bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating left atrial strain and left ventricular diastolic strain rate as markers for diastolic dysfunction in patients with mitral annular calcification
Authors: Chen Edward W. , Bashir Zubair , Churchill Jessica L. , Has Phinnara , Klas Berthold , Aurigemma Gerard P. , Bisaillon Jonathan , Dickey John B. , Haines Philip 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Mitral annular calcification (MAC) poses many challenges to the evaluation of diastolic function using standard echocardiography. Left atrial (LA) strain and left ventricular early diastolic strain rate (DSr) measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) are emerging techniques in the noninvasive evaluation of diastolic function. We aim to evaluate the utility of LA strain and early DSr in predicting elevated left ventricular filling pressures (LVFP) in patients with MAC and compare their effectiveness to ratio of mitral inflow velocity in early and late diastole (E/A).

Methods
We included adult patients with MAC who presented between January 1 and December 31, 2014 and received a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and cardiac catheterization with measurement of LVFP within a 24-h period. We used Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to assess associations of LA reservoir strain and average early DSr with LVFP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were computed to assess the effectiveness of LA strain and DSr in discriminating elevated LVFP as a dichotomized variable and to compare their effectiveness with E/A ratio categorized according to grade of diastolic dysfunction.

Results
Fifty-five patients were included. LA reservoir strain demonstrated poor correlation with LVFP (Spearman’s rho = 0.03, p = 0.81) and poor discriminatory ability for detecting elevated LVFP (AUC = 0.54, 95% CI 0.38–0.69). Categorical E/A ratio alone also demonstrated poor discriminatory ability (AUC = 0.53, 95% CI 0.39–0.67), and addition of LA reservoir strain did not significantly improve effectiveness (AUC = 0.58, 95% CI 0.42–0.74, p = 0.56). Average early DSr also demonstrated poor correlation with LVFP (Spearman’s rho = −0.19, p = 0.16) and poor discriminatory ability for detecting elevated LVFP (AUC = 0.59, 95% CI 0.44–0.75). Addition of average early DSr to categorical E/A ratio failed to improve effectiveness (AUC = 0.62, 95% CI 0.46–0.77 vs. AUC = 0.54, 95% CI 0.39–0.69, p = 0.38).

Conclusions
In our sample, LA reservoir strain and DSr do not accurately predict diastolic filling pressure. Further research is required before LA strain and early DSr can be routinely used in clinical practice to assess filling pressure in patients with MAC.
5Ni/MgO and 5Ni/MgO + MOx (M = Zr, Ti, Al) Catalyst for Hydrogen Production via Dry Reforming of Methane: Promotor-Free, Cost-Effective, and Handy Catalyst System
Authors: Patel Naitik , Al-Fatesh Ahmed S. , Bamatraf Nouf A. , Osman Ahmed I. , Alreshaidan Salwa B. , Fakeeha Anis H. , Wazeer Irfan , Kumar Rawesh 
Published: January 2024

AbstractUtilization of CO2 as a promising oxidant under dry reforming methane (DRM) can mitigate two greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) together, as well as DRM reaction may be a source of H2 energy in future. The cost-effective and handy catalyst preparation procedures like mixing, drying and calcining may turn this reaction from lab to industry. In this line, herein, 5Ni/MgO and 5Ni/MgO + MOx (M = Zr, Ti, Al) catalysts were prepared, investigated for DRM and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, temperature programmed reduction/desorption, thermogravimetry and transmission electron microscope. Among the prepared catalysts, the 5Ni/MgO + TiO2 catalyst exhibits the highest concentration of active Ni sites enhanced reducibility under oxidizing and reducing environments, but catalytic excellency is hindered by severe graphitic-type coke deposition. On the other hand, the 5Ni/MgO + Al2O3 catalyst predominantly comprises metallic Ni resulting from the reduction of “strongly interacted NiO”, expanded surface area and the highest concentration of easily accessible active sites, contributing to its superior performance (H2 yield ~ 71% up to 430 min time on stream) under oxidizing and reducing conditions during DRM. The outstanding performance of the 5Ni/MgO + Al2O3 catalyst marks a significant stride towards the development of an industrially viable, cost-effective, and convenient catalyst system for DRM.
Graphical Abstract
Enhancements of discretization approaches for non-convex mixed-integer quadratically constrained quadratic programming: Part I
Authors: Beach Benjamin , Burlacu Robert , Bärmann Andreas , Hager Lukas , Hildebrand Robert 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe study mixed-integer programming (MIP) relaxation techniques for the solution of non-convex mixed-integer quadratically constrained quadratic programs (MIQCQPs). We present MIP relaxation methods for non-convex continuous variable products. In this paper, we consider MIP relaxations based on separable reformulation. The main focus is the introduction of the enhanced separable MIP relaxation for non-convex quadratic products of the form $$z=xy$$

z
=
x
y

, called hybrid separable (HybS). Additionally, we introduce a logarithmic MIP relaxation for univariate quadratic terms, called sawtooth relaxation, based on Beach (Beach in J Glob Optim 84:869–912, 2022). We combine the latter with HybS and existing separable reformulations to derive MIP relaxations of MIQCQPs. We provide a comprehensive theoretical analysis of these techniques, underlining the theoretical advantages of HybS compared to its predecessors. We perform a broad computational study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the enhanced MIP relaxation in terms of producing tight dual bounds for MIQCQPs. In Part II, we study MIP relaxations that extend the MIP relaxation normalized multiparametric disaggregation technique (NMDT) (Castro in J Glob Optim 64:765–784, 2015) and present a computational study which also includes the MIP relaxations from this work and compares them with a state-of-the-art of MIQCQP solvers.
Assessing energy, economic, environmental and social impacts of fostering energy efficiency technologies: a Portuguese case study
Authors: Tenente Marcos , Henriques Carla , Gomes Álvaro , da Silva Patrícia Pereira 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis work suggests an overarching methodology that couples Hybrid Input–Output Lifecycle Analysis with thermal dynamic simulation. This methodological framework allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the energy, economic, environmental, and social impacts of fostering energy efficiency solutions in the residential sector. The main goal is to provide practical guidance to decision-makers in the formulation of appropriate funding strategies. The energy efficiency solutions under scrutiny consist of replacing compact fluorescent lamps with light emitting diode lamps, applying expanded polystyrene and insulation cork board on roofs and facades and installing heat pumps, biomass boilers, and gas boilers for space heating. The findings suggest that switching to more efficient lighting devices brings environmental, energy, and health benefits, but it may also have adverse effects on the economy and employment. Regarding insulation, applying expanded polystyrene simultaneously to roofs and facades results in a 63% decrease in energy requirements. However, the manufacturing, packaging, installation, and maintenance phases result in 3,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of 57TJ of primary energy, while 380 jobs and 11 M€ in gross value added are generated. Finally, heat pumps appear to be the most environmentally friendly equipment, while gas boilers have the highest lifecycle energy consumption, and biomass boilers have the highest economic and employment benefits, despite leading to the greatest potential of premature deaths.
The Impact of Education on Fertility During the Chinese Reform Era (1980–2018): Changes Across Birth Cohorts and Interaction with Fertility Policies
Authors: Baizan Pau , Nie Wanli 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
We examined the influence of education on fertility decisions in contemporary China, drawing upon theoretical insights that emphasise the role of social institutions, gender relations, and life course dynamics in shaping family behaviour. This led us to propose a set of hypotheses that explain the differential effect of education on each parity. We used information on female cohorts born between 1960 and 1989, coming from the China Family Panel Studies for 2010–2018. We applied event history models with both independent and simultaneous equations models to account for selection and endogeneity effects. The results point to a substantial contribution of the increased educational attainment in the population in the fertility decline and current low levels of fertility, beyond the role of fertility policies. Consistent with our hypotheses, the results show that woman’s educational attainment has a strong negative effect on the hazard of bearing a second or third child. Male partner’s educational attainment also has a negative effect on the hazard of transition to a second or third birth, yet with a weaker intensity. We also found that the negative effect of education on second birth rates significantly declines across birth cohorts. The results show little educational differentials in the probability of bearing a first child, while the better educated postpone first births. Moreover, the effect of fertility policies, measured at the individual level, gradually increases with the level of education.
Circumcenter extension maps for non-positively curved spaces
Authors: Incerti-Medici Merlin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe show that every cross ratio preserving homeomorphism between boundaries of Hadamard manifolds extends to a map, called circumcenter extension, provided that the manifolds satisfy certain visibility conditions. We describe regions on which this map is Hölder-continuous. Furthermore, we show that this map is a rough isometry, whenever the manifolds admit cocompact group actions by isometries and we improve previously known quasi-isometry constants, provided by Biswas, in the case of 2-dimensional $$\mathrm {CAT(-1)}$$

CAT
(
-
1
)

manifolds. Finally, we provide a sufficient condition for this map to be an isometry in the case of Hadamard surfaces.
Trait-based ecology of microalgae
Authors: B-Béres Viktória , Naselli-Flores Luigi , Padisák Judit , Borics Gábor 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis paper introduces and summarises the main outcomes of the 19th workshop of the International Association for Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology held in Tiszafüred, Hungary, Tisza Balneum Hotel, from 23 to 30 September 2022. The selected theme of the workshop was “Trait-Based Approaches in Micro-Algal Ecology”. The discussions presented during the workshop sessions resulted in the 18 articles contained in this Special Issue. There are 6 main thematic aspects developed by the participants: 1. Shape and size: are these traits easy to measure? 2. Spatial scales: when and where to look for microalgae? 3. Climate and extremes of ecological gradients: hot topics of this century. 4. Metaphyton and metaphytic habitats: life beyond plankton and benthos. 5. Microalgae in water management: phycology in practice. 6. Traditional and new methods: perspectives and comments. Trait-based approaches in microalgae ecology, although requiring further investigation and methodological development, represent a valid tool for refining the analysis of environmental variability in aquatic ecosystems. The papers presented in this Special Issue demonstrate that these approaches are extremely useful not only in the study of planktic algae but constitute a thoughtful method for the analysis of benthic and metaphytic microalgae in a wide variety of aquatic ecosystems.
The acquisition of grammatical alternates: a comparison of Italian and Norwegian possessives
Authors: Velnić Marta 
Published: January 2024

AbstractPossessive alternates (prenominal and postnominal) have mirrored properties in Italian and Norwegian when taking into consideration frequency, derivation, and markedness; i.e., the variant that is base-generated in one language is considered the derived one in the other language. Thus, in both languages there is a variant used for unmarked contexts (i.e., topic) and for marked contexts (i.e., contrast). Previous studies have shown that Italian children acquire the use of the variants with ease, whereas Norwegian children were found to overuse the marked variant, even in unmarked contexts. Here, we reanalyse the co-occurrences of the possessive and the noun in the monolingual corpora for the two languages available on CHILDES, by focusing more attentively on the contextual use of the variants, to reveal whether the same principles underly the acquisition process. Our findings contradict the previous claims on the acquisition of Italian but are in line with the previous findings for Norwegian. Both groups of children overuse the marked but base-generated variant, indicating the relevance of syntactic economy in language acquisition.
Structural and Morphological Characterization of Iridium and Ir/Au Films for Transition Edge Sensors
Authors: Celasco E. , Barusso L. Ferrari , De Gerone M. , Gallucci G. , Grosso D. , Manfrinetti P. , Niazi K. , Repetto L. , Gatti F. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSuperconducting Transition Edge Sensors employed in X-ray astrophysics space missions were realized and fully characterized in the Low temperature detector laboratory at UniGe. Several samples of Ir and Ir/Au bilayer films were grown by pulsed laser deposition at different deposition rate, varying thickness and resulting variability in critical temperature (Tc) was observed. In particular, we noticed two classes of films having discrete critical temperature (Tc), one at about the critical temperature of the bulk Ir and one at around 1.6 times compared to the bulk. Structural characterization was made and interesting correlation between critical temperature (Tc) and deposition conditions were found. Detailed X-Ray Diffraction investigations suggest a possible explanation of this effect with a clear correlation between microstrain value, grain size, and critical temperatures of the films. The study has been carried out to optimize the specified conditions to grow the film under which it is possible to accurately predict the critical temperature (Tc) by analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns of Ir/Au films.
Wellbeing After Finalization of a Workers’ Compensation Claim: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Weir James , Fary Robyn , Gibson Mark , Mitchell Tim , Johnston Venerina , Wyatt Mary , Guthrie Robert , Myers Bronwyn , Beales Darren 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objective
A workers’ compensation claim may have significant negative impacts on an injured worker’s wellbeing. Wellbeing provides a good global measure of potential effects of a claim on an individual, and is important for contemporary economic modelling. The purpose of this study was to synthesize knowledge about the wellbeing of injured workers after the finalization of a workers’ compensation claim and identify gaps in the current literature.

Methods
A systematic scoping review was conducted.

Results
71 full-text articles were screened for inclusion, with 32 articles eligible for this review. None of the included articles evaluated overall wellbeing. Included articles did evaluate a variety of constructs inherent in wellbeing. Injured workers were generally disadvantaged in some manner following claim finalization. The literature recommends a focus on reducing negative impacts on injured workers after finalization of a compensation claim, with a need for regulatory bodies to review policy in this area.

Conclusion
There appears to be potential for ongoing burden for individuals, employers, and society after finalization of a workers’ compensation claim. A gap in knowledge exists regarding the specific evaluation of wellbeing of injured workers following finalization of a workers’ compensation claim.
Overcoming barriers to technology transfer: empirical evidence from the German Democratic Republic
Authors: Hipp Ann , Jindra Björn , Medase Kehinde 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis paper provides empirical evidence on a special case of restricted technology transfer: the German Democratic Republic (GDR) characterized by a socialist innovation system with a supply-side-oriented technology-push model encompassing intellectual property rights protection partially distinct from the one employed in most market economies. We exploit the natural experiment setting of the formerly separated regions in Germany and compare the productivity effects of knowledge generation, accumulation, and diffusion in the GDR with those of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) between 1970 and 1989. By applying a Cobb–Douglas production function to original primary and harmonized productivity data and manually cleaned patent data, we show that knowledge generation, accumulation and diffusion contributed to sectoral productivity in the GDR similarly compared to the FRG, despite the institutional misalignments in the socialist innovation system. We explain these findings and provide implications for present organizations with regard to incentive schemes for patenting, the support of personal creativity and education, and alternative technology transfer mechanisms in case of institutional barriers to innovation.
Analytical solutions for the guided modes of rectangular silicon optical waveguides: a plane-wave approach
Authors: Ramadan Tarek A. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMarcatili’s analytical solution for the guided modes of rectangular optical waveguides (ROWGs) depends on (1) using the separation of variables (SOV) and (2) applying the paraxial approximation. It results in two classes of modes: the TE-like and the TM-like modes which are supported by these waveguides. These modes are uncoupled under low-index-contrast conditions. In the case of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides, the coupling between them can no longer be neglected. This paper extends using the SOV to find analytical modal solutions of SOI-ROWGs. It expands these solutions in quadruples of plane waves and develops a novel non-paraxial scattering model to account for the polarization coupling between these waves under high-index-contrast conditions. This model yields approximate analytical expressions of the field components of the guided modes which are the sum of major and minor Marcatili’s TE-like and TM-like modal fields. Numerical examples show excellent agreement with the field components of full-vectorial mode solvers.
What is an experiment in mathematical practice? New evidence from mining the Mathematical Reviews
Authors: Sørensen Henrik Kragh , Mathiasen Sophie Kjeldbjerg , Johansen Mikkel Willum 
Published: January 2024

AbstractFrom a purely formalist viewpoint on the philosophy of mathematics, experiments cannot (and should not) play a role in warranting mathematical statements but must be confined to heuristics. Yet, due to the incorporation of new mathematical methods such as computer-assisted experimentation in mathematical practice, experiments are now conducted and used in a much broader range of epistemic practices such as concept formation, validation, and communication. In this article, we combine corpus studies and qualitative analyses to assess and categorize the epistemic roles experiments are seen—by mathematicians—to have in actual mathematical practice. We do so by text-mining a corpus of reviews from the Mathematical Reviews, which include the indicator word “experiment”. Our qualitative, grounded classification of samples from this corpus allows us to explore the various roles played by experiments. We thus identify instances where experiments function as references to established knowledge, as tools for heuristics or exploration, as epistemic warrants, as communication or pedagogy, and instances simply proposing experiments. Focusing on the role of experiments as epistemic warrants, we show through additional sampling that in some fields of mathematics, experiments can warrant theorems as well as methods. We also show that the expressed lack of experiments by reviewers suggests concordant views that experiments could have provided epistemic warrants. Thus, our combination of corpus studies and qualitative analyses has added a typology of roles of experiments in mathematical practice and shown that experiments can and do play roles as epistemic warrants depending on the mathematical field.
CSR and employee outcomes: a systematic literature review
Authors: Yassin Yasser , Beckmann Markus 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to consolidate and extend the current literature on employee outcomes of CSR (referred to as micro-level outcomes). The authors use a systematic review of the literature as a method to summarize and synthesise the different effects of CSR activities on employees based on 270 journal articles. The contribution of this paper is that it provides a comprehensive list of employee outcomes classified into different categories and a conceptual framework that maps desirable and undesirable outcomes of CSR activities on employees. The results show that various dimensions of CSR have different effects on employee outcomes. In addition, we explain mediators of CSR-employee outcomes relationships and moderators that could strengthen or weaken this relationship. The review reveals important gaps and offers a research agenda for the future. We have found only a few studies dealing with the negative impacts of CSR on employees as well as only a few studies that explain how different dimensions of CSR affect employees differently. The study has also practical implications for companies, as understanding different effects of CSR on employees helps organizations to design and implement CSR strategies and policies that foster employees’ positive attitudes and behaviours as well as prevent or reduce the negative effects, and hence create a business value and sustainable growth for the company.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Mast Cells in Atherosclerotic Plaque Progression and Destabilization
Authors: Elieh-Ali-Komi Daniel , Bot Ilze , Rodríguez-González Mónica , Maurer Marcus 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMast cells (MCs) are commonly recognized for their crucial involvement in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, but over time, it has come to light that they also play a role in the pathophysiology of non-allergic disorders including atherosclerosis. The involvement of MCs in the pathology of atherosclerosis is supported by their accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques upon their progression and the association of intraplaque MC numbers with acute cardiovascular events. MCs that accumulate within the atherosclerotic plaque release a cocktail of mediators through which they contribute to neovascularization, plaque progression, instability, erosion, rupture, and thrombosis. At a molecular level, MC-released proteases, especially cathepsin G, degrade low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and mediate LDL fusion and binding of LDL to proteoglycans (PGs). Through a complicated network of chemokines including CXCL1, MCs promote the recruitment of among others CXCR2+ neutrophils, therefore, aggravating the inflammation of the plaque environment. Additionally, MCs produce extracellular traps which worsen inflammation and contribute to atherothrombosis. Altogether, evidence suggests that MCs actively, via several underlying mechanisms, contribute to atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and acute cardiovascular syndromes, thus, making the study of interventions to modulate MC activation an interesting target for cardiovascular medicine.