bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of necrotizing soft tissue infections on the lives of survivors: a qualitative study
Authors: Suijker Jaco , Stoop Matthea , Meij-de Vries Annebeth , Pijpe Anouk , Boekelaar Anita , Egberts Marthe , Van Loey Nancy 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are potentially lethal infections marked by local tissue destruction and systemic sepsis, which require aggressive treatment. Survivors often face a long recovery trajectory. This study was initiated to increase understanding of the long-term impact of NSTI on health related quality of life (HRQoL), and how care may be improved.

Methods
Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data from 25 NSTI-survivors obtained through two focus groups (n = 14) and semi-structured interviews (n = 11).

Results
The median age of the participants was 49 years, 14 were female. The median time since diagnosis was 5 years. Initial misdiagnosis was common, causing delay to treatment. Survivors experienced long-term physical consequences (scarring, cognitive impairment, fatigue, sleeping problems, recurrent infections), psychological consequences (traumatic stress symptoms, fear of relapse, adjusting to an altered appearance, sexual issues) and social and relational consequences (changes in social contacts, a lack of understanding). The disease also had a major psychological impact on family members, as well as major financial impact in some. There was a strong desire to reflect on ‘mistakes’ in case of initial misdiagnosis. To improve care, patient and family centered care, smooth transitions after discharge, and the availability of understandable information were deemed important.

Conclusion
This study reveals that NSTI have a large impact on physical and psychosocial wellbeing of survivors and their relatives. Except for a few differences (misdiagnosis, fear for re-infection and actual re-infection), the patient experience of patients with NSTI is largely similar to those of burn survivors. Thus, questionnaires to assess HRQoL in burn survivors may be used in future NSTI studies.
Do learners need semantics to spell syntactic markers? Plural spellings in real vs. pseudowords in a French L2 setting
Authors: Klasen Lisa , Ugen Sonja , Dording Carole , Fayol Michel , Weth Constanze 
Published: February 2023

AbstractInaudible syntactic markers are especially difficult to spell. This paper examines how 455 fourth graders spell silent French plural markers in a dictation with real and pseudowords after one year of formal French instruction (L2). The Generalized Linear Mixed Model analysis shows first that noun plural spelling (real and pseudo) is a strong predictor for verb and adjective plural spelling. Second, the performance on real verb plural is higher than the performance on real adjective plural. In contrast, the performance on pseudoadjective plural is higher than on pseudoverb plural. Our findings indicate the strong influence of semantics and frequency in instruction input on plural spelling: noun plural is semantically grounded, and nouns are most frequent in the curriculum. Verbs and verb plural are also frequent, and inflection is mostly taught by means of memorizing the verb inflection paradigm. Adjectives are taught least frequently. The findings are discussed in the context of French L2 instruction, as the extremely low results on adjectives and pseudoverbs seem to be a consequence of instruction methods.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Robust adversarial uncertainty quantification for deep learning fine-tuning
Authors: Ahmed Usman , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThis paper proposes a deep learning model that is robust and capable of handling highly uncertain inputs. The model is divided into three phases: creating a dataset, creating a neural network based on the dataset, and retraining the neural network to handle unpredictable inputs. The model utilizes entropy values and a non-dominant sorting algorithm to identify the candidate with the highest entropy value from the dataset. This is followed by merging the training set with adversarial samples, where a mini-batch of the merged dataset is used to update the dense network parameters. This method can improve the performance of machine learning models, categorization of radiographic images, risk of misdiagnosis in medical imaging, and accuracy of medical diagnoses. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed model, two datasets, MNIST and COVID, were used with pixel values and without transfer learning. The results showed an increase of accuracy from 0.85 to 0.88 for MNIST and from 0.83 to 0.85 for COVID, which suggests that the model successfully classified images from both datasets without using transfer learning techniques.
Emerging mercury and methylmercury contamination from new artisanal and small-scale gold mining along the Nile Valley, Egypt
Authors: Abdelaal Ahmed , Sultan Mohamed , Abotalib Abotalib Z. , Bedair Mohamed , Krishnamurthy R. V. , Elhebiry Mohamed 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe past decade witnessed the initiation and boom of the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities in the hyper-arid southern Egypt. The ores are mined in the Eastern Desert and then transported to the densely populated farming communities in the Nile Valley, where the river provides the water resources needed for ore processing. In search for economic benefits, the poorly educated farmers with limited technical resources transformed their cultivated lands into ASGM operations, exposing themselves, their families, the residents, and the Nile ecosystems to several environmental and occupational health problems. Using integrated remote sensing, field, geochemical, and isotopic analyses, we report the first inventory of ASGM-related total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) levels in tailings, amalgamation-tailing ponds, and surface and groundwater with emphasis on the Edfu city and its surroundings. The field and remote sensing-based mapping of ASGM activities reveals clustering around the Nile waterways and suggests interaction of Hg contamination sources with their surrounding receptors. Common ASGM practices include release of contaminated water from unlined amalgamation-tailing ponds into irrigation and drainage canals, and spreading of tailings over cultivated soils. In a short period (10 years), the released Hg contaminated multiple media, including the surface water, the shallow and deep aquifers, and possibly the soil, crops, and livestock. THg levels in amalgamation-tailing ponds (1200–8470 ng/L) are fourfold higher than US EPA and eightfold the WHO thresholds. The contaminated waters released from amalgamation-tailing ponds raised THg levels in surface water (irrigation canals: 50–100 ng/L; drainage canals: THg: > 200 ng/L) and groundwater (shallow and deep aquifers: 80–500 ng/L). Our findings highlight the need to extend the adopted approach to cover the entire length of the Nile River and its valley and the importance of conducting awareness campaigns to educate residents and health care providers about potential ASGM-related environmental and health hazards.
Graphical Abstract
One Navier’s problem for the Brinkman system
Authors: Medková Dagmar 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn this paper we study the Brinkman system and the Darcy-Forchheimer-Brinkman system with the boundary condition of the Navier’s type $$ {\textbf{u}}_{{\mathbf {\mathcal {T}}}} = {\textbf{g}}_{{\mathbf {\mathcal {T}}}} $$

u
T

=

g
T

, $$\rho =h$$

ρ
=
h

on $$\partial \Omega $$

∂
Ω

for a bounded planar domain $$\Omega $$
Ω
with connected boundary. Solutions are looked for in the Sobolev spaces $$W^{s+1,q}(\Omega ,{\mathbb R}^2)\times W^{s,q}(\Omega )$$

W

s
+
1
,
q

(
Ω
,

R

2

)

×

W

s
,
q

(
Ω
)

and in the Besov spaces $$B_{s+1}^{p,r}(\Omega ,{\mathbb R}^2)\times B_s^{q,r}(\Omega )$$

B

s
+
1

p
,
r

(
Ω
,

R

2

)

×

B
s

q
,
r

(
Ω
)

. Classical solutions are from the spaces $${\mathcal C}^{k+1,\gamma }(\overline{\Omega },{\mathbb R}^2) \times {\mathcal C}^{k,\gamma }(\overline{\Omega })$$

C

k
+
1
,
γ

(

Ω
¯

,

R

2

)

×

C

k
,
γ

(

Ω
¯

)

. For the Brinkman system we show the unique solvability of the problem. Then we study the Navier problem for the Darcy-Forchheimer-Brinkman system and small boundary conditions.
A Circular RNA Expressed from the FAT3 Locus Regulates Neural Development
Authors: Seeler Sabine , Andersen Maria Schertz , Sztanka-Toth Tamas , Rybiczka-Tešulov Mateja , van den Munkhof Marleen H. , Chang Chi-Chih , Maimaitili Muyesier , Venø Morten Trillingsgaard , Hansen Thomas Birkballe , Pasterkamp R. Jeroen , Rybak-Wolf Agnieszka , Denham Mark , Rajewsky Nikolaus , Kristensen Lasse Sommer , Kjems Jørgen 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of cellular processes, are abundant in the nervous system, and have putative regulatory roles during neural differentiation. However, the knowledge about circRNA functions in brain development is limited. Here, using RNA-sequencing, we show that circRNA levels increased substantially over the course of differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into rostral and caudal neural progenitor cells (NPCs), including three of the most abundant circRNAs, ciRS-7, circRMST, and circFAT3. Knockdown of circFAT3 during early neural differentiation resulted in minor transcriptional alterations in bulk RNA analysis. However, single-cell transcriptomics of 30 and 90 days differentiated cerebral organoids deficient in circFAT3 showed a loss of telencephalic radial glial cells and mature cortical neurons, respectively. Furthermore, non-telencephalic NPCs in cerebral organoids showed changes in the expression of genes involved in neural differentiation and migration, including FAT4, ERBB4, UNC5C, and DCC. In vivo depletion of circFat3 in mouse prefrontal cortex using in utero electroporation led to alterations in the positioning of the electroporated cells within the neocortex. Overall, these findings suggest a conserved role for circFAT3 in neural development involving the formation of anterior cell types, neuronal differentiation, or migration.
Institutional quality and COVID-19 vaccination: does decentralization matter?
Authors: Del Bo Chiara F. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractVaccination campaigns are one of the factors that can help mitigate the adverse effects of viral pandemics. The aim of this paper is to understand the institutional factors that are associated with a higher success rate, measured by the percentage of vaccinated population against COVID-19 across countries. Along with supply side determinants, institutional factors, related, at the national level, to the organization of the healthcare sector, governance and organization of the State and social capital, and, at the subnational level related to the authority and autonomy of lower tiers of government, are important correlates of successful vaccination campaigns, suggesting potential areas of public policy interventions.
Stock control analytics: a data-driven approach to compute the fill rate considering undershoots
Authors: Babiloni Eugenia , Guijarro Ester , Trapero Juan R. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractOne of the most frequently used inventory policies is the order-point, order-up-to-level (s, S) system. In this system, the inventory is continuously reviewed and a replenishment request is placed whenever the inventory position drops to or below the order point, s. The variable replenishment order quantity and the variable replenishment cycle characterize the system by the use of complex mathematical computations. Different methodological approaches diminish the mathematical complexity by neglecting the undershoots, i.e., the quantity that the inventory position is below the order point when it is reached. In this paper, we conceptually and empirically analyse the bias that neglecting the undershoots introduces into the estimation of the fill rate. After that, we suggest a new methodology developed under a data-driven perspective that uses a state-dependent parameter algorithm to correct such a bias. As a result, we propose two new methods, one parametric and the other nonparametric, to enhance the fill rate estimate. Both methods, named analytics fill rate methods, remove the bias that neglecting the undershoots introduces and are used to illustrate the practical implications of this hypothesis on the performance and design of the (s, S) system. This research is developed in a lost sales context with simulated stochastic and i.i.d. discrete demands as well as actual sales data.
On the Role of Beliefs and Trust for the Intention to Use Service Robots: An Integrated Trustworthiness Beliefs Model for Robot Acceptance
Authors: Kraus Johannes , Miller Linda , Klumpp Marielène , Babel Franziska , Scholz David , Merger Julia , Baumann Martin 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
With the increasing abilities of robots, the prediction of user decisions needs to go beyond the usability perspective, for example, by integrating distinctive beliefs and trust. In an online study (N = 400), first, the relationship between general trust in service robots and trust in a specific robot was investigated, supporting the role of general trust as a starting point for trust formation. On this basis, it was explored—both for general acceptance of service robots and acceptance of a specific robot—if technology acceptance models can be meaningfully complemented by specific beliefs from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and trust literature to enhance understanding of robot adoption. First, models integrating all belief groups were fitted, providing essential variance predictions at both levels (general and specific) and a mediation of beliefs via trust to the intention to use. The omission of the performance expectancy and reliability belief was compensated for by more distinctive beliefs. In the final model (TB-RAM), effort expectancy and competence predicted trust at the general level. For a specific robot, competence and social influence predicted trust. Moreover, the effect of social influence on trust was moderated by the robot's application area (public > private), supporting situation-specific belief relevance in robot adoption. Taken together, in line with the TPB, these findings support a mediation cascade from beliefs via trust to the intention to use. Furthermore, an incorporation of distinctive instead of broad beliefs is promising for increasing the explanatory and practical value of acceptance modeling.
Markedly divergent effects of Ouabain on a Temozolomide-resistant (T98G) vs. a Temozolomide-sensitive (LN229) Glioblastoma cell line
Authors: Weidemann Heidrun , Feger Daniel , Ehlert Jan E. , Menger Marcus M. , Krempien Robert C. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with poor prognosis. GMB are highly recurrent mainly because of radio- and chemoresistance. Radiotherapy with Temozolomide (TMZ) is until today the golden standard adjuvant therapy, however, the optimal treatment of recurrent glioblastoma remains controversial. Ouabain belongs to the Cardiotonic Steroids (CTS) the natural ligands of the Na/K-ATPase (NKA). It is established that the NKA represents a signal transducer with either stimulating or inhibiting cell growth, apoptosis, migration and angiogenesis. Over the last decade evidence grew that CTS have anti-tumor properties especially in GBM.

Aim
Proceeding from recent studies we wanted to further demonstrate a divergent effect of Ouabain on a TMZ-resistant (T98G) as compared to a TMZ-sensitive (LN229) GBM cell line.

Methods
We analyzed the effect of Ouabain on cell migration and plasma cell membrane potential (PCMP) in the LN229 and T98G GBM cell line as well as underlying mechanisms (Bcl-2 and p-Akt/pan-Akt expression). Moreover, we analyzed the anti-angiogenic effect of Ouabain on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Results
T98G cells showed a significant inhibition of cell migration and a significant depolarization of the PCMP at similar Ouabain concentrations (IC50 = 1.67 × 10–7 M) resp. (IC50 = 2.72 × 10–7 M) with a strong inverse correlation (R2 = 0.95). In contrast, LN229 cells did not respond to Ouabain in these assays at all. Similarly, only T98G but not LN229 cells revealed Bcl-2 down-regulation at nanomolar Ouabain concentrations. This unique response to Ouabain is associated with a down-regulation of pan-Akt in T98G cells 24 h after Ouabain (1.0 × 10–6 M) treatment. For the first time, the anti-angiogenic effect of Ouabain on HUVEC cells (IC50 = 5.49 × 10–8 M) was demonstrated which correlated strongly with the anti-migratory effect (R2 = 0.85).

Conclusion
The TMZ-resistant T98G cell line as compared to the TMZ-sensitive LN229 cell line shows a high sensitivity towards Ouabain. We consider it as a promising new compound especially in recurrent GBM to overcome the resistance to TMZ and irradiation.
Influence of River Disconnection on Floodplain Periphyton Assemblages
Authors: De Gallardo Kamela , Kaller Michael D. , Rutherford D. Allen , Kelso William E. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) in southcentral Louisiana, USA, is a structurally and biotically diverse floodplain of Atchafalaya River (AR), which is the largest distributary of the Mississippi River. Annual floodplain inundation facilitates the exchange of nutrients and organic material between the AR and its floodplain, giving rise to the high productivity of the river-floodplain system. Production within the ARB is driven by periphytic algae, phytoplankton, and aquatic macrophytes, however, very little is known about periphytic algal assemblages in floodplain systems or how loss of annual flooding impacts these assemblages. In this study, we use artificial substrates to sample periphytic algae bi-weekly (January 2019 – September 2019) from ARB sites with active river connections and from a permanently-isolated floodplain system (Lake Verret). Our results showed that connection to the river caused spatiotemporal shifts in periphytic algal assemblages in the ARB. Overall, ARB sites had a higher density of algal cells compared with non-ARB sites, and for ARB sites with more active river connections, total algal density was greater nearer to river inputs, particularly for cyanobacteria and centric diatoms, with diatoms dominating periphyton assemblages year-round. In contrast, the river-isolated system was dominated largely by chlorophytes. In both isolated and connected systems, sites with heavy macrophyte cover showed increased densities of euglenoids, chrysophytes, and xanthophytes. Shifts in periphytic algal assemblages due to floodplain alterations, such as the disconnection of a floodplain from its river source, could impact higher trophic levels and should be considered in future wetland management decisions.
Utilizing historical maps in identification of long-term land use and land cover changes
Authors: Mäyrä Janne , Kivinen Sonja , Keski-Saari Sarita , Poikolainen Laura , Kumpula Timo 
Published: February 2023

AbstractKnowledge in the magnitude and historical trends in land use and land cover (LULC) is needed to understand the changing status of the key elements of the landscape and to better target management efforts. However, this information is not easily available before the start of satellite campaign missions. Scanned historical maps are a valuable but underused source of LULC information. As a case study, we used U-Net to automatically extract fields, mires, roads, watercourses, and water bodies from scanned historical maps, dated 1965, 1984 and 1985 for our 900 km$$^2$$

2

study area in Southern Finland. We then used these data, along with the topographic databases from 2005 and 2022, to quantify the LULC changes for the past 57 years. For example, the total area of fields decreased by around 27 km$$^2$$

2

, and the total length of watercourses increased by around 2250 km in our study area.
Thermal degradation behaviour and chemical kinetic characteristics of biomass pyrolysis using TG/DTG/DTA techniques
Authors: El-Sayed Saad A. , Khass Tarek M. , Mostafa Mohamed E. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe goal of the current study is to investigate the thermal degradation of palm fronds (PF), olive leaves (OL), and wheat straw (WS) through pyrolysis and calculate their kinetic data using TG-DTG and DTA approaches. The kinetic parameters were assessed using isoconversional techniques like the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) methods, as well as model-fitting techniques like the integral method, which employs various diffusion and reaction order models. Using kinetics data models, typical parameters for pyrolysis and thermodynamics were estimated. For PF, OL, and WS, the values of activation energy (E) from the integral method ranged between 8.82 and 167.13, 23.06 and 149.20, and 11.01 and 156.27, respectively, for diffusion models. On the other hand, the values of (E) ranged between 22.3 and 117.49, 51.69 and 92.88, and 23.48 and 125.97, respectively, for reaction-order models. The average activation energies (E) calculated by using PF, OL, and WS samples are 91.9, 69.1, and 65.2, respectively, for the OFW method and 87.5, 101.8, and 63.4, respectively, for the KAS method. The results demonstrated that the integral method provided values of (E) that were almost identical to those produced by the KAS and OFW methods. In the same range of (α), results showed that reaction order models yielded greater frequency factor values than diffusion models, demonstrating how simpler and quicker pyrolysis is. The values of ($${\Delta \mathrm{G}}_{av}$$

Δ
G

av

) demonstrated the acceptability of these materials for pyrolysis, and for the OFW and KAS techniques, the sequence of the degradation process was OL > WS > PF. The calculated ($${\Delta \mathrm{G}}_{av}$$

Δ
G

av

) showed that more heat energies are required for OL, PF, and WS to dissociate the reagent bonds, which agrees with the (E) values derived from the OFW model.
Graphical Abstract
Nitrogen transformation during fermentation in agricultural biogas plants
Authors: Wilińska-Lisowska A. , Roubinek O. , Chmielwski R. , Czerwionka K. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to determine changes in the organic nitrogen fraction in the liquid fraction of the digestate during laboratory tests of mono- and co-digestion. Three agricultural wastes were tested: distillery residue, cattle slurry and corn silage. In the mono-fermentation tests, the initial total nitrogen concentration depended on the feedstock used. As a result of the hydrolysis and ammonification of the organic matter contained in the feedstocks, there was an increase in ammonium nitrogen concentration after 28 days of fermentation. Analysis of organic nitrogen fractions showed that different organic nitrogen fractions predominated in each of the feedstocks. Four co-digestion tests were performed with 20% and 80% inoculum content and the combination of feedstocks used in the mono-fermentation. Proper evaluation of the transformation of nitrogen forms for the tests with 20 and 80% inoculum participation required the calculation of concentrations from the mass balance, taking into account the effect of changes taking place in the inoculum itself (control test). For these tests, the initial concentrations of nitrogen forms are similar to those found in the mono-fermentation tests. A greater increase in ammonium nitrogen concentrations was found for the test with 80% inoculum than in the test with 20% (for the same feedstock). An increase in the removal efficiency of the dissolved organic nitrogen fraction (DON), and an increase for the colloidal (CON) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) fractions after 28 days of co-digestion were observed. The trend of change was similar for 20% and 80% inoculum.