bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality Assurance at Mega Universities
Authors: Darojat Ojat , Li Wei 
Published: September 2022

AbstractWithin the community of distance and online education, quality and quality assurance have been one of the most talked and discussed areas. This is especially true within the context of mega open universities where policies are always designed to optimize the openness, flexibility, and accessibility of the system. Even though distance education had initially been associated with opening access to education, the quality of education has become more and more important in line with the advancement of technology use throughout the system. It is within this quality paradigm that quality assurance (QA) has become one of the key aspects in planning and managing open, distance, and digital education (ODDE). This paradigm has also brought many ODDE providers including the mega open universities to reformulate their visions, missions, and strategies to address quality issues more adequately (Belawati & Zuhairi, 2007). This chapter explores the implementation of quality assurance (QA) programs at two mega universities, Universitas Terbuka and Open University of China, which have developed QA system and implemented systematic QA programs consistently, resulting in their enhanced quality of learning over the years. The discussion will start with a general overview about the universities, followed by their internal QA systems and implementations. The two exemplary QA systems and practices would illustrate how mega open universities undertake the quality assurance programs to ensure continuous improvement as well as to develop quality cultures within the respective institutions.
NNLO+PS Monte Carlo simulation of photon pair production with MiNNLOPS
Authors: Gavardi Alessandro , Oleari Carlo , Re Emanuele 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
We present a NNLO QCD accurate event generator for direct photon pair production at hadron colliders, based on the MiNNLOPS formalism, within the Powheg Box Res framework. Despite the presence of the photons requires the use of isolation criteria, our generator is built such that no technical cuts are needed at any stage of the event generation. Therefore, our predictions can be used to simulate kinematic distributions with arbitrary fiducial cuts. Furthermore, we describe a few modifications of the MiNNLOPS formalism in order to allow for a setting of the renormalization and factorization scales more similar to that of a fixed-order computation, thus reducing the numerical impact of higher-order terms beyond the nominal accuracy. Finally, we show several phenomenological distributions of physical interest obtained by showering the generated events with Pythia8, and we compare them with the 13 TeV data from the ATLAS Collaboration.
Factorizing wormholes in a partially disorder-averaged SYK model
Authors: Goto Kanato , Suzuki Kenta , Ugajin Tomonori 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
In this paper, we introduce a “partially disorder-averaged” SYK model. This model has a real parameter that smoothly interpolates between the ordinary totally disorder-averaged SYK model and the totally fixed-coupling model. For the large N effective description, in addition to the usual bi-local collective fields, we also introduce a new additional set of local collective fields. These local fields can be understood as “half” of the bi-local collective fields, and in the totally fixed-coupling limit, they represent the “half-wormholes” which were found in recent studies. We find that the large N saddles of these local fields vanish in the total-disorder-averaged limit, while they develop nontrivial profiles as we gradually fix the coupling constants. We argue that the bulk picture of these local collective fields represents a correlation between a spacetime brane and the asymptotic AdS boundary. This illuminates how the half-wormhole saddles emerge in the SYK model with fixed couplings.
Quantitative Bounds Versus Existence of Weakly Coupled Bound States for Schrödinger Type Operators
Authors: Hoang Vu , Hundertmark Dirk , Richter Johanna , Vugalter Semjon 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIt is well-known that for usual Schrödinger operators weakly coupled bound states exist in dimensions one and two, whereas in higher dimensions the famous Cwikel–Lieb–Rozenblum bound holds. We show for a large class of Schrödinger-type operators with general kinetic energies that these two phenomena are complementary. We explicitly get a natural semi-classical type bound on the number of bound states precisely in the situation when weakly coupled bound states exist not.
On Groups Factorized by Mutually Permutable Subgroups
Authors: Ferrara Maria , Trombetti Marco 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to provide a large extension of the recent results of de Giovanni and Ialenti (Commun Algebra 44:118–124, 2016), strengthening at the same time their conclusions. Our second main theorem is actually a complete generalization of a result obtained in the finite case by Beidleman and Heineken (Arch Math (Basel) 85:18–30, 2005) to periodic linear groups.
Age and synovitis affect the results of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with Microfragmented Autologous Fat Tissue
Authors: Ferracini R. , Alessio-Mazzola M. , Sonzogni B. , Stambazzi C. , Ursino C. , Roato I. , Mussano F. , Bistolfi A. , Furlan S. , Godio L. , Alotto D. , Formica M. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of Microfragmented Autologous Fat Tissue (MFAT) treatment for knee osteoarthritis and to investigate whether patients’ pre-treatment clinical condition, such as synovitis, correlates with clinical outcomes, to identify potential predicting factors for the success or failure of the treatment.

Methods
In this prospective Cohort Study Level II multicentric trial, consecutive patients with a diagnosis of early/mild osteoarthritis and failure of previous conservative measures were enrolled to undergo diagnostic arthroscopy and a single MFAT injection. Patients were assessed with repeated scoring systems at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. The demographic features, the arthroscopic findings, the immunophenotype of injected tissue and the histologic examination of synovia of failed patients were analyzed.

Results
Data from 91 patients showed a significant improvement in Lysholm, WOMAC scores at 1-year follow-up (p < 0.001). A significant decrease in VAS score was observed, while a significant improvement of measured flexion angle was registered at 1 year (p < 0.001). No major complications were reported.
Age and synovitis were identified as significant factors influencing the clinical outcome (p < 0.05). Body mass index, previous or concomitant procedures, and specific cartilage defects had no influence. The mean number of injected adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells seem not to correlate with the clinical outcome.

Conclusion
MFAT is effective in reducing pain when used with a single dose injection in early/mild OA of the knee, without major complications. Age over 60 and synovitis may be predictive for persistent pain at one year and should be considered before indications.
Achilles tendon resting angle is able to detect deficits after an Achilles tendon rupture, but it is not a surrogate for direct measurements of tendon elongation, function or symptoms
Authors: Larsson Elin , Helander Katarina Nilsson , Falkheden Henning Lotta , Heiskanen Mervi , Carmont Michael R. , Grävare Silbernagel Karin , Brorsson Annelie 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate how the Achilles tendon resting angle (ATRA), an indirect measurement of tendon elongation, correlates with ultrasonography (US) measurements of the Achilles tendon length 6 and 12 months after an acute ATR and relates to other clinical outcome measurements such as heel-rise height, jumping ability and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs).

Methods
Patients were included following acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR). Achilles tendon length, ATRA, heel-rise height (HRH), drop countermovement jump (Drop CMJ) and PROMs (Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) and physical activity scale (PAS)) were evaluated 6 and 12 months after injury. Achilles tendon length was evaluated using US, while the ATRA was measured with a goniometer.

Results
Sixty patients (13 women, 47 men), mean (SD) age 43 (9) years, with an acute ATR undergoing either surgical (35%) or non-surgical (65%) treatment were evaluated. A negative correlation (r = − 0.356, p = 0.010) between relative ATRA and tendon elongation was seen at 12 months after ATR. There were also significant positive correlations at 6 and 12 months between relative ATRA and HRH (r = 0.330, p = 0.011 and r = 0.379, p = 0.004). There were no correlations between ATRA and ATRS or ATRA and Drop CMJ, at either 6 or 12 months after the injury.

Conclusion
In combination with other clinical evaluations such as HRH and US, ATRA could be a clinical tool for indirect measurements of tendon elongation. However, ATRA cannot be recommended as a direct surrogate for US for determining Achilles tendon length.

Level of evidence
III.
Mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty with the extension-first technique does not equally restore neutral knee alignment in all preoperative knee phenotypes
Authors: Hörlesberger Nina , Zinggl Carina , Smolle Maria Anna , Leitner Lukas , Lohberger Birgit , Leithner Andreas , Sadoghi Patrick 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine the change in the long leg axis according to the preoperative knee phenotype using the mechanically aligned extension-first technique in total knee arthroplasty. The hypothesis of this study was that the knee phenotype would have an impact on the postoperative leg axis.

Methods
This was a retrospective comparative study comprising 224 whole-leg radiographs of 112 patients. The leg axes of the pre- and postoperative radiographs were measured and categorized into three preoperative limb phenotypes (based on the hip-knee-ankle angle [HKA]) according to Hirschmann et al. (varus—HKA < 178.5°, neutral—HKA 178.5°–181.5°, and valgus—HKA > 181.5°). Additionally, femoral phenotypes (based on the femoral mechanical angle [FMA], i.e., the mechanical medial distal femoral angle [mMDFA], as well as the tibial phenotypes [based on the tibial mechanical angle, i.e., the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA)] was calculated. The change in the long leg axis was analyzed and compared with the preoperative limb phenotype.

Results
Significantly more patients with preoperative varus alignment shifted to neutral alignment (46.3%, n = 31) than did patients with preoperative valgus alignment (38.9%; n = 14). Moreover, 43.3% of patients (n = 29) with the varus phenotype remained in a varus alignment, compared with the 58.3% of patients with preoperative valgus phenotype (n = 21) remaining in valgus alignment. These findings were similar for both females (p < 0.001) and males (p = 0.015).

Conclusion
Using an extension-first mechanically aligned surgical technique, varus phenotypes predominantly result in neutral leg axes or remain varus, neutral phenotypes remain neutral, and valgus phenotypes remain valgus or change to neutral phenotypes. This study showed that preoperative knee phenotypes in valgus knees influence this technique more strongly than estimated in previous investigations, which is in line with modern alignment philosophies for TKA.

Level of evidence
Level IV, retrospective comparative study.
Effect of phytate on hypercalciuria secondary to bone resorption in patients with urinary stones: pilot study
Authors: Guimerà Jordi , Martínez Ana , Bauza Jose Luis , Sanchís Pilar , Pieras Enrique , Grases Felix 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe objective is to evaluate the effect of phytate supplements on calciuria in patients with urinary stones and elevated bone resorption. The secondary objective is to analyze the therapeutic effect of phytate based on measurements of serum markers of bone resorption. This is a controlled randomized study included patients according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and randomized them into two groups. Patients in the phytate group received a 380 mg capsule of calcium-magnesium InsP6 (Salvat Laboratories®) every 24 h for 3 months and patients in the control group received no treatment. All included patients were male or female, 18–65 years old, had hypercalciuria (> 250 mg/24 h), had a ß-Crosslaps level greater than 0.4 ng/mL, and had bone densitometry results indicative of osteopenia or osteoporosis in the femur and/or spine. At study onset, calciuria was 321 ± 52 mg/24 h in the phytate group and 305 ± 57 mg/24 h in the control group (p > 0.05). At 3 months, calciuria was significantly lower in the phytate group than the control group (226 ± 45 mg/24 h vs. 304 ± 58 mg/24 h, p < 0.05). At study onset, the mean ß-CrossLaps level was 1.25 ± 0.72 ng/mL in the phytate group and 0.57 ± 0.13 ng/mL in the control group (p < 0.05). However, at 3 months, the ß-CrossLaps level was significantly lower in the phytate group than in the control group (0.57 ± 0.13 ng/mL vs. 0.77 ± 0.42 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Phytate reduced calciuria in patients with hypercalciuria secondary to bone resorption. The ß-CrossLaps assay was effective for evaluating the efficacy of phytate on hypercalciuria during follow-up.
Comparison of physician and artificial intelligence-based symptom checker diagnostic accuracy
Authors: Gräf Markus , Knitza Johannes , Leipe Jan , Krusche Martin , Welcker Martin , Kuhn Sebastian , Mucke Johanna , Hueber Axel J. , Hornig Johannes , Klemm Philipp , Kleinert Stefan , Aries Peer , Vuillerme Nicolas , Simon David , Kleyer Arnd , Schett Georg , Callhoff Johanna 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSymptom checkers are increasingly used to assess new symptoms and navigate the health care system. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based symptom checker (Ada) and physicians regarding the presence/absence of an inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD). In this survey study, German-speaking physicians with prior rheumatology working experience were asked to determine IRD presence/absence and suggest diagnoses for 20 different real-world patient vignettes, which included only basic health and symptom-related medical history. IRD detection rate and suggested diagnoses of participants and Ada were compared to the gold standard, the final rheumatologists’ diagnosis, reported on the discharge summary report. A total of 132 vignettes were completed by 33 physicians (mean rheumatology working experience 8.8 (SD 7.1) years). Ada’s diagnostic accuracy (IRD) was significantly higher compared to physicians (70 vs 54%, p = 0.002) according to top diagnosis. Ada listed the correct diagnosis more often compared to physicians (54 vs 32%, p < 0.001) as top diagnosis as well as among the top 3 diagnoses (59 vs 42%, p < 0.001). Work experience was not related to suggesting the correct diagnosis or IRD status. Confined to basic health and symptom-related medical history, the diagnostic accuracy of physicians was lower compared to an AI-based symptom checker. These results highlight the potential of using symptom checkers early during the patient journey and importance of access to complete and sufficient patient information to establish a correct diagnosis.
Implementation in strong core by codes of rights
Authors: Lombardi Michele , Savva Foivos , Zivanas Nikolas 
Published: September 2022

AbstractFollowing the seminal contribution of Koray and Yildiz (J Econ Theory 176:479–502, 2018), we re-examine the classical questions of implementation theory under complete information in a setting where coalitions are fundamental behavioral units, and the outcomes of their interactions are predicted by applying the solution concept of the strong core. The planner’s exercise includes designing a code of rights that specifies the collection of coalitions having the right to block one outcome by moving to another. We provide a complete characterization of the implementable social choice rules.
Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon as biomarkers of a vegan diet
Authors: Dierkes Jutta , Dietrich Stefan , Abraham Klaus , Monien Bernhard H. , McCann Adrian , Borgå Katrine , Weikert Cornelia 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Dietary biomarkers can potentially overcome the limitations of self-reported dietary data. While in ecology and archaeology, stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen are widely used as biomarkers, this is not the case in nutrition research. Since the abundance of the 13C and the 15N isotope differ in food sources from plant and animal origin, stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) may differ in human biological material. Here, we investigated the stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon in serum and urine from vegans and omnivores.

Method
Measurement of δ15N and δ13C in serum and 24 h urine was performed by Elemental Analyzer–Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer in the cross-sectional study “Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet”. The study included 36 vegans and 36 omnivores with a median age of 37.5 years (matched for age and sex), who adhered to their diet for at least 1 year.

Results
Both δ15N and δ13C were significantly lower in both the serum and 24 h urine of vegans compared to omnivores. δ15N either in serum or urine had 100% specificity and sensitivity to discriminate between vegans and omnivores. Specificity of δ13C was also > 90%, while sensitivity was 93% in serum and 77% in urine.

Conclusion
δ15N both in serum and urine was able to accurately identify vegans and thus appears to be a promising marker for dietary habits.
Neural Correlates of Oral Stereognosis—An fMRI Study
Authors: Schumann-Werner Beate , Schaefer Sinika , Schramm Silja , Patel Harshal Jayeshkumar , Binkofski Ferdinand Christoph , Werner Cornelius Johannes 
Published: September 2022

AbstractOral stereognosis is the ability to recognize, discriminate and localize a bolus in the oral cavity. Clinical observation indicates deficits in oral stereognosis in patients with vascular or neurodegenerative diseases particularly affecting the parietal lobes. However, the precise neural representation of oral stereognosis remains unclear whereas the neural network of manual stereognosis has already been identified. We hypothesize that oral and manual stereognosis share common neuronal substrates whilst also showing somatotopic distribution. Functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI; Siemens Prisma 3 T) from 20 healthy right-handed participants (11 female; mean age 25.7 years) using a cross-modal task of oral and manual spatial object manipulation were acquired. Data were analyzed using FSL software using a block design and standard analytical and statistical procedures. A conjunction analysis targeted the common neuronal substrate for stereognosis. Activations associated with manual and oral stereognosis were found in partially overlapping fronto-parietal networks in a somatotopic fashion, where oral stereognosis is located caudally from manual stereognosis. A significant overlap was seen in the left anterior intraparietal sulcus. Additionally, cerebellar activations were shown particularly for the oral condition. Spatial arrangement of shaped boli in the oral cavity is associated with neuronal activity in fronto-parietal networks and the cerebellum. These findings have significant implications for clinical diagnostics and management of patients with lesions or atrophy in parietal lobule (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, stroke). More studies are required to investigate the clinical effect of damage to these areas, such as loss of oral stereognosis or an impaired oral phase.
Predictive risk factors of phenoconversion in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder: the Italian study “FARPRESTO”
Authors: Puligheddu Monica , Figorilli Michela , Antelmi Elena , Arnaldi Dario , Casaglia Elisa , d’Aloja Ernesto , Ferini-Strambi Luigi , Ferri Raffaele , Gigli Gian Luigi , Ingravallo Francesca , Maestri Michelangelo , Terzaghi Michele , Plazzi Giuseppe ,   and the FARPRESTO Consortium
Published: September 2022

AbstractMost patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) will develop an overt α-synucleinopathy over time, with a rate of phenoconversion of 73.5% after 12 years from diagnosis. Several markers of phenoconversion were identified; however, most studies investigated biomarkers separately, with retrospective study designs, in small cohorts or without standardized data collection methods. The risk FActoRs PREdictive of phenoconversion in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder: the Italian STudy (FARPRESTO) is a multicentric longitudinal retrospective and prospective study with a cohort of incident (prospective recruitment) and prevalent (retrospective recruitment) iRBD patients, whose primary aim is to stratify the risk of phenoconversion, through the systematic collection by means of electronic case report forms of different biomarkers. Secondary aims are to (1) describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with iRBD; (2) collect longitudinal data about the development of α-synucleinopathies; (3) monitor the impact of iRBD on quality of life and sleep quality; (4) assess the correlation between phenoconversion, cognitive performance, and loss of normal muscle atony during REM sleep; (5) identify RBD phenotypes through evaluating clinical, biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, and imaging biomarkers; and (6) validate vPSG criteria for RBD diagnosis. The FARPRESTO study will collect a large and harmonized dataset, assessing the role of different biomarkers providing a unique opportunity for a holistic, multidimensional, and personalized approach to iRBD, with several possible application and impact at different levels, from basic to clinical research, and from prevention to management. The FARPRESTO has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05262543).
Evolution of the conceptualization of hydrogen through knowledge maps, energy return on investment (EROI) and national policy strategies
Authors: Guevara-Ramírez Willmer , Martínez-de-Alegría Itziar , Río-Belver Rosa María 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn order to address Climate Change and energy dependency challenges, hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a promising energy carrier. Studies related to its production have conceptualized it as green (GH2), clean, renewable (RH2), ecological, and sustainable (SH2). The aim of this research is to deepen the understanding of the GH2 concept and to state boundaries between different terms. To reach this objective, a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in SCOPUS is launched. Also, in order to assess the potential of renewable energy sources (RES) for GH2 production, a review of the meta-analysis literature on the Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROI) ratio as regards these RES is performed. Additionally, an analysis of main national strategies on GH2 is launched. Results indicate that the GH2 concept is gaining remarkable relevance, while the keyword maps show no significant differences between SH2, RH2 and GH2. EROI reveals low average values for the different biomass energy production processes. For their part, GH2 national strategies focus mainly on solar and wind technologies, albeit leaving the door open to biomass, where EROI could become an adequate metric to guide these strategies towards a low carbon energy path. Although the role of biomass may become fundamental in this energy transition process, given its low EROI values and considering that it is not a totally clean RES, it should be indexed as RH2, but not always as GH2. Finally, a proposal that guides a more appropriate use of the term GH2 is made.
Graphical abstract