bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Occupational exposure to particles and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease—during work and after vacation
Authors: Grahn Karin , Broberg Karin , Gustavsson Per , Ljungman Petter , Lindfors Petra , Sjöström Mattias , Wiebert Pernilla , Selander Jenny 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Objective
Ambient particle matter is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little is known about associations between particles in occupational settings and risk of CVD. We investigated associations between occupational dust exposure and biomarkers of CVD, and potential recovery effects after vacation.

Methods
Personal dust exposure measurements (respirable silica, respirable dust < 4 µm, and particles of 0.1–10 µm (PM 0.1–10) were conducted once, and biological sampling were performed twice on non-smoking, male construction workers in Stockholm county, Sweden; during work and immediately after summer vacation. Linear regressions with adjustments for confounders and covariates were performed evaluating associations between occupational dust exposure and biomarkers. Paired t tests were performed evaluating changes before and after vacation.

Results
Sixty-five workers participated. Homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher with increasing concentrations (mg/m3) of respirable silica, respirable dust, and PM 0.1–10, and pulse rate with higher levels of respirable dust and dust of PM 0.1–10. Homocysteine levels were also positively correlated to number of years of dust exposure, as were low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. A clear recovery effect was present for LDL after vacation, but not for homocysteine.

Conclusions
Occupational dust exposure was associated with some CVD risk markers, even at mean exposure concentrations below the Swedish occupational exposure limits for respirable silica and respirable dust, respectively. Vacation resulted in recovery for some risk markers. However, the change of the homocysteine and LDL levels suggest a long-term effect. Reduction of occupational exposure to dust may decrease the risk of CVD among exposed workers.
Nurses’ knowledge of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and its management: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Al Qadire Mohammad , Ballad Cherry Ann C. , Aljezawi Ma’en , Al Omari Omar , Alaloul Fawwaz , Musa Ahmad , Al Sabei Sulaiman , Khalaf Atika 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.

Objective
This study aims to assess nurses’ level of knowledge of CIN and its association with socio-demographic factors.

Methods
A cross-sectional survey design was used. Results: Participants had a mean age of 34.1 years (SD = 7.1 years) and were predominantly female (78%) and with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (95.6%). The nurses had a moderate level of knowledge about neutropenia and its management (mean total score 16.3 out of 30, SD = 3.7). Those who had a post-graduate degree (P = .048), had received an oncology educational course (P = .011), had attended a course on neutropenia (P = .007), who were working in an oncology unit (P = .002), and had more oncology experience (P = 001) were more likely to have a higher level of knowledge of CIN and its management compared to their other counterparts.

Conclusion
Based on the findings of a moderate level of knowledge of CIN among nurses, the findings call for the need for further education and training. As a long-term plan, this might be accomplished by encouraging nurses to pursue post-graduate education or oncology-specialized certification and supporting them with scholarship grants. However, deliberate plans for short courses, training and workshops on oncology or CIN are other choices with a more immediate impact on nurses’ knowledge and clinical practice. Finally, integrating oncology nursing education within nursing curricula is urgently needed.
The sum of its parts: Analysis of federated byzantine agreement systems
Authors: Florian Martin , Henningsen Sebastian , Ndolo Charmaine , Scheuermann Björn 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFederated Byzantine Agreement Systems (FBASs) are a fascinating new paradigm in the context of consensus protocols. Originally proposed for powering the Stellar payment network, FBASs can instantiate Byzantine quorum systems without requiring out-of-band agreement on a common set of validators; every node is free to decide for itself with whom it requires agreement. Sybil-resistant and yet energy-efficient consensus protocols can therefore be built upon FBASs, and the “decentrality” possible with the FBAS paradigm might be sufficient to reduce the use of environmentally unsustainable proof-of-work protocols. In this paper, we first demonstrate how the robustness of individual FBASs can be determined, by precisely determining their safety and liveness buffers and therefore enabling a comparison with threshold-based quorum systems. Using simulations and example node configuration strategies, we then empirically investigate the hypothesis that while FBASs can be bootstrapped in a bottom-up fashion from individual preferences, strategic considerations should additionally be applied by node operators in order to arrive at FBASs that are robust and amenable to monitoring. Finally, we investigate the reported “open-membership” property of FBASs. We observe that an often small group of nodes is exclusively relevant for determining liveness buffers and prove that membership in this top tier is conditional on the approval by current top tier nodes if maintaining safety is a core requirement.
Spezifische Aspekte der therapeutischen Haltung bei Patient*innen mit Krebserkrankungen
Authors: Karger André 
Published: July 2022

ZusammenfassungAnhand zweier Fallberichte (Yalom, Norton) über Erfahrungen im Umgang mit Patient*innen, die an Krebs in fortgeschrittenem Stadium erkrankt sind, wird der Unterschied zweier Prozessmomente der psychoonkologischen Arbeit herausgestellt: das supportive Behandeln, welches die Patient*innen in der ressourcenorientierten Bewältigung unterstützt, und das beziehungsorientierte Begleiten, welches eine mutuelle regressive Beziehung ermöglicht und mit dieser arbeitet. Diese Art der Beziehung soll vor allem Angst vor Objektverlust mindern und geht mit besonderen therapeutischen Herausforderungen (und Anforderungen) einher. Diese Herausforderungen benötigen unbedingt mehr Aufmerksamkeit in der psychotherapeutischen Aus- und Weiterbildung und Supervision.
Thirty-second sit-to-stand test as an alternative for estimating peak oxygen uptake and 6-min walking distance in women with breast cancer: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Díaz-Balboa Estíbaliz , González-Salvado Violeta , Rodríguez-Romero Beatriz , Martínez-Monzonís Amparo , Pedreira-Pérez Milagros , Cuesta-Vargas Antonio I. , López-López Rafael , González-Juanatey José R. , Pena-Gil Carlos 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Purpose
To determine whether the 30-s sit-to-stand (30STS) test can be a valid tool for estimating and stratifying peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and 6-min walking distance (6MWD) in women with breast cancer.

Methods
This cross-sectional study uses data from the ONCORE randomized controlled trial, including 120 women aged 18–70 years with early-stage breast cancer under treatment with anthracycline and/or anti-HER2 antibodies. Participant characteristics were collected at baseline and pooled data from functional assessment (30STS test, relative and absolute VO2peak, and 6MWD) were collected at baseline and post-intervention (comprehensive cardio-oncology rehabilitation program vs. usual care). Bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to study the relationship between functional test variables.

Results
The number of repetitions in the 30STS test showed (i) a moderate correlation with relative VO2peak (ml/kg/min) (r = 0.419; p < 0.001; n = 126), (ii) a weak correlation with absolute VO2peak (ml/min) (r = 0.241; p = 0.008; n = 120), and (iii) a moderate correlation with the 6MWD (r = 0.440; p < 0.001; n = 85). The ONCORE equations obtained from the multivariate regression models allowed the estimation of VO2peak and 6MWD (r2 = 0.390; r2 = 0.261, respectively) based on the 30STS test, and its stratification into tertiles (low, moderate, and high).

Conclusion
The 30STS test was found to be a useful tool to estimate VO2peak and/or 6MWD in women with early-stage breast cancer. Its use may facilitate the assessment and stratification of functional capacity in this population for the implementation of therapeutic exercise programs if cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) or 6MWT are not available.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03964142. Registered on 28 May 2019. Retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03964142
Rigidity and almost rigidity of Sobolev inequalities on compact spaces with lower Ricci curvature bounds
Authors: Nobili Francesco , Violo Ivan Yuri 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWe prove that ifMis a closedn-dimensional Riemannian manifold,$$n \ge 3$$n≥3, with$$\mathrm{Ric}\ge n-1$$Ric≥n-1and for which the optimal constant in the critical Sobolev inequality equals the one of then-dimensional sphere$$\mathbb {S}^n$$Sn, thenMis isometric to$$\mathbb {S}^n$$Sn. An almost-rigidity result is also established, saying that if equality is almost achieved, thenMis close in the measure Gromov–Hausdorff sense to a spherical suspension. These statements are obtained in the$$\mathrm {RCD}$$RCD-setting of (possibly non-smooth) metric measure spaces satisfying synthetic lower Ricci curvature bounds. An independent result of our analysis is the characterization of the best constant in the Sobolev inequality on any compact$$\mathrm {CD}$$CDspace, extending to the non-smooth setting a classical result by Aubin. Our arguments are based on a new concentration compactness result for mGH-converging sequences of$$\mathrm {RCD}$$RCDspaces and on a Pólya–Szegő inequality of Euclidean-type in$$\mathrm {CD}$$CDspaces. As an application of the technical tools developed we prove both an existence result for the Yamabe equation and the continuity of the generalized Yamabe constant under measure Gromov–Hausdorff convergence, in the$$\mathrm {RCD}$$RCD-setting.
Stress transmission in entangled granular structures
Authors: Karapiperis K. , Monfared S. , Macedo R. Buarque de , Richardson S. , Andrade J. E. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
We study the transmission of compressive and tensile stresses, and the development of stress - induced anisotropy in entangled granular structures composed of nonconvex S-shaped hooks and staples. Utilizing discrete element simulations, we find that these systems exhibit fundamentally different behavior compared to standard convex particle systems, including the ability to entangle which contributes to a lower jamming packing fraction and facilitates the transmission of tensile stresses. We present direct evidence of tensile stress chains, and show that these chains are generally sparser, shorter and shorter-lived than the compressive chains found in convex particle packings. We finally study the probability distribution, angular density and anisotropic spatial correlation of the minor (compressive) and major (tensile) particle stresses. The insight gained for these systems can help the design of reconfigurable and recyclable granular structures capable of bearing considerable loads, without any need for reinforcement.

Graphical abstract
Micro-Raman spectroscopy study of blood samples from myocardial infarction patients
Authors: John Reena V. , Devasia Tom , N. Mithun , Lukose Jijo , Chidangil Santhosh 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAcute myocardial infarction (MI) is found to be a major causative factor for global mortality and morbidity. This situation demands necessity of developing efficient and rapid diagnostic tools to detect acute MI. Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive optical diagnostic technique, which has high potential in probing biochemical changes in clinical samples during initiation and progress of diseases. In this work, blood was taken as the sample to examine inflammation in acute MI patients using Raman spectroscopy. Ratio of Raman peak intensities that corresponds to phenylalanine (1000 cm−1) and tyrosine (825 cm−1) can facilitate indirect information about tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) availability, which can indicate inflammatory status in patients. This ratio obtained was higher for MI patients in comparison with control subjects. The decrease in phenylalanine and tyrosine ratio (Phe-Tyr ratio) is attributed to the prognosis of standard of care (medications like antiplatelets including aspirin, statin and revascularisation) leading to inflammation reduction. Phe-Tyr ratio estimated from the Raman spectra of blood can be exploited as a reliable method to probe inflammation due to MI. The method is highly objective, require only microliters of sample and minimal sample preparation, signifying its clinical utility.
Two dimensional neighborhoods of elliptic curves: analytic classification in the torsion case
Authors: Loray Frank , Touzet Frédéric , Voronin Sergei M. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWe investigate the analytic classification of two dimensional neighborhoods of an elliptic curve with torsion normal bundle. We provide the complete analytic classification for those neighborhoods in the simplest formal class and we indicate how to generalize this construction to general torsion case.
A state-of-the-art review on low-frequency nonlinear vibration isolation with electromagnetic mechanisms
Authors: Yan Bo , Yu Ning , Wu Chuanyu 
Published: July 2022

AbstractVibration isolation is one of the most efficient approaches to protecting host structures from harmful vibrations, especially in aerospace, mechanical, and architectural engineering, etc. Traditional linear vibration isolation is hard to meet the requirements of the loading capacity and isolation band simultaneously, which limits further engineering application, especially in the low-frequency range. In recent twenty years, the nonlinear vibration isolation technology has been widely investigated to broaden the vibration isolation band by exploiting beneficial nonlinearities. One of the most widely studied objects is the “three-spring” configured quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) vibration isolator, which can realize the negative stiffness and high-static-low-dynamic stiffness (HSLDS) characteristics. The nonlinear vibration isolation with QZS can overcome the drawbacks of the linear one to achieve a better broadband vibration isolation performance. Due to the characteristics of fast response, strong stroke, nonlinearities, easy control, and low-cost, the nonlinear vibration with electromagnetic mechanisms has attracted attention. In this review, we focus on the basic theory, design methodology, nonlinear damping mechanism, and active control of electromagnetic QZS vibration isolators. Furthermore, we provide perspectives for further studies with electromagnetic devices to realize high-efficiency vibration isolation.
Modeling, analysis, and simulation of X-shape quasi-zero-stiffness-roller vibration isolators
Authors: Mao Xiaoye , Yin Mengmeng , Ding Hu , Geng Xiaofeng , Shen Yongjun , Chen Liqun 
Published: July 2022

AbstractExisting quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) isolators are reviewed. In terms of their advantages, a novel X-shape QZS isolator combined with the cam-roller-spring mechanism (CRSM) is proposed. Different from the existing X-shape isolators, oblique springs are used to enhance the negative stiffness of the system. Meanwhile, the CRSM is used to eliminate the gravity of the loading mass, while the X-shape structure leaves its static position. The existing QZS isolators are demonstrated and classified according to their nonlinearity mechanisms and classical shapes. It is shown that the oblique spring can realize negative stiffness based on the simplest mechanism. The X-shape has a strong capacity of loading mass, while the CRSM can achieve a designed restoring force at any position. The proposed isolator combines all these advantages together. Based on the harmonic balance method (HBM) and the simulation, the displacement transmissibilities of the proposed isolator, the X-shape isolators just with oblique springs, and the X-shape isolators in the traditional form are studied. The results show that the proposed isolator has the lowest beginning isolation frequency and the smallest maximum displacement transmissibility. However, it still has some disadvantages similar to the existing QZS isolators. This means that its parameters should be designed carefully so as to avoid becoming a bistable system, in which there are two potential wells in the potential energy curve and thus the isolation performance will be worsened.
Working with Complexity in the Context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study of Global Health Partnerships
Authors: Karakulak Özgü , Stadtler Lea 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMulti-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) have become a major driver to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, managing MSPs is difficult because of the multiple complexities they involve. We seek to contribute to a better understanding of how MSPs cope with these complexities by exploring the MSP scope. In our study of four global health MSPs, we find that a function-oriented scope in terms of focusing on a single intervention helped filter the relevant external and internal complexities, whereas an issue-oriented scope focused on addressing the health issue with multiple interventions magnified the complexities. As a result, the latter MSPs became overwhelmed and self-absorbed, while the former MSPs managed to remain outward-looking and sustain their collaborative energy and support. On this basis, we identify three mechanisms through which the MSP scope either helped or hampered the ability to cope with complexity, and we discuss the theoretical and practical implications for MSPs addressing the SDGs.
Cartoon-texture evolution for two-region image segmentation
Authors: Antonelli Laura , De Simone Valentina , Viola Marco 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTwo-region image segmentation is the process of dividing an image into two regions of interest, i.e., the foreground and the background. To this aim, Chan et al. (SIAM J Appl Math 66(5):1632–1648, 2006) designed a model well suited for smooth images. One drawback of this model is that it may produce a bad segmentation when the image contains oscillatory components. Based on a cartoon-texture decomposition of the image to be segmented, we propose a new model that is able to produce an accurate segmentation of images also containing noise or oscillatory information like texture. The novel model leads to a non-smooth constrained optimization problem which we solve by means of the ADMM method. The convergence of the numerical scheme is also proved. Several experiments on smooth, noisy, and textural images show the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Video Game Use, Aggression, and Social Impairment in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Davis Konnor , Iosif Ana-Maria , Nordahl Christine Wu , Solomon Marjorie , Krug Marie K. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWe used parent report data to investigate video game playing, aggression, and social impairment in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Parents of autistic adolescents were more likely to report that their child plays video games as a hobby compared to parents of adolescents with typical development and also reported that their children spent more time playing video games. For autistic participants, we found no differences in aggression levels or social impairment when comparing players versus non-players. However, playing video games “more than average,” as compared to “average” was associated with greater aggression and greater social impairment on “awareness” and “mannerisms” subscales. Future studies should focus on how type of video game(s) played is associated with these clinically important variables.
A rhythm-aware serious game for social interaction
Authors: Carnovalini Filippo , Rodà Antonio , Caneva Paolo 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMaking music with others is both an artistic act and a social activity. Music therapists can leverage the social aspects of music to increase the well-being of their patients by interacting with them musically, improvising rhythms and melodies together on shared musical instruments. This activity requires highly trained professionals and is therefore expensive for the clients. We propose a serious game that can help people without musical training interact by collaboratively creating a rhythm using MIDI drum pads. The gaming system analyzes the rhythm in real-time and adds musical feedback that is synchronized to what the users play, enhancing the aesthetical experience that is crucial to the musical interaction and its therapeutic effects. We assessed our system through quantitative metrics showing its capability of following a user-established tempo. Test players also completed a questionnaire, which showed they found the experience pleasant and engaging, and that the musical augmentation was helpful to their interaction.
Ameliorating alkaline dispersive subsoils with organic amendments: Are productivity responses due to nutrition or improved soil structure?
Authors: Uddin Shihab , Williams Stephanie Watts , Aslam Naveed , Fang Yunying , Parvin Shahnaj , Rust Josh , Van Zwieten Lukas , Armstrong Roger , Tavakkoli Ehsan 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Background and aims
Alkaline dispersive subsoils are characterised by multiple physicochemical constraints that limit plant water and nutrient acquisition. Subsoil amelioration through organic amendments (OAs) requires significant financial investment. Whereas large yield responses can result following amelioration, sometimes small or even negative yield responses can occur, resulting in a significant net financial loss for the farmer. For farmers to feel confident in investing in subsoil amelioration better prediction of the likely yield improvement is required and to achieve this an understanding of the underlying mechanisms such as nutritional and non-nutritional drivers, and the longevity of benefits are required. Our study aimed to ascertain the drivers of yield improvements from subsoil amelioration with OAs.

Methods
In a controlled environment, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Scepter) plants were grown until maturity in a Solonetz amended with (i) poultry litter (PL; 20 t ha−1), and (ii) NPKS nutrients and (iii) model organic carbon (MOC) with equivalent amounts of nutrients and total carbon contained in the PL, and (iv) NPKS + MOC. Control (no amendments) and gypsum (5 t ha−1) were included as district practices. Before planting, amendments were applied as a vertical band at 20 – 40 cm depth and pre-incubated. Plant biomass, grain yield, root biomass, and physicochemical properties of the soil associated with the amendment band were quantified at harvest.

Results
Compared to the control, wheat grain yield was increased by 30% for PL, 43% for NPKS + MOC, and 61% for NPKS, but no differences in yield were detected for MOC or gypsum. The lower yield increase by PL than NPKS with or without MOC was likely due to the readily available form of plant nutrients in the inorganic fertilisers vs slower mineralisation of nutrients from the OAs. Improvement in soil physicochemical properties following amelioration of alkaline dispersive subsoil resulted in better root proliferation and subsoil water use. Grain yield showed a positive correlation with root biomass in the subsoil layers.

Conclusions
In the short-term (one crop cycle), organic amendments improved soil’s non-nutritional physical and chemical properties but had no additional nutritional effect on wheat grain yield compared to inorganic fertiliser application. Longer-term studies are needed to determine the legacy effect of the nutritional contribution in conjunction with the improvement of soil structure from the OAs in alkaline dispersive subsoils.