

Conclusions
Despite more age-related comorbidities, CBA is a safe and effective treatment for AF in octogenarians, with efficacy and adverse events rates akin to ablations performed in younger patients.

Clinical trial registration
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02752737

Graphical Abstract
Economic Crises, Subjective Well-Being, and Vote Switching: The Case of Brazil’s 2018 Presidential Election
Authors: Burger Martijn J. , Hendriks Martijn , Ianchovichina Elena I. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper examines the influence of the 2015 economic crisis on subjective well-being (SWB) and the withdrawal of support for the incumbent party during the 2018 presidential election in Brazil. Using Gallup World Poll data and a post-election national survey conducted by the Center for Studies on Public Opinion, we find that the economic crisis influenced through different channels both SWB and vote switching. Worsening personal economic circumstances explain the decline in SWB in the aftermath of the crisis, while deteriorating perceptions about the economy explain the vote switching during the presidential election in 2018. Leadership disapproval played a role in both, but to different degrees. One possible explanation for the limited effect of personal economic circumstances on voting behavior in Brazil is that those who were most severely affected by the economic downturn, specifically the poorest individuals in the country, did not see voting for Bolsonaro as a feasible or desirable choice.
Advancing the multiple streams framework for decision-making: the case of integrating ethics into the Norwegian oil fund strategy
Authors: Øvald Camilla Bakken 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis article applies a modified Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to an in-depth case study of the contentious issue of integrating ethics into the Norwegian oil fund strategy. By exploring how ethical investment guidelines evolved from a discredited and allegedly unrealistic idea into policy consensus and, ultimately, a global exemplar, the study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it contributes to the ongoing theoretical refinement of the MSF perspective by illustrating how the framework proves valuable in examining both agenda-setting and decision-making processes. Specifically, it confirms the relevance of a two-phase model for a more rigorous analysis of the decision-making process. Second, while prior literature defines the output of agenda-setting as a ready proposal, it is demonstrated that this outcome may not necessarily signify a fully developed policy proposal. To account for a broader range of scenarios, this article suggests redefining the output of the agenda-setting process as a policy commitment, rather than a worked-out proposal ready for negotiations in the political stream. Acknowledging the uncertainty and ambiguity in the decision-making process highlights the significance of developments in the problem and policy streams that past literature has not given due attention. Consequently, the article proposes a revised two-phase model to enhance the conceptualisation of decision-making within the MSF.
Multidimensional poverty: an analysis of definitions, measurement tools, applications and their evolution over time through a systematic review of the literature up to 2019
Authors: D’Attoma Ida , Matteucci Mariagiulia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe paper provides an overview of definitions, measurements and applications of the concept of multidimensional poverty through a systematic review. The literature is classified according to three research questions: (1) what are the main definitions of multidimensional poverty?; (2) what methods are used to measure multidimensional poverty?; (3) what are the dimensions empirically measured?. Findings indicate that (1) the research on multidimensional poverty has grown in recent years; (2) multidimensional definitions do not necessarily imply to leave behind the dominance of the economic sphere; (3) the most popular methods proposed in the literature deal with the Alkire–Foster methodology, followed by latent variable models. Recommendations for future research emerge: new methodologies or the improvement of current ones are rather relevant; intangible aspects of poverty start to deserve attention calling for new definitions; there is evidence of under researched geographical areas, thereby calling for new empirical works that expand the geographical scope.
Likelihood-based surrogate dimension reduction
Authors: Nghiem Linh H. , Hui Francis K. C. , Muller Samuel , Welsh A. H. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWe consider the problem of surrogate sufficient dimension reduction, that is, estimating the central subspace of a regression model, when the covariates are contaminated by measurement error. When no measurement error is present, a likelihood-based dimension reduction method that relies on maximizing the likelihood of a Gaussian inverse regression model on the Grassmann manifold is well-known to have superior performance to traditional inverse moment methods. We propose two likelihood-based estimators for the central subspace in measurement error settings, which make different adjustments to the observed surrogates. Both estimators are computed based on maximizing objective functions on the Grassmann manifold and are shown to consistently recover the true central subspace. When the central subspace is assumed to depend on only a few covariates, we further propose to augment the likelihood function with a penalty term that induces sparsity on the Grassmann manifold to obtain sparse estimators. The resulting objective function has a closed-form Riemann gradient which facilitates efficient computation of the penalized estimator. We leverage the state-of-the-art trust region algorithm on the Grassmann manifold to compute the proposed estimators efficiently. Simulation studies and a data application demonstrate the proposed likelihood-based estimators perform better than inverse moment-based estimators in terms of both estimation and variable selection accuracy.
Etiological proper function and the safety condition
Authors: Mortini Dario 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn this paper, I develop and motivate a novel formulation of the safety condition in terms of etiological proper function. After testing this condition against the most pressing objections to safety-theoretic accounts of knowledge in the literature, my conclusion will be the following: once safety is suitably understood in terms of etiological proper function, it stands a better chance as the right anti-Gettier condition on knowledge.
Testing hypotheses about correlation matrices in general MANOVA designs
Authors: Sattler Paavo , Pauly Markus 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCorrelation matrices are an essential tool for investigating the dependency structures of random vectors or comparing them. We introduce an approach for testing a variety of null hypotheses that can be formulated based upon the correlation matrix. Examples cover MANOVA-type hypothesis of equal correlation matrices as well as testing for special correlation structures such as sphericity. Apart from existing fourth moments, our approach requires no other assumptions, allowing applications in various settings. To improve the small sample performance, a bootstrap technique is proposed and theoretically justified. Based on this, we also present a procedure to simultaneously test the hypotheses of equal correlation and equal covariance matrices. The performance of all new test statistics is compared with existing procedures through extensive simulations.
New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management
Authors: Zuo Zhiqiang , Zheng Min , Liu Tao , Peng Yongzhen , Yuan Zhiguo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe biocidal effects of free nitrous acid (FNA) have found applications in multiple units in an urban wastewater system, including sewer networks, wastewater treatment processes, and sludge treatment processes. However, these applications are associated with chemical costs as both nitrite and acid are needed to produce FNA at the required levels. The recent discovery of novel acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers offers the possibility to produce FNA from domestic wastewater, enabling the development of next-generation FNA-based technologies capable of achieving self-sustaining FNA production. In this study, we focus on the concept of in situ FNA generation facilitated by acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers and highlight the multiple benefits it creates, after a brief review of the historical development of FNA-based technologies. We will discuss how wastewater systems can be made more energy-efficient and sustainable by leveraging the potential of acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers.
Dynamic Oppositional Symmetries for Color, Jungian and Kantian Categories
Authors: Stern Julio Michael 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper investigates some classical oppositional categories, like synthetic versus analytic, posterior versus prior, imagination versus grammar, metaphor versus hermeneutics, metaphysics versus observation, innovation versus routine, and image versus sound, and the role they play in epistemology and philosophy of science. The epistemological framework of objective cognitive constructivism is of special interest in these investigations. Oppositional relations are formally represented using algebraic lattice structures like the cube and the hexagon of opposition, with applications in the contexts of modern color theory, Kantian philosophy, Jungian psychology, and linguistics.
Physical Concentration of Heavy Minerals: A Brief Review on Low and High Intensity Magnetic Separation Process Techniques
Authors: Nzeh Nnaemeka Stanislaus , Popoola Patricia Abimbola , Adeleke Abraham , Adeosun Samson 
Published: December 2023

AbstractChoice selection and application variation of physical beneficiation techniques usually employed on heavy minerals (HMs) depends greatly on mineralogy, composition, shape, particle size distribution, and physicochemical properties of the minerals. Recent advancements in the applications of HM products by modern science, engineering, technological, and metallurgical production industries, especially in the demand by nuclear and power industries, have significantly increased over the decades. This is the reason for the criticality and commerciality of HM products, which has necessitated their high demand by various industries. The recovery of HMs, such as Zr, Hf, Ti, V, Sn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Nb, Ta, and REE associated minerals, from their deposits is dependent on the extractive metallurgy of transition and refractory metals from their complex minerals. However, based on the mineral concentration effectiveness, as well as the metal extraction efficiency, several challenges have been encountered in their recovery and separation from associated impurities. On this premise, this brief review is focused on investigating magnetic separation process applications in the beneficiation/recovery of HMs. This will serve as a tool for efficient mineral concentration and upgrade as well as reducing the process steps and extraction complexity involved in the downstream measures of dissolution/decomposition and pyro-hydrometallurgical separation processes.
Spatial Disparity of Sports Infrastructure Development and Urbanization Determinants in China: Evidence from the Sixth National Sports Venues Census
Authors: Wang Junneng , Li Jianwei , Cheng Jianquan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe improvement of well-being of residents is the core of the people-centred urbanization. Inhabitants’ emphasis on healthy lifestyle draws attention to the provision of sports infrastructure. However, the spatial pattern of sport infrastructure development and in particular the driving forces from urbanization across China have not been examined yet in the literature. This paper aims to explore how the national sports infrastructure in mainland China is driven and scaled by urbanization, using data from the sixth National Sports Venues Census and a multi-scale geographically weighted regression approach. The results revealed strong regional inequality in the development of sports infrastructure in the stage of accelerating urbanization in China, with better provision of sports infrastructure in eastern than in western regions. The three dimensions of urbanization (urban population, public financial expenditure and built-up area) significantly explained the spatial disparity between 289 cities at prefecture-city level. There should be a feedback loop between the accumulative developments of urbanization and sports infrastructure. The contributing driving forces and subsequent regional heterogeneity suggest that sports space theory, the inequality amplification model, and hysteresis effect are comparatively suitable for explaining the spatial inequality characteristics of sports infrastructure development in China. A Sport Inequality Alert was conceptualized as a policy instrument for monitoring regional inequality and governing the development of sports infrastructure. It is argued that sports infrastructure development should be integrated into the national strategy for sustainable New-type Urbanization.
Individuelle und arbeitsbezogene Herausforderungen der Pflegekräfte in stationären Pflegeeinrichtungen während der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland
Authors: Zink Maria , Wendsche Johannes , Melzer Marlen 
Published: December 2023

ZusammenfassungPflegekräfte gehören zu einer der größten und bereits vor der COVID-19-Pandemie am stärksten belasteten Berufsgruppen in Deutschland. Durch die COVID-19-Pandemie wurden diese besonders stark von neuen sowie einer Verschärfung bestehender beruflicher Herausforderungen getroffen, beispielsweise hinsichtlich Infektionsrisiken, Personalmangel sowie notweniger arbeitsorganisatorischer Veränderungen. In dem vorliegenden narrativen Review erarbeiten wir einen Überblick über Herausforderungen für Führungs- und Pflegekräfte in der stationären Pflege während der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland. Bisherige Übersichtsarbeiten zu pandemieassoziierten Herausforderungen fokussieren meist auf internationale Pflegestudien. Sie geben deshalb wenig Aufschluss über Einflüsse des Pandemieverlaufs auf die Arbeit von Pflegekräften in Deutschland. Weiterhin werden in diesen Arbeiten die Vielfalt und die Interdependenz pandemieassoziierter Herausforderungen in einem komplexen soziotechnischen Arbeitssystem nicht umfassend dargestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass bereits vor dem Pandemieausbruch bestehende Probleme wie Personalmangel und eine hohe Arbeitsintensität durch die Pandemie verstärkt wurden. Das Pflegepersonal war verschiedenen beruflichen und persönlichen Herausforderungen ausgesetzt, z. B. hoher Verantwortung und starken emotionalen Anforderungen. Pflegekräfte mit Kontakt zu COVID-19-Betroffenen hatten längere und seltener beeinflussbare Arbeitszeiten sowie weniger Zeit für Erholung. Es wurden auch positive Arbeitsveränderungen wie eine verbesserte intra- und extraorganisationale sowie interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit berichtet. Die möglicherweise langfristigen Auswirkungen der berichteten Herausforderungen auf stationäre Pflegekräfte bleiben abzuwarten. Pandemieassoziierte kritische Arbeitsgestaltungsvarianten, wie beispielsweise Unplanbarkeit der Arbeit und hohe Flexibilitätsanforderungen sowie mangelnde Erholung, sind dringend zu beseitigen.
Community voices in curriculum development
Authors: Mpuangnan Kofi Nkonkonya , Ntombela Sithabile 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe study aimed at incorporating community voices in curriculum development to achieve broader educational goals. Therefore, the significance of community-based knowledge and perspectives in shaping curriculum development was explored by following the Social Reconstructionist Model (SRM) developed by George Counts in the 1930s. The following questions were addressed; How effectively can community-based knowledge contribute to the enhancement of curriculum development? What approaches can be employed to develop a culturally relevant curriculum? To conduct the study, the researchers conducted a systematic literature review, and extracted data from various databases such as Scopus, WoS, IBSS, and DOAJ. Inclusion and exclusion criteria of article selection were applied by using search terms. The search criteria yielded 58 articles, books, and reports published between 1978 and 2023. Through a comprehensive analysis, the findings were categorized into emerging themes. The results demonstrated that community-based knowledge was relevant in facilitating curriculum development through other approaches like community engagement and community needs assessment. The community needs assessment process was shown to enhance curriculum quality, learner engagement, and educational outcomes. Additionally, embracing cultural diversity was identified as a valuable approach to developing a culturally responsive curriculum. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the active involvement of community members be prioritized to incorporate their knowledge, expertise, and perspectives throughout the curriculum development process.
How does ChatGPT evaluate the value of spatial information in the 4th industrial revolution?
Authors: Hwang Young-Seok , Um Jung-Sup , Pradhan Biswajeet , Choudhury Tanupriya , Schlueter Stephan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractChat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT), developed by OpenAI, is a prominent AI model capable of understanding and generating human-like text based on input. Since terms and concepts of spatial information are contextual, the applications of ChatGPT on spatial information disciplines can be biased by the perceptions and perspectives of ChatGPT towards spatial information. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the real magnitude and level of comprehension of spatial information by ChatGPT is essential before exploring its potential applications in spatial information disciplines. This article aims to investigate how ChatGPT evaluates spatial information and its potential contributions to 4th Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). ChatGPT has summarized a notable perspective on evaluating and utilizing spatial information in the context of the Industry 4.0. The result of this study shows that ChatGPT has a good understanding on contextual concepts related to spatial information. However, it exhibits potential biases and challenges, as its responses lean towards the technological and analytical aspects. The results provide a crucial understanding on how to leverage ChatGPT’s benefits to the fullest while recognizing its constraints, with the aim to enhance the efficacy from the perspective of applications linked to spatial information.
Plasma-Induced Interfacial Processes in Metal Halides FTIR Gas Cell Windows
Authors: Olenik Jaka , Shvalya Vasyl , Modic Martina , Ekar Jernej , Kovač Janez , Cvelbar Uroš , Walsh James L. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is one of the most widely used vibrational diagnostic techniques to investigate gas-phase reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). However, the technique carries intrinsic challenges, particularly in relation to interfering peaks in the spectral data. This study explores the interfacial processes that occur when reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated by a non-equilibrium air plasma interact with the metal halide windows of an FTIR gas cell, leading to the appearance and evolution of spurious absorption peaks which complicate spectral interpretation. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and attenuated total reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy were used to elucidate the origin of spurious absorption peaks spanning the 1400–1300 cm−1 spectral range as a result of KBr exposure to plasma generated species. It was found that plasma exposed KBr contained a lower atomic fraction of Br which was replaced by the NO3 nitrate group, the main absorbance peak of which progressively evolved with plasma exposure and affected the window transparency over the corresponding FTIR region. A correlation was revealed between KNO3 formation, plasma power and exposure time to a growth and change in molecular vibrational energies corresponding to asymmetric NO3 stretching vibrations in the KNO3 structure.
Cancer nanomedicine: emergence, expansion, and expectations
Authors: Kizhakkanoodan Keerthana Suresh , Rallapalli Yuvraj , Praveena Joyceline , Acharya Sriprasad , Guru Bharath Raja 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe introduction of cancer nanomedicine has substantially enhanced the effectiveness of cancer treatments. Nano-formulations are becoming more prevalent among other treatment methods due to their improved therapeutic efficacy and low systemic toxicity. The discovery of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect has led to the development of numerous nanodrugs that passively target tumours. Then researchers identified certain cancer cells overexpress certain receptors, targeting these over-expressing receptors using targeting moiety on the surface of the nanoparticles becomes promising and surface functionalization of nanoparticles has become an important area of cancer nanomedicine. This leads to the physiochemical modification of nanoparticles for strengthening the EPR effect and active targeting. This review comprehensively outlines the origins of cancer nanomedicine, the role of the EPR effect, the tools of nanotechnology and their specifications, and the nature of passive and active targeting, which gives important direction for the progress of cancer therapy using nanomedicine. The review briefly enlists the available nano formulations for different cancers and attempts were made to account for the barriers to clinical translation. The review also briefly describes the transition of research from nanomedicine to nano-immunotherapy.