bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deprescribing in cardiometabolic conditions in older patients: a systematic review
Authors: Hickman Elizabeth , Seawoodharry Mansha , Gillies Clare , Khunti Kamlesh , Seidu Samuel 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWe conduct a systematic review to investigate current deprescribing practices and evaluate outcomes and adverse events with deprescribing of preventive medications in older patients with either an end-of-life designation or residing in long-term care facilities with cardiometabolic conditions. Studies were identified using a literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov.uk, CINAHLS, and the Cochrane Register from inception to March 2022. Studies reviewed included observational studies and randomised control trials (RCTs). Data was extracted on baseline characteristics, deprescribing rates, adverse events and outcomes, and quality of life indicators, and was discussed using a narrative approach. Thirteen studies were identified for inclusion. Deprescribing approaches included complete withdrawal, dose reduction or tapering, or switching to an alternative medication, for at least one preventive medication. Deprescribing success rates ranged from 27 to 94.7%. The studies reported no significant changes in laboratory values or adverse outcomes but did find mixed outcomes for hospitalisations and a slight increase in mortality rates when comparing the intervention and control groups. Lack of good-quality randomised control trials suggests that deprescribing in the older population residing in long-term care facilities with cardiometabolic conditions and multimorbidity is feasible when controlled and regularly monitored by an appropriate healthcare clinician, and that the benefits outweigh the potential harm in this cohort of patients. Due to the limited evidence and the heterogeneity of studies, a meta-analysis was not performed and as such further research is required to assess the benefits of deprescribing in this patient population. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42021291061.
Particle size effects on the axial pull-out and push-in behaviour of roots
Authors: Zhang Xingyu , Ciantia Matteo Oryem , Knappett Jonathan Adam , Leung Anthony Kwan , Liang Teng 
Published: July 2023

AbstractFor smaller plant roots in coarse-grained soils, large relative size of soil particles compared to roots can affect their axial resistance. Even for the larger roots of trees, particle size effects may be important, e.g. when testing 1:N scale models of tree uprooting in a geotechnical centrifuge. In this study the distinct element method (DEM) was used to investigate this problem. The sinker root of a centrifuge model tree root system under axial loading was analysed, with its simulated behaviour compared with finite element method (FEM) simulations, where the soil was modelled as a continuum and hence did not incorporate particle size effects. Both were validated against laboratory tests. Considering the same prototype size and soil particle size distribution, different scale factors/g-levels were applied to model roots, hence varying the ratio of root diameter ($${d}_{\rm r}$$

d
r

) to mean particle size ($${D}_{50}$$

D
50

). Even at the lower $${d}_{\rm r}/{D}_{50}$$

d
r

/

D
50

values investigated (6–21), particle size effects on end-bearing capacity were negligible upon push-in of the root. In contrast, effects on shaft resistance (for pull-out) were significant and were interpreted by a simplified analytical model developed in this study using a combination of cavity expansion and root-particle size ratio. The absolute size of the root analogues considered was also representative of small diameter roots present in other plant species at 1:1 scale, making the analytical model also applicable to crop-lodging problems and for defining input parameters for analyses of nature-based solutions (NBS) using vegetation (e.g. for slope stabilisation).
Social Milieus and Social Integration. From Theoretical Considerations to an Empirical Model
Authors: Groh-Samberg Olaf , Schröder Tim , Speer Anne 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCurrent debates on threats to social integration in times of multiple crises call for a better understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic inequality and sociocultural value conflicts. The aim of this article is to (re)introduce the concept of social milieus as a promising approach to capture the complexity of this relationship at the group level. We offer a theoretical extension of the concept of social milieus, which has so far been limited to the German discourse, by linking it to the international debate on sociocultural “cleavages” and cultural value conflicts. Social milieus are defined as large latent groups with similar socioeconomic positions and cultural values. Accordingly, they develop milieu-specific forms of social integration in potentially conflictual demarcation from other milieus. This conceptualization offers a theoretical framework for analyzing social integration from the perspective of social groups in terms of social integration within social milieus and relationships between milieus. In order to illustrate the capabilities of this theoretical approach, we develop a first empirical model of social milieus in Germany based on a Latent Class Analysis of socioeconomic indicators and Schwartz’ basic human values. With this theoretical concept and empirical model, we put social milieus on the international research agenda for the analysis of social integration within and between social groups.
Unemployment and Social Integration: Analysing the Impact of Financial Strain, Social Roles, and Identity
Authors: Giustozzi Carlotta 
Published: July 2023

AbstractRelations to family and friends are a key dimension of an individual’s social integration and, by extension, are crucial for the social cohesion of societies. Based on that principle, this study explores the effects of unemployment on close personal relations and asks whether negative effects of unemployment are primarily explicable as financial losses or social aspects of identity. This analytical approach goes beyond analysing the direct effects of unemployment through differentiating effects by gender, household composition, and individual work and family values. In doing so, it examines the channels through which unemployment has the potential to erode social relations.Individual fixed effects models based on German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) data from 1990 to 2017 reveal that financial strain fails to explain the effects of unemployment on social relations. However, the results suggest that social identity is influential in shaping unemployment effects. Although men see a reduction in their personal relations when experiencing unemployment, women’s unemployment experiences do not affect the frequency of their social interactions. Moreover, the fact that unemployment leads to a reduction of men’s social contacts, particularly among those living with children, points to potential difficulties in performing the social role of the family provider. Finally, placing high importance on having children, partnership and caring for others mitigates negative unemployment effects for men.
Barriers to Implementing the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative End-Stage Kidney Disease Life Plan Guideline
Authors: Keller Michelle S. , Mavilian Christine , Altom Keaton L. , Erickson Kevin F. , Drudi Laura M. , Woo Karen 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Objective
The updated 2019 National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative vascular access guidelines recommend patient-centered, multi-disciplinary construction and regular update of an individualized end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) Life-Plan (LP) for each patient, a dramatic shift from previous recommendations and policy. The objective of this study was to examine barriers and facilitators to implementing the LP among key stakeholders.

Methods
Semi-structured individual interviews were analyzed using inductive and deductive coding. Codes were mapped to relevant domains in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Results
We interviewed 34 participants: 11 patients with end-stage kidney disease, 2 care partners, and 21 clinicians who care for patients with end-stage kidney disease. In both the clinician and the patient/care partner categories, saturation (where no new themes were identified) was reached at 8 participants. We identified significant barriers and facilitators to implementation of the ESKD LP across three CFIR domains: Innovation, Outer setting, and Inner setting. Regarding the Innovation domain, patients and care partners valued the concept of shared decision-making with their care team (CFIR construct: innovation design). However, both clinicians and patients had significant concerns about the complexity of decision-making around kidney substitutes and the ability of patients to digest the overwhelming amount of information needed to effectively participate in creating the LP (innovation complexity). Clinicians expressed concerns regarding the lack of existing evidence base which limits their ability to effectively counsel patients (innovation evidence base) and the implementation costs (innovation cost). Within the Outer Setting, both clinicians and patients were concerned about performance measurement pressure under the existing “Fistula First” policies and had concerns about reimbursement (financing). In the Inner Setting, clinicians and patients stressed the lack of available resources and access to knowledge and information.

Conclusion
Given the complexity of decision-making around kidney substitutes and vascular access, our findings point to the need for implementation strategies, infrastructure development, and policy change to facilitate ESKD LP development.
Effect of graphene coatings on the morphology of submillimeter thin copper wires after salt spray aging
Authors: Lis Krzysztof , Placek Krzysztof , Diplas Spyros , Sunding Martin F. , Gorantla Sandeep M. , Gryglewicz Grażyna , Bachmatiuk Alicja 
Published: July 2023

AbstractUnprotected copper conductors are prone to oxidation and corrosion, especially when in contact with salt water or at high temperature. In this study, we compared commercially available coating with graphene oxide and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) graphene coated wires in terms of antioxidation and anticorrosion protection. Samples were subjected to aging tests in a salt spray chamber. Thereafter, both the degree of coverage and surface protection were assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements and scanning electron microscope images, which showed significant surface protection for both graphene coatings. Raman spectra obtained from the transferred coatings revealed their structural stability, which shows that it is possible to successfully use few atomic-layers-thick coatings to protect commercially available wires. Wire resistance tests performed at temperatures up to 320°C showed similar or better results for graphene coatings than for commercially coated wires. Additionally, images of the wires after high temperature tests showed high antioxidation protection for graphene coatings, especially for PECVD. The results of this study can be applied for further research on mechanical suitability of the coatings and wires themselves, especially after high-temperature CVD processes. Such studies may lead to novel Cu wire processing technologies.
Graphical abstract
Exploring the Relationship Between Faculty Mentor Engagement and African American STEM Persistence
Authors: Harris Pheather R. , Nagle Barry 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis quantitative study explores factors associated with the persistence rates of African American students aspiring to major in STEM subjects and who ultimately complete undergraduate STEM degrees. The primary data source for this study is the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s 2009 The Freshman Survey (TFS) and the 2013 College Senior Survey (CSS). The sample included 379 African American students who indicated on TFS that they intended to declare STEM as their major. The findings reveal that African American undergraduates are significantly more likely to persist in STEM majors with increased levels of faculty mentor engagement. The findings demonstrate the need for institutions to implement curricula that encourage meaningful faculty engagement to contribute to the creation of more inclusive academic environments for African American students in STEM.
The effect of surface geometry on the aerodynamic behaviour of a football
Authors: Ward M. , Passmore M. A. , Spencer A. , Hanson H. , Lucas T. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractSeveral studies have investigated the effect of surface features on the aerodynamic behaviour of a sphere or a football. Research on footballs typically compare real footballs with highly complex seam geometry and surface texture, making it difficult to identify which features influence the aerodynamic behaviour. This study commissioned many 3D printed footballs with regularly increasing seam length and surface texture to undertake a designed experiment to study these changes in a controlled fashion. Each ball was tested in a wind tunnel in non-spinning cases, or spinning about a vertical axis, at a range of speeds and key aerodynamic parameters were extracted from the data. Several methods were employed to characterise the roughness of each ball, and these roughness metrics were statistically tested for correlations with selected aerodynamic parameters. Using these relationships provides design guidance to football manufacturers to understand how modifying their surface geometry would influence the ball’s aerodynamic behaviour. In general, increasing the volume of roughness of the ball, measured as the change in volume of the ball introduced through seams or texture compared to a smooth sphere, decreased the critical Reynolds number. Balls with larger texture elements, particularly those with protrusive texture, had a much lower critical Reynolds number than other balls with the same absolute volumes of roughness. The post-critical drag coefficient did not significantly correlate with any of the roughness features of the balls. In a spinning case, the balls with high roughness generated a higher side force, this relationship plateaued at a certain level of roughness. The reverse Magnus behaviour changed significantly with the surface roughness; as the overall roughness volume of the ball increased, the Reynolds number at which the reverse Magnus changed to a conventional Magnus effect decreased. The large protrusive texture elements were effective at preventing a reverse Magnus effect from occurring at all in the tested Reynolds number range.
Expressive Responding, Experimental Philosophy, and Philosophical Expertise
Authors: Glackin Shane Nicholas 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe Experimental Philosophy (“X-Phi”) movement applies the methodology of empirical sciences – most commonly empirical psychology – to traditional philosophical questions. In its radical, “negative” form, X-Phi uses the resulting empirical data to cast doubt on the reliability of common philosophical methods, arguing for radical reform of philosophical methodology.In this paper I develop two connected methodological worries about this second enterprise. The first concerns the data elicited by questionnaires and other empirical survey methods; recent work in political science suggests that such surveys frequently do not elicit the participants’ candid judgements, but rather their expressions of certain attitudes and identifications. This possibility stymies the arguments from experimental data to a radical overhaul of philosophical methodology. The second builds on recent work by L.A. Paul and Kieran Healy concerning social science methodology, applying it to the use of those methods in X-Phi. It concerns experimental design where the treatment investigated is a “transformative” one; since a philosophical education is plausibly one such treatment, doubt is cast on any claim that apparent differences between the judgements of philosophers and ordinary folk has implications for philosophical methodology.
A geometric construction of isospectral magnetic graphs
Authors: Fabila-Carrasco John Stewart , Lledó Fernando , Post Olaf 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWe present a geometrical construction of families of finite isospectral graphs labelled by different partitions of a natural number r of given length s (the number of summands). Isospectrality here refers to the discrete magnetic Laplacian with normalised weights (including standard weights). The construction begins with an arbitrary finite graph $${\varvec{G}}$$

G

with normalised weight and magnetic potential as a building block from which we construct, in a first step, a family of so-called frame graphs $$({\varvec{F}}_a)_{a \in {\mathbb {N}}}$$

(

F

a

)

a
∈
N

. A frame graph $${\varvec{F}}_a$$

F

a

is constructed contracting a copies of G along a subset of vertices $$V_0$$

V
0

. In a second step, for any partition $$A=(a_1,\dots ,a_s)$$

A
=
(

a
1

,
⋯
,

a
s

)

of length s of a natural number r (i.e., $$r=a_1+\dots +a_s$$

r
=

a
1

+
⋯
+

a
s

) we construct a new graph $${\varvec{F}}_A$$

F

A

contracting now the frames $${\varvec{F}}_{a_1},\dots ,{\varvec{F}}_{a_s}$$

F

a
1

,
⋯
,

F

a
s

selected by A along a proper subset of vertices $$V_1\subset V_0$$

V
1

⊂

V
0

. All the graphs obtained by different s-partitions of $$r\ge 4$$

r
≥
4

(for any choice of $$V_0$$

V
0

and $$V_1$$

V
1

) are isospectral and non-isomorphic. In particular, we obtain increasing finite families of graphs which are isospectral for given r and s for different types of magnetic Laplacians including the standard Laplacian, the signless standard Laplacian, certain kinds of signed Laplacians and, also, for the (unbounded) Kirchhoff Laplacian of the underlying equilateral metric graph. The spectrum of the isospectral graphs is determined by the spectrum of the Laplacian of the building block G and the spectrum for the Laplacian with Dirichlet conditions on the set of vertices $$V_0$$

V
0

and $$V_1$$

V
1

with multiplicities determined by the numbers r and s of the partition.
Exploring spherical units as perceptual clues in enumerating 3D arrays
Authors: Alstad Edgar , Berre Maren , Nilsson Per 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis study continues an investigation of how spherical units, compared to cubical units, can facilitate students’ units-locating and organizing units in composites. We analyze how Norwegian grade 3 students enumerate 3D arrays with cubical and spherical units. Our results show how spherical units can act as perceptual clues that facilitate cognitive processes, underlying students’ strategies in the enumeration of 3D arrays. In particular, the results show how spherical units facilitate the units-locating process, which, in turn, supports processes of organizing-by-composites and spatial structuring of the array, in the action of developing a proper iterative strategy such as layer-based thinking.
An evaluation of maritime simulators from technical, instructional, and organizational perspectives: a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach
Authors: Tusher Hasan Mahbub , Munim Ziaul Haque , Nazir Salman 
Published: July 2023

AbstractRecent advancements in simulation technology facilitated maritime training in various modalities such as full-mission, desktop-based, cloud-based, and virtual reality (VR) simulators. Each of the simulator modality has unique pros and cons considering their technical capabilities, pedagogical opportunities, and different organizational aspects. On the other hand, enhanced training opportunity and diversity of training depends on the proper utilization of simulators. In this context, the absence of an unbiased, transparent, and robust simulator selection process poses a complex decision-making challenge for the maritime instructors and decision-makers at the institutions. In this study, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach is proposed to evaluate four major types of simulator modalities. For the evaluation, a MCDM framework is developed based on 13 key factors (sub-criteria) for simulator selection grouped under three higher-level criteria—technical, instructional, and organizational criteria. Data was collected using a structured best-worst method (BWM) survey from subject matter experts. The Bayesian BWM is used for ranking of the 13 sub-criteria, and the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) is used to evaluate the four simulator modalities utilizing sub-criteria ranking scores from Bayesian BWM. The results reveal that the regulatory compliance of simulators is the most important criterion, while the cost of simulators is considered the least important criterion during the simulator selection process. Overall, full-mission simulators are the most preferred followed by VR simulators, cloud-based and desktop simulators. However, a sensitivity analysis demonstrated context-specific preferences for certain simulator types over others.
A macroeconomic viewpoint using a structural VAR analysis of silver price behaviour
Authors: Robinson Z. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis article investigates silver price as a fluctuating commodity price since the financial crisis of 2007–2009. In this regard, a structural vector autoregression (VAR) was applied to observe the sensitivity of the silver price and future pricing due to changes in macroeconomic variables and to review changes in macroeconomic variables due to changes in the silver price. The main results show that the silver price is susceptible to changes in the gold price, increasing sideways. A shock to OECD GDP caused the silver price to increase which makes logical sense, thus showing a positive correlation between output and the silver price. A shock to the oil price caused the silver price to spike over the short term, then move sideways over the long term. A shock to the US Federal funds rate caused the silver price to dip over the short term, then increase slightly over the medium and move sideways over the long term, while a shock to the real effective exchange rate of the USA caused the silver price to increase sideways. The article sheds some light on the reactive status of the silver price to macroeconomic variables and its influence as a safe haven commodity.
Dermatological differential diagnoses in pet owners
Authors: Currie Antonia , Altrichter Sabine , Hötzenecker Wolfram 
Published: July 2023

SummaryPets are popular and are kept all over the world. In addition to the many positive psychosocial and physical effects, there are unfortunately, in addition to possible allergic reactions to animals, numerous diseases that can be transmitted from pets and farm animals to their owners that can negatively affect their health. These so-called zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. The pathogens include bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses. Transmission of zoonotic pathogens can occur wherever there is contact with or consumption of animals or animal products. This can occur in connection with domesticated animals, in trade, in hunting, or in research. Zoonoses can also be of importance as an occupational disease in the field of livestock farming. Due to the close relationship between humans and animals, zoonotic diseases are a global public health problem that should not be underestimated. This article discusses some more common zoonoses of the skin that can be caused by pets.