Substantial Variation Research Articles

Effect of surgical modification of deep brain stimulation lead trajectories on radiofrequency heating during MRI at 3T: from phantom experiments to clinical implementation.

Radiofrequency (RF) tissue heating around deep brain stimulation (DBS) leads is a well-known safety risk during MRI, resulting in strict imaging guidelines and limited allowable protocols. The implanted lead's trajectory and orientation with respect to the MRI electric fields contribute to variations in the magnitude of RF heating across patients. Currently, there are no surgical requirements for implanting the extracranial portion of the DBS lead, resulting in substantial variations in clinical lead trajectories and consequently RF heating. Recent studies have shown that incorporating concentric loops in the extracranial lead trajectory can reduce RF heating. However, optimal positioning of the loops and the quantitative benefit of trajectory modification in terms of added safety margins during MRI remain unknown. In this study, the authors systematically evaluated the characteristics of DBS lead trajectories that minimize RF heating during 3T MRI to develop the best surgical practices for safe access to postoperative MRI, and they present the first surgical implementation of these modified trajectories. The authors performed experiments to assess the maximum temperature increase of 244 distinct lead trajectories. They investigated the effect of the position, number, and size of the concentric loops on the skull. Experiments were performed in an anthropomorphic phantom implanted with a commercial DBS system, and RF exposure was generated by applying a high specific absorption rate sequence (B1+rms = 2.7 µT). The authors conducted test-retest experiments to assess the reliability of measurements. Additionally, they evaluated the effect of imaging landmarks and perturbations to the DBS device configuration on the efficacy of low-heating trajectories. Finally, two neurosurgeons implanted the recommended modified trajectories in patients, and the authors characterized their RF heating in comparison with unmodified trajectories. The maximum temperature increase ranged from 0.09°C to 7.34°C. The authors found that increasing the number of loops and positioning them closer to the surgical burr hole, particularly for the contralateral lead, substantially reduced RF heating. These trajectory modifications were easily incorporated during the surgical procedure and resulted in a threefold reduction in RF heating. Surgically modifying the extracranial portion of the DBS lead trajectory can substantially reduce RF heating during 3T MRI. The authors' results indicate that simple adjustments to the lead's configuration, such as small, concentric loops near the burr hole, can be readily adopted during DBS lead implantation to improve patient safety during MRI.

Mental health and environmental factors in adults: A population-based network analysis.

Few studies have assessed the multifactorial nature of environmental influences on population mental health. In this large-scale, population-based study of adults, we applied network analysis to study the relationship between environmental factors and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and well-being. We estimated networks with overall mental health nodes and individual symptoms to assess both broad and fine-grained associations between environmental factors and mental health. Finally, we conducted an out-of-sample replication in an independent large-scale sample to assess the robustness of our results. Across 31,000 adults randomly sampled from the Norwegian population, we identified associations between numerous environmental characteristics and mental health. Recent discrimination and unsupportive social environments were strongly associated with lower population well-being and higher levels of mental illness symptoms, respectively. The most strongly connected variables in the networks were environmental factors, including perceived problems with crime, violence, or vandalism in the residential area, worrying about violence or threats when outside, and problems with noise or contamination at home. Substantial variation in population mental health was explained by environmental factors included in the networks. Replicability of the results was excellent and suggestive of strong robustness of the results across samples. Our findings are indicative of the importance of environmental factors, such as the social environment, housing satisfaction, and residential area characteristics, for multiple aspects of population mental health. We identify several environmental factors that represent potentially useful targets for future studies and public health efforts seeking to improve mental health in the general population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

CORONet: A Cross-Sequence Joint Representation and Hypergraph Convolutional Network for Classifying Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer Using Incomplete DCE-MRI.

Breast cancer, the predominant malignancy among women, is characterized by significant heterogeneity, leading to the emergence of distinct molecular subtypes. Accurate differentiation of these molecular subtypes holds paramount clinical significance, owing to substantial variations in prognosis, therapeutic strategies, and survival outcomes. In this study, we propose a cross-sequence joint representation and hypergraph convolution network (CORONet) for classifying molecular subtypes of breast cancer using incomplete DCE-MRI. Specifically, we first build a cross-sequence joint representation (COR) module to integrate image imputation and feature representation into a unified framework, encouraging effective feature extraction for subsequent classification. Then, we fuse multiple COR features and applied feature selection to reduce the redundant information between sequences. Finally, we deploy hypergraph structures to model high-order correlation among different subjects and extracted high-level semantic features by hypergraph convolutions for molecular subtyping. Extensive experiments on incomplete DCE-MRIs of 395 patients from the TCIA repository showed a significant improvement of our CORONet over state of the arts, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.891 and 0.903 for luminal and triple-negative (TN) subtype prediction, respectively. Similar advantages of CORONet were also confirmed in partial complete DCE-MRIs of 144 patients, achieving an AUC of 0.858 and 0.832 for predicting luminal and TN subtypes of breast cancer, respectively. Nevertheless, both of these values were lower compared to the scenario where DCE-MRIs from all 395 patients were utilized. Our study contributes to the precise molecular subtyping using incomplete multi-sequence DCE-MRI, thereby offering promising prospects for future risk stratification of breast cancer patients.

A model-based MR parameter mapping network robust to substantial variations in acquisition settings

Deep learning methods show great potential for the efficient and precise estimation of quantitative parameter maps from multiple magnetic resonance (MR) images. Current deep learning-based MR parameter mapping (MPM) methods are mostly trained and tested using data with specific acquisition settings. However, scan protocols usually vary with centers, scanners, and studies in practice. Thus, deep learning methods applicable to MPM with varying acquisition settings are highly required but still rarely investigated. In this work, we develop a model-based deep network termed MMPM-Net for robust MPM with varying acquisition settings. A deep learning-based denoiser is introduced to construct the regularization term in the nonlinear inversion problem of MPM. The alternating direction method of multipliers is used to solve the optimization problem and then unrolled to construct MMPM-Net. The variation in acquisition parameters can be addressed by the data fidelity component in MMPM-Net. Extensive experiments are performed on R2 mapping and R1 mapping datasets with substantial variations in acquisition settings, and the results demonstrate that the proposed MMPM-Net method outperforms other state-of-the-art MR parameter mapping methods both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Nestling size and ornamentation interact to shape early development in house sparrow families

Abstract In many nuclear families, dependent offspring receive unequal shares of parental investment. Initial overproduction can be adaptive from the perspective of parents, but parents must be able to identify appropriate candidates for favourite status. We studied early nestling development in house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a species in which the loss of some brood members is common, testing the prediction that body mass and carotenoid-rich flange colours are important to nestling success. There was substantial variation in both traits within broods, even only 1 day after hatching. Nestlings low in the within-brood mass hierarchy gained more mass if they displayed more carotenoid-rich flanges than broodmates. Position in the colour hierarchy did not, however, predict mass gain for individuals that were heavier than their broodmates. Nestlings that were heavier or had more carotenoid-rich mouths were also less likely to be the victim of brood reduction. Our results suggest that house sparrow parents use both nestling body size and mouth colour when making allocation decisions. Understanding both how and when offspring traits and parental preferences function is key to understanding how selective pressures act on offspring–parent communication.

Assessing Between- and Within-Person Reliabilities of Items and Scale for Daily Procrastination: A Multilevel and Dynamic Approach.

Intensive longitudinal data (ILD) has been collected to capture the dynamic fluctuations of procrastination; however, researchers have typically measured daily procrastination by modifying trait measures (e.g., adding a time reference "today") without adequately testing their reliabilities. The main purpose of this study was to use an advanced approach, dynamic structural equation modeling, to assess the between- and within-person reliabilities of a widely used six-item measure of daily procrastination. A total of 252 participants completed retrospective measures of various types of trait procrastination and daily measures of procrastination over 34 consecutive days. The results showed that the entire scale for daily procrastination and five of its six items had high between- and within-person reliabilities, but one item had much lower reliabilities, suggesting that this item may be inappropriate in everyday contexts. Furthermore, we found moderate to strong associations between the latent trait factor of procrastination and trait measures of procrastination. In addition, we identified substantial between-person variation in person-specific reliabilities and explored its relevant factors. Overall, this study assessed the reliabilities of a daily measure of procrastination, which facilitated future studies to obtain more reliable and consistent results and to better estimate the reliability of ILD.

Climate Adaptation in White Oak (Quercus alba, L.): A Forty-Year Study of Growth and Phenology

Climate change poses a significant threat to the resilience and sustainability of forest ecosystems. This study examines the performance of white oak (Quercus alba, L.) across a range of provenances in a common garden planting, focusing on the species’ response to climatic variables and the potential role of assisted migration in forest management. We evaluated the survival and growth rates of white oak provenances originating from various points along a latitudinal gradient over a period of 40 years. These provenances were planted in a common garden situated near the midpoint of this latitudinal gradient, where we also monitored their phenological traits, such as budburst and leaf senescence. The results revealed substantial variation in phenological responses and growth patterns among the provenances, with southern provenances demonstrating faster growth and later senescence relative to local sources, with limited impact on survival. In contrast, the northern provenances demonstrated slower growth, resulting in later-aged competition-induced mortality. The findings highlight the necessity of incorporating genetic diversity into white oak reforestation and conservation strategies, as the local provenance may no longer be the most suitable option for current and future conditions. We advocate for a nuanced approach to forest management that leverages genetic insights to optimize seed source selection for reforestation, fostering resilient forest landscapes in the face of ongoing climate shifts.

An Examination of Inter-State Variation in Utilization of Healthcare Services, Associated Financial Burden and Inequality: Evidence from Nationally Representative Survey in India.

This study examines the health care utilization pattern, associated financial catastrophes, and inequality across Indian states to understand the subnational variations and aid the policy makers in this regard. Data from recent National Sample Survey (2017-2018), titled, "Household Social Consumption: Health," covering 113,823 households, was employed in the study. Descriptive statistics, Erreygers concentration index (CI), and recentered influence function decomposition were applied in the study. We found that, in India, 7 percent of households experienced catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and 1.9 percent of households were pushed below poverty line due to out-of-pocket expenditure on hospitalization. Notably, outpatient care was more burdensome (CHE: 12.1%; impoverishment: 4%). Substantial interstate variations were observed, with high financial burden in poorer states. Utilization of health care services from private health care providers was pro-rich (hospitalization CI 0.31; outpatient CI 0.10), while the occurrence of CHE incidence was pro-poor (hospitalization CI -0.10; outpatient CI -0.14). Education level, economic status, health insurance, and area of residence contributed significantly to inequalities in utilization of health care services from private providers and financial burden. The high financial burden of seeking health care necessitates the need to increase public health spending and strengthen public health infrastructure. Also, concerted efforts directed towards increasing awareness about health insurance and introducing comprehensive health insurance products (covering both inpatient and outpatient services) are imperative to augment financial risk protection in India.

Feather growth rate and hormone deposition vary with elevation but not reproductive costs in resident Mountain Chickadees

Abstract Many organisms engage in metabolic tradeoffs to manage costs associated with reproductive output which often leads to these costs carrying over into the future. Compensatory mechanisms vary across life history strategies and are expected to result in near-optimal fitness gains for the investor. Here we investigated whether environmental differences associated with increasing montane elevation and variation in reproductive output of a resident passerine songbird, the Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli), were related to physiological conditions during annual molt. Higher elevations are associated with harsher environmental conditions during the winter, which results in later and shorter breeding seasons than at lower elevations. We sampled the outermost tail feathers from adult birds in the fall after their prebasic molt, which initiates closely after reproduction (e.g., after parental care has ceased, ~1–3 weeks). We measured the hormone corticosterone deposited in feathers (fCORT) and feather growth rates for evidence of physiological effort predicted to be driven by several units of reproductive output (e.g., breeding timing, clutch and brood size, and offspring mass). There were no relationships between any measure of reproductive output and feather characteristics between elevations or across years, despite substantial variation in reproductive output in the wider population across this same time. However, birds at the high-elevation site grew their tail feathers significantly faster and had higher fCORT deposition compared to low-elevation birds. These results suggest that although differences in reproductive output and any related signals of associated physiological effort (e.g., fCORT and feather growth rate) may not extend into individual conditions during annual molt, shorter breeding seasons associated with harsher environmental conditions may favor faster feather growth as required by earlier onset of winter.

Obstetric imaging practice characteristics associated with prenatal detection of critical congenital heart disease in a rural US region over 20years.

To identify clinical practice characteristics associated with the frequency of prenatal critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) detection (i.e., the number of liveborn infants with postnatally confirmed CCHD identified on prenatal sonography) over 20years in a rural setting comprised of 11 primarily low-volume obstetric hospitals and the single tertiary academic hospital to which they refer. This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients in the referral region with an initial prenatal and/or postnatal diagnosis of CCHD from 01/01/2002 to 12/31/2021. The frequency of prenatal CCHD detection at the time of an obstetric ultrasound was reported, as was the change in detection over time. Critical congenital heart disease detection was assessed as a function of cardiac lesion type, practice setting, and practice characteristics. There were 271 cases with a confirmed postnatal CCHD diagnosis, of which 49% were identified prenatally. The majority of community practices each averaged <10 CCHD cases in total over the study period. Prenatal detection at the tertiary academic hospital's obstetric ultrasound unit was 64%, compared to 22% at the combined referring community practices (p<0.001), though CCHD detection improved over time in both settings. Professional accreditation by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, image interpretation by radiology or Maternal Fetal Medicine, and use of video clips of ventricular outflow tracts were associated with improved prenatal CCHD detection. Our data demonstrate the infrequency of CCHD cases at small-volume, rural hospitals and the substantial variation in prenatal CCHD detection across practice settings. Our methods allowed for the identification of practice characteristics associated with prenatal CCHD detection.

Dental shape evolution of the giant panda (Ailuropoda, Ursidae) during the Quaternary

ABSTRACT The giant panda is well known to have unique dentition, adapted to bamboo exclusive diet. The teeth are used to cut and grind the bamboo. However, it is unclear how these teeth evolved through geographical time. Here, we present the first geometric morphometric analysis of all cheek teeth of the giant panda, based on the large fossil collection of the giant panda teeth found from the Pleistocene deposits of southern China. Our analyses reveal the substantial intraspecific variation of the giant panda teeth, but no significant interspecific differences in Ailuropoda, supporting the basic function of the giant panda teeth has already formed since the Early Pleistocene. Among the cheek teeth, the premolars show the highest interspecific variation, suggesting a continuous increase in the feeding efficiency of the bamboo diet, which may facilitate the giant panda to grow a larger body size from Early Pleistocene species to A. melanoleuca. The Late Pleistocene A. m. baconi and two modern two subspecies show largely overlapped morphospace for all teeth, and the variation ranges are also similar, suggesting a fully established feeding apparatus and implying a similar diet. Our analyses provide new information on the giant panda evolution and adaptation.

Morphological and genetic diversification of pygmy and marbled newts, with the description of a new species from the wider Lisbon Peninsula (Triturus, Salamandridae)

Abstract Iberian populations of large-bodied newts, with Triturus marmoratus in the north and T. pygmaeus in the south of the peninsula, were studied for external morphology, mitochondrial dna and for a panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms. This confirmed the species’ low level of interspecific hybridization and their parapatric, mosaic-like mutual range border across the peninsula. The genetic data also revealed substantial variation within T. pygmaeus, with narrow (0.43–35.2 km) clinal transitions in the very centre of Portugal. Similar clines were observed for body size and colouration pattern. Pygmy newts in the west of Portugal are larger, with a more striped (less reticulated) green dorso-lateral colouration pattern than those in the east and south of the country. The western group of populations is described as a new species, Triturus rudolfi sp. nov., on account of a long, ca. 2.5 Ma, independent evolutionary history and limited hybridization with its sister-species T. pygmaeus, suggesting selection against hybrid offspring. The range of the newly described species may be restricted to the wider Lisbon Peninsula, stretching northwards along the Atlantic coast to the river Vouga estuary. Inland, the range border may be set by the lower Tejo River, or by the currently wide area of agricultural land at either side of that river, that may accommodate a residual hybrid zone. The close contact between both pygmy newt species is effectively limited to a ca. 20 × 40 km area directly north of the town Entroncamento, where T. rudolfi sp. nov. is sandwiched in between T. marmoratus and the river Tejo.

Optimizing Confined Nitride Trap Layers for Improved Z-Interference in 3D NAND Flash Memory

This paper presents an innovative approach to alleviate Z-interference in 3D NAND flash memory by proposing an optimized confined nitride trap layer structure. Z-interference poses a significant challenge in 3D NAND flash memory, especially with the reduction in cell spacing to accommodate an increased number of vertically stacked 3D NAND flash memories. While the confined nitride trap layer device designed for complete isolation of the trapping layer in three dimensions effectively reduces Z-interference, the results showed substantial variations based on the confined structure. To clarify this issue, we compared three distinct confined nitride trap layer structures and investigated their impact on Z-interference. Our findings indicate that the rectangle structure exhibited the most significant mitigation, implying that differences in the electric field applied to the poly silicon channel, which is influenced by the structure, and the increase in effective channel length are effective strategies for alleviating Z-interference. The proposed structure undergoes a comprehensive examination through technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations. Additionally, we introduce a practical process flow designed to minimize Z-interference.

Measuring and improving quality in esophageal care and swallowing disorders.

Evaluating clinical care through quality-related metrics is increasingly common. There are now numerous quality statements and indicators related to the medical management of benign and pre-malignant esophageal diseases. Expert consensus leveraging evidence-based recommendations from published society guidelines has been the most frequently used basis for developing esophageal quality statements. While surgical care of patients with esophageal malignancies, including squamous cell carcinoma, has also been developed, those related to benign esophageal disease now include domains of diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring for gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), achalasia, and Barrett's esophagus (BE). Several recent studies evaluating adherence to quality metrics affirm substantial variation in practice patterns with opportunities for improvement in care across esophageal diseases. In particular, patient education regarding treatment options in achalasia, frequency of esophageal biopsies among patients with dysphagia to evaluate for EoE, and endoscopic evaluation within a BE segment are areas identified to have need for improvement. As the management of esophageal diseases becomes more complex and interdisciplinary, adherence to quality metrics may be a source of standardization and improvement in delivery and ultimately patient outcomes. Indeed, the development of national quality databases has resulted in a significant growth in the use of these metrics for quality improvement activities and may form the basis for future inclusion in quality reporting and payment programs.

Residential and wealth-related disparities of high fertility preferences in Ethiopia: A decomposition analysis.

Fertility preference significantly influences contraceptive uptake and impacts population growth, especially in low and middle-income countries. In the previous pieces of literature, variations in fertility preference across residence and wealth categories and its contributors were not assessed in Ethiopia. Therefore, we decomposed high fertility preferences among reproductive-aged women by residence and wealth status in Ethiopia. We extracted individual women's record (IR) data from the publicly available 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) dataset. A total of 13799 women were included in the study. Multivariate decomposition analysis was conducted to identify the factors that contributed to the differences in the percentage of fertility preferences between rural and urban dwellers. Furthermore, we used an Erreygers normalized concentration index and curve to identify the concentration of high fertility preferences across wealth categories. The concentration index was further decomposed to identify the contributing factors for the wealth-related disparities in high fertility preference. Finally, the elasticity of wealth-related disparity for a change in the socioeconomic variable was estimated. The weighted percentage of women with high fertility preference among rural and urban residents was 42.7% and 19%, respectively, reflecting a 23.7 percentage point difference. The variations in fertility preference due to the differences in respondents' characteristics accounted for 40.9%. Being unmarried (8.4%), secondary (14.1%) and higher education (21.9%), having more than four children (18.4%), having media exposure (6.9%), middle (0.4%), richer (0.2%) and richest (0.1%) wealth were the positive and city administration (-30.2%), primary education (-1.3%) were the negative contributing factors for the variations in high fertility preferences due to population composition. Likewise, about 59% of the variations in fertility preference were due to variations in coefficients. City administration (22.4%), primary (7.8%) and secondary (7.4%) education, poorer wealth (0.86%) were the positive and having media exposure (-6.32%) and being unmarried (-5.89%), having more than four children (-2.1%) were the negative factors contributing to the difference in high fertility preferences due to the change in coefficients across residents. On the other hand, there was a pro-poor distribution for high fertility preferences across wealth categories with Erreygers normalized concentration index of ECI = -0.14, SE = 0.012. Having media exposure (17.5%), primary (7.3%), secondary (5.4%), higher (2.4%) education, being unmarried (8%), having more than four children (7.4%), rural residence (3%) and emerging (2.2%) were the positive and city administration (-0.55) was the negative significant contributor to the pro-poor disparity in high fertility preference. The variations in high fertility preferences between rural and urban women were mainly attributed to changes in women's behavior. In addition, substantial variations in fertility preference across women's residences were explained by the change in women's population composition. In addition, a pro-poor distribution of high fertility preference was observed among respondents. As such, the pro-poor high fertility preference was elastic for a percent change in socioeconomic variables. The pro-poor high fertility preference was elastic (changeable) for a percent change in each socioeconomic variables. Therefore, women's empowerment through education and access to media will be important in limiting women's desire for more children in Ethiopia. Therefore, policymakers should focus on improving the contributing factors for the residential and wealth-related disparities in high fertility preferences.

Young dictators-Speaking about oneself decreases generosity in children from two cultural contexts.

Sharing of resources is a common feature of human societies. Yet, there is substantial societal variation in children's generosity, and this variation emerges during middle childhood. Societal differences in self-construal orientation may be one factor influencing the ontogeny of generosity. Here, we examine anonymous Dictator Game sharing in 7-and-8-year-olds from two distinct societies: India and the UK (N = 180). We used self-construal manipulations to investigate whether priming self- or other-focused conversations would differentially influence children's generosity. There were no differences in generosity between populations. While a significant reduction in generosity was found following self-priming in both societies, other-priming was ineffectual. The findings are discussed in relation to experimental features and the role of anonymity and reputational concerns.

Helically Coiled Tube Flocculators in Water Clarification Systems: Optimal Length Evaluation and Process Efficiency Probabilistic Analysis

New sustainable technologies have been explored as potential solutions to address the global issue of water scarcity by enhancing water treatment processes. In this context, an innovative coagulation/flocculation unit known as the helically coiled tube flocculator (HCTF) has emerged, offering notable advantages such as high process efficiency, short detention time, and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional hydraulic units. The HCTF harnesses its flow energy to disperse coagulation/flocculation agents and facilitate the formation of flocs through collisions between destabilized particles. This paper introduces an assessment of the process efficiency, geometric properties, and hydraulic characteristics of an alternative and sustainable water clarification system incorporating an HCTF, with the aim of determining its optimal length. In HCTFs, the flocculator’s length (referred to as L) can exert a significant influence on process efficiency, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of this parameter for the rational design of such units. To accomplish this, the paper scrutinizes physical experimental findings from previous research articles, which are related to the efficiency of flocculation (indirectly estimated by analyzing turbidity removal efficiency). Additionally, it examines the geometric and hydraulic attributes across 48 distinct variations of HCTFs. This study culminates in the development of a model for determining the optimal length for HCTFs. Furthermore, it includes a probabilistic assessment that establishes a connection between the optimal length and other parameters involved in the clarification process—whether deterministic or probabilistic—and their impact on the final process efficiency, all with a 90% confidence level. This paper stands out by pioneering the determination of the optimal length of HCTFs, filling a gap in the existing literature, which previously only mentioned the importance of this parameter in process efficiency without providing a predictive model. The results highlight the robustness of the proposed alternative clarification system. Even in scenarios with substantial variations in dimensional hydraulic parameters (such as a worst-case relative standard deviation of 20%), the process efficiency fluctuations range between 1.3% and 5.2%. These outcomes lend support to the adoption of such alternative water clarification systems. They also underscore the potential of probabilistic evaluation as a valuable tool for investigating novel water and wastewater treatment units and enhancing existing ones.

Comparing the criminal careers of organized crime offenders in Italy and the Netherlands

The concept of organized crime has dynamically evolved, with researchers contending that it is a social construct or an umbrella concept encompassing different empirical manifestations. Scholars have often suggested classifying organized crime groups into those involved in “racketeering” or “governing” and those engaged in “transit crime” or “trading.” However, these propositions were never assessed at the level of individual criminal careers. We address two primary objectives: first, we test differences in the criminal careers of organized crime offenders between organized crime contexts that are historically different—comparing Italy, which is primarily known for racketeering organized crime, to the Netherlands, which is characterized more by transit crime. Second, we explore differences between criminal careers of organized crime offenders born in different decades; doing so allows us to measure differences in offending patterns in shifting organized crime contexts due to broader social changes while considering more country-specific changes in law enforcement and organized crime policies. The study relies on the criminal careers of 4480 organized crime offenders in Italy ( n = 3360) and the Netherlands ( n = 1120). We analyze the distributions of criminal career parameters, crime categories, age-crime curves, and offending trajectories. Offenders in Italy exhibit higher offending, earlier violence, earlier onset, and decline; offenders in the Netherlands display later onset, slower decline, and a greater involvement in drug and property offenses. Also, both samples show generalist offending patterns, long-lasting careers, and involvement in organized crime in adulthood. We also find substantial variation across decades of birth, with younger offenders in both countries reporting higher frequencies. We attribute this to the interplay of increased offending among younger individuals, the implicit selection bias in the sampling, and greater law enforcement pressure due to stricter anti-organized crime policies since the 1980s and 1990s.

Exploring the Intricacies of Pancreatic Duct Tributaries: Variations in Length, Angle of Entry, and Alternating Patterns in Human Cadavers by Dissection

Background: The pancreatic duct system plays a pivotal role in human physiology, facilitating the transport of digestive enzymes and secretions essential for gastrointestinal function. While anatomists have extensively investigated the pancreas's ductal network, the intricacies of pancreatic duct tributaries, including variations in length, angle of entry, and alternating patterns, have continued to captivate scientific inquiry. Aim: To find out the variations in length, angle of entry, and alternating patterns of pancreatic duct tributaries, and discuss the potential clinical implications of our discoveries. Materials and Methods: This study, conducted on 50 human cadavers (comprising 35 perinates and 15 adults), aimed to comprehensively explore the complexities of pancreatic duct tributaries through meticulous dissection. Results: Our research unveiled the following key findings: Variations in Length and Angle of Entry: We observed a remarkable diversity in the number and length of tributaries that join the main pancreatic duct. Additionally, the entry angle exhibited substantial variation, with right-angled tributaries prevalent in 70% of specimens and acute angles in 30%. Understanding these anatomical nuances is crucial for surgical procedures to mitigate inadvertent ductal injury. Alternating and Herringbone Patterns: In 98% of specimens, tributaries alternated between superior and inferior positions along the main pancreatic duct. This alternating pattern may influence the flow of pancreatic secretions and the pathogenesis of pancreatic diseases. In contrast, the rare Herringbone pattern was observed in only 2% of cases, highlighting the unique nature of this anatomical variant. Conclusion: This study contributes valuable insights into the intricate world of pancreatic duct tributaries. By elucidating their anatomy and characteristics, we enhance the safety and efficacy of clinical interventions and expand our understanding of pancreatic physiology and pathology. Further research may delve into the functional implications of these anatomical variations, paving the way for advancements in pancreatic healthcare. KEYWORDS: Pancreatic Duct Tributaries, Anatomical Variations, Pancreatic Surgery, Pancreatic Physiology, Dissection, Herring Bone Pattern, Gastrointestinal Function.

Suitability of Polymers for 3D-Printing Laboratory Models for Shaking Table Experiments: Discussion and Indications.

This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the suitability of seven commercially available polymers for crafting laboratory models designed for dynamic shaking-table tests using 3D-printing technology. The objective was to determine whether 3D-printed polymer models are effective for dynamic assessments of structures. The polymers underwent experimental investigations to assess their material properties, i.e., the elastic modulus, the mass density, and the limit of linear-elastic behaviour. The following methodology was applied to obtain the correct values of elasticity moduli and yield points of the polymers: (1) the uniaxial tensile test, (2) the compression test, and (3) the three-point loading test. The filament density was determined as the ratio of sample mass to its volume. The results indicate substantial variations in stiffness, density, and elasticity limits among them. For the similarity analysis, an existing reinforced concrete chimney 120 m high was chosen as a prototype. A geometric similarity scale of 1:120 for a laboratory mock-up was adopted, and a numerical model of the mock-up was created. The similarity scales were calculated for mock-ups made of each filament. Based on these scales, numerical calculations of natural frequencies and dynamic performance under a strong earthquake were carried out for models made of different polymers. Assessment of the polymers' suitability for laboratory models revealed positive outcomes. The agreement between field experiments, shaking-table tests, and numerical predictions in terms of natural frequencies was observed. Maximum stresses resulting from the earthquake indicated the satisfactory performance of the model below the linear-elastic limit. Despite differences in material properties, the selected polymers were deemed suitable for 3D-printing models for shaking-table tests. However, the discussion raised some important considerations. The upper frequency limit of the shaking-table imposes restrictions on the number of natural frequencies that can be determined. Numerical assessments of natural frequencies are recommended to prevent underestimation and to assess the feasibility of their determination. Additionally, resonance during natural frequency determination may lead to exceeding the linear-elastic limit, affecting filament properties, and making the similarity criteria invalid. Practically, this research contributes insights for planning shaking-table tests, aiding in selecting the most suitable filament and highlighting crucial considerations to ensure reliable and accurate dynamic assessments.