bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Austenite Reversion Treatment and Partitioning on the Phase Transformation Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Martensitic–Austenitic CrMnNi‐Cast Steel
Authors: Wendler Marco , Hauser Michael , Quitzke Caroline , Volkova Olena
Published: October 2024

The grain size of austenitic‐stainless‐cast steels is usually coarse and may be several hundred microns to millimeters, depending on solidification conditions and ingot geometry. During solidification, dendritic crystals grow into the supercooled melt and stop growing when they touch each other, which is accompanied by the formation of high‐angle grain boundaries. Further cooling of metastable austenitic steels with a martensite start temperature above room temperature can partially transform them into martensite. During subsequent heating above the austenite start temperature, also known as austenite reversion treatment (ART), the martensite transforms back into austenite. The resulting austenitic microstructure is thus significantly refined, leading to an even finer martensitic microstructure during subsequent cooling. To reduce the martensite formation capability, partitioning is carried out to enrich the austenite with C and N and thus improve the formability. In the present work, the temperature‐dependent phase transformation behavior of the martensitic–austenitic stainless X16CrNiMnN15‐3‐1 transformation‐induced‐plasticity‐cast steel is determined by means of dilatometry. The influence of a single or multiple ART on the resulting austenite grain size, the microstructure and the tensile properties are described. It is demonstrated that ultrahigh‐strength steels with good ductility can be achieved by using partitioning after ART.
The Frame Analysis of Participation: A Goffmanian Take on Democratic Interaction and its Ambiguities
Authors: Berger Mathieu
Published: October 2024

Drawing on Goffman's Frame Analysis and 20 years of observations of city planning councils in Western Europe and North America, this article lays the groundwork for a grammar of democratic ambiguity characterizing top‐down participatory processes and other public meetings aimed at some degree of citizen inclusion in local, municipal, or regional government. After pointing out Goffman's singular conception of the “interaction order,” the author shows how institutional organizers and ordinary citizens deal with interactional ambiguity, in its contrasting effects on the dynamics of these participatory assemblies. A primary form of ambiguity, between a “representative” and a “deliberative” definition of participatory democracy, is proving inhibiting for citizens' involvement and tends to “suspend interaction.” A second type of ambiguity arises from a wide range of facilitation methods (playful, dramaturgical, educational, therapeutic, esthetic, etc.) designed to transform the initial ambiguity to offer more fluid interaction and more stimulating involvement opportunities, yet in an activity that now has only an uncertain connection to civic participation. The author concludes by presenting some frame‐analytical tools for tracking and evaluating dynamics of ambiguity transformation in participatory processes and emphasizes the implications of this type of sociological analysis for political theory.
Illiberal Democracy as Revolutionary Action: The Case of the 2020–2022 Janša Government in Slovenia
Authors: Kovačič Gorazd
Published: October 2024

The chapter examines the character of the contemporary far right, which formally operates within electoral democracy but challenged the democratic constitutional order by undermining in practice the system of checks and balances after assuming power. The question posed is whether the programme of illiberal democracy seeks to transform the democratic form of government. The answer is developed on the basis of the case of the 2020–2022 Slovenian government of Janez Janša, whose term of office coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. As a minority government, it had no possibility of formally changing the constitution; nevertheless, it acted zealously and relentlessly as if it had already transformed the form of government into an authoritarian one. It steered the pandemic through unlawful decrees, usurped the authority of the legislature and the judiciary, instrumentalized the police, and carried out constant attacks against the judiciary, supervisory institutions, the media, and civil society. The text analyses this phenomenon of autocratic pretensions through the theories of Montesquieu, Arendt, and Duso and concludes that illiberal democracy should be understood as a revolutionary action against democracy and the rule of law.
Isotope Shifts, Radioactive Decay, and the Nuclear Forces
Authors: Raven Will
Published: October 2024

In this chapter, we explore the nucleus, focusing on how the number of neutrons in a nucleus influences transition frequencies and the stability of atoms. We begin by examining the effect of neutrons on transition frequencies, then shift into detailed discussions of the nuclear forces and principles governing atomic stability and radioactive decay. Various modes of radioactive decay, including neutron and proton emission, $$\alpha $$
α
decay, spontaneous fission, $$\beta ^-$$

β

−

decay, $$\beta ^+$$

β

+

decay, and electron capture, are investigated, with an emphasis on the conditions under which each occurs. Additionally, we explore the nuclear shell model to understand the energetics behind different types of decays and the stability of isotopes.
Quantum Mechanics vs. Classical Physics
Authors: Raven Will
Published: October 2024

In this chapter, we explore the differences between quantum mechanics and classical physics, focusing on three main ideas: compatible and incompatible observables, states of an observable, and the superposition of states. By examining these concepts, you will gain insight into how measurements impact quantum mechanical systems and the ideas behind the uncertainty principle.
Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in combination with deep regional hyperthermia followed by surgery for rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ademaj Adela , Stieb Sonja , Gani Cihan , Ott Oliver J. , Marder Dietmar , Hälg Roger A. , Rogers Susanne , Ghadjar Pirus , Fietkau Rainer , Crezee Hans , Riesterer Oliver
Published: October 2024

Background and purpose

Combining chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with deep regional hyperthermia (HT) shows promise for enhancing clinical outcomes in selected rectal cancer patients. This study aimed to integrate the evidence and evaluate the efficacy of this combined treatment approach.

Materials and methods

A systematic search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Mendeley databases was performed. This review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale (NOS). Random-effects meta-analyses (DerSimonian and Laird) were performed. The primary outcome was pathological complete response (pCR), and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and toxicity.

Results

In total, 12 studies were included, mostly of moderate quality. Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC; n = 760) and locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC; n = 22) were eligible. The pooled pCR rate was 19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16–22%) among all 782 patients and 19% (95%CI:16–23%) among 760 LARC patients. Due to significant study heterogeneity, survival outcomes were pooled by excluding LRRC patients. The pooled 5‑year OS rate among 433 LARC patients was 87% (95%CI: 83–90%). The pooled 5‑year DFS and LRFS in LARC patients were 75% (95%CI: 70–80%) and 95% (95%CI: 92–97%), respectively. There was a lack of consistent reporting of HT treatment parameters and toxicity symptoms among the studies.

Conclusion

The collective clinical evidence showed that neoadjuvant CRT combined with HT in rectal cancer patients is feasible, with a 19% pCR rate and excellent survival outcomes in long term follow-up.
Streptomyces fradiae Mitigates the Impact of Potato Virus Y by Inducing Systemic Resistance in Two Egyptian Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars
Authors: Mohammed Fafy A. , Abu-Hussien Samah H. , Dougdoug Noha K. El , Koutb Neima , Korayem Abdalla S.
Published: October 2024

In this study, the impact of culture media filtrate of QD3 actinobacterial isolate on two potato cultivars, Spunta and Diamond, infected with potato virus Y (PVY) was investigated. Various parameters, including infection percentage, PVY virus infectivity, disease severity scoring, PVY optical density, photosynthetic and defense-related biochemical markers, enzymatic profiling, phenolic compounds, proline content, salicylic acid levels, and growth and yield parameters, were assessed to elucidate the potential of the QD3 actinobacterial isolate culture filtrate in mitigating PVY-induced damage. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of the QD3 actinobacterial isolate, including its salinity tolerance, pH preferences, and metabolic traits, were investigated. Molecular identification via 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed its classification as Streptomyces fradiae QD3, and it was deposited in GenBank with the gene accession number MN160630. Distinct responses between Spunta and Diamond cultivars, with Spunta displaying greater resistance to PVY infection. Notably, pre-infection foliar application of the QD3 filtrate significantly reduced disease symptoms and virus infection in both cultivars. For post-PVY infection, the QD3 filtrate effectively mitigated disease severity and the PVY optical density. Furthermore, the QD3 filtrate positively influenced photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic antioxidant activities, and key biochemical components associated with plant defense mechanisms. Gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS) analysis revealed palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester) and oleic acid (9-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester) as the most prominent compounds, with retention times of 23.23 min and 26.41 min, representing 53.27% and 23.25%, respectively, of the total peak area as primary unsaturated fatty acids and demonstrating antiviral effects against plant viruses. Cytotoxicity assays on normal human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) revealed the safety of QD3 metabolites, with low discernible toxicity at high concentrations, reinforcing their potential as safe and effective interventions. The phytotoxicity results indicate that all the seeds presented high germination rates of approximately 95–98%, suggesting that the treatment conditions had no phytotoxic effect on the Brassica oleracea (broccoli) seeds, Lactuca sativa (lettuce) seeds, and Eruca sativa (arugula or rocket) seeds. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the S. fradiae filtrate has promising anti-PVY properties, influencing various physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects in potato cultivars. These findings provide valuable insights into potential strategies for managing PVY infections in potato crops, emphasizing the importance of Streptomyces-derived interventions in enhancing plant health and crop protection.
Complex Box Splines
Authors: dos Santos Fabio Marcelo Carvalho , Massopust Peter
Published: October 2024

The novel concept of box spline of complex degree is introduced and several of its properties derived and discussed. These box splines of complex degree generalize and extend the classical box splines. Relations to a class of fractional derivatives defined on certain function spaces are also exhibited.
Challenges and applications in generative AI for clinical tabular data in physiology
Authors: Umesh Chaithra , Mahendra Manjunath , Bej Saptarshi , Wolkenhauer Olaf , Wolfien Markus
Published: October 2024

Recent advancements in generative approaches in AI have opened up the prospect of synthetic tabular clinical data generation. From filling in missing values in real-world data, these approaches have now advanced to creating complex multi-tables. This review explores the development of techniques capable of synthesizing patient data and modeling multiple tables. We highlight the challenges and opportunities of these methods for analyzing patient data in physiology. Additionally, it discusses the challenges and potential of these approaches in improving clinical research, personalized medicine, and healthcare policy. The integration of these generative models into physiological settings may represent both a theoretical advancement and a practical tool that has the potential to improve mechanistic understanding and patient care. By providing a reliable source of synthetic data, these models can also help mitigate privacy concerns and facilitate large-scale data sharing.
Development of a mathematical model for harbor maneuvers to realize modeling automation
Authors: Miyauchi Yoshiki , Akimoto Youhei , Maki Atsuo
Published: October 2024

A simulation environment of harbor maneuvers is critical for developing automatic berthing. Mathematical models are widely used to estimate harbor maneuvers. However, user’s analysis and decision are necessary to derive, select, and identify the model because each actuator configuration needs an inherent mathematical expression. We proposed a new mathematical model for arbitrary configurations to overcome that issue. The new model is a hybrid model that combines the simplicity of the derivation of the Taylor expansion and the high degree of freedom of the MMG low-speed maneuvering model. We also developed a method to select mathematical expressions for the proposed model using system identification. Because the proposed model can easily derive mathematical expressions, we can generate multiple expressions simultaneously and choose the best one. This method can reduce the workload of model identification and selection. Furthermore, the proposed method will enable the automatic generation of mathematical models because it can reduce user’s decision-making and data analysis for the model generation due to its less dependency on the knowledge of ship hydrodynamics and captive model test. The proposed method was validated with free-running model tests and showed equivalent or better estimation performance than the conventional model generation method.
A thermodynamics-consistent spatiotemporally-nonlocal model for microstructure-dependent heat conduction
Authors: Zhang Yu , Nie Daming , Mao Xuyao , Li Li
Published: October 2024

The spatiotemporally-nonlocal phenomena in heat conduction become significant but challenging for metamaterials with artificial microstructures. However, the microstructure-dependent heat conduction phenomena are captured under the hypothesis of spatiotemporally local equilibrium. To capture the microstructure-dependent heat conduction phenomena, a generalized nonlocal irreversible thermodynamics is proposed by removing both the temporally-local and spatially-local equilibrium hypotheses from the classical irreversible thermodynamics. The generalized nonlocal irreversible thermodynamics has intrinsic length and time parameters and thus can provide a thermodynamics basis for the spatiotemporally-nonlocal law of heat conduction. To remove the temporally-local equilibrium hypothesis, the generalized entropy is assumed to depend not only on the internal energy but also on its first-order and high-order time derivatives. To remove the spatially local equilibrium hypothesis, the thermodynamics flux field in the dissipation function is assumed to relate not only to the thermodynamics force at the reference point but also to the thermodynamics force of the neighboring points. With the developed theoretical framework, the thermodynamics-consistent spatiotemporally-nonlocal models can then be developed for heat transfer problems. Two examples are provided to illustrate the applications of steady-state and transient heat conduction problems.
Dilemmas of Care (Re) Allocation: Care and Consumption in Pandemic Times
Authors: Heath Teresa , Gallage Samanthika , Chatzidakis Andreas , Hutton Martina
Published: October 2024

Studies into the ethical aspects of consumption tend to focus on a limited class of actions that are explicitly understood as “ethical consumption”. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provided a context in which other ethical issues and questions of whom we should care for first, and how, suddenly and dramatically gained salience. This article draws on the care literature to explore the reconfiguration of consumption decisions and dilemmas during this period. Building on twenty-eight in-depth interviews, it considers the temporal and spatial dimensions of care and consumption and examines various ethical and ideological considerations that arose, particularly regarding the allocation of care in the face of competing demands. Subsequently, the article problematises mainstream accounts of ethical consumption, arguing for considering a plurality of ethics present within decisions about consumption. It concludes with a call to incorporate a more capacious understanding of care in broader discussions of ethics in consumption.
Evaluating the spatiotemporal patterns of drought characteristics in a semi‐arid region of Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Matimolane Selelo , Strydom Sheldon , Mathivha Fhumulani Innocentia , Chikoore Hector
Published: October 2024

Drought is a complex phenomenon resulting from below-average rainfall and is characterized by frequency, duration, and severity, occurring at a regional scale with dire consequences, especially in semiarid environments. This study used the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) to assess drought severity in two district municipalities in Limpopo Province. Rainfall and air temperature data from 12 stations covering 1970–2020 were obtained from the Agricultural Research Council. The calculation of RDI relies on the monthly accumulation ratio of total rainfall to potential evapotranspiration (PET). For this study, PET was estimated using the Hargreaves and Samani temperature-based approach. The RDI results showed a high spatial–temporal variation in drought characteristics over the study area. All stations experienced extreme drought conditions in different years, with the maximum drought severity (-3.40) occurring from 2002–2003 in the western parts of the study area, indicating extreme drought. Furthermore, the results revealed continuous drought conditions over various periods, including severe droughts between 1995 and 1998 and between 2014 and 2016, with the severity varying between mild and moderate drought conditions. The results reveal notable but nonuniform drought patterns as the climate evolves, with potential implications for water availability and livelihoods. The study's findings underscore the significance of adopting multidimensional approaches to drought assessment that encompass meteorological and hydrological factors to inform strategies for adaptive water management and policy formulation in the face of a changing climate.
Gastrointestinal, Behaviour and Anxiety Outcomes in Autistic Children Following an Open Label, Randomised Pilot Study of Synbiotics vs Synbiotics and Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
Authors: Mitchell Leanne K. , Heussler Helen S. , Burgess Christopher J. , Rehman Ateequr , Steinert Robert E. , Davies Peter S.W.
Published: October 2024

Alterations of the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB) axis have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). DGBI are highly prevalent in autistic children and are associated with worsening behaviour and anxiety. Treatments such as probiotics, prebiotics and gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) have shown efficacy in improving gut symptoms in children. The primary objective of the study was to compare changes in gastrointestinal (GI) scores following a 12-week intervention of synbiotics (prebiotic + probiotic) +/- GDH with a follow-up at 24 weeks. Secondary objectives included changes in behavioural and anxiety symptoms, while changes in gut microbiome composition were assessed as an exploratory objective. Children diagnosed with ASD aged 5.00-10.99 years (n = 40) were recruited and randomised (1:1) to a 12-week intervention of either synbiotics (SYN group) or synbiotics + GDH (COM group). Both the SYN and COM group experienced significant reductions in total GI scores post-intervention and at follow-up (p < 0.001), with no superiority of the COM treatment over the SYN treatment. The COM group showed beneficial reductions in anxiety scores (p = 0.002) and irritability behaviours (p < 0.001) which were not present in the SYN group. At follow-up, only those in the COM group maintained significant reductions in GI pain scores (p < 0.001). There were significant changes in gut microbiota such as increases in Bifidobacterium animalis and Dialister in both groups over time. In conclusion, synbiotics with or without GDH may help support standard care for autistic children who suffer comorbid DGBI. The trial was prospectively registered at clinicialtrials.gov on 16 November 2020 (NCTO4639141).
The Policy Potential of Monitoring Market Proximal Maritime Connectivity Over Time: The Case of Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Trent Nadia M. , Joubert Johan W. , Kieu Minh
Published: October 2024

A country’s maritime connectivity is integral to its international trade and regional economic growth. Advancements in technology and complex network theory have elevated maritime connectivity in regional transport policy agendas. This study introduces a novel conceptualisation of the maritime network called the market proximal network which better highlights connectivity concerns and opportunities that leverage a country’s current market position. By implementing a temporal view (using Time-Granularity Graphs) of the market proximal network, connectivity trends can be appreciated. The policy value of this approach is illustrated by the case of Aotearoa New Zealand, a maritime connectivity taker, between January 2018 and June 2021. Five maritime connectivity priorities are identified regarding the country’s gateways onto the major maritime highways. The potential policy value of the temporal view of the market proximal network is illustrated by identifying priorities that are actionable because they are based on the existing business cases that draw shipping companies to call in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Decomposition and equivalence of general nonlinear dynamical control systems
Authors: Aranda-Bricaire E. , Califano C. , Moog C. H.
Published: October 2024

Projection and equivalence concepts have been widely studied in the literature. In the present paper two nonlinear systems with the same number of inputs, but not the same number of state variables, are considered. Under mild assumptions, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a submersion such that the higher dimensional system projects locally onto the other one. The solution to this problem has relevant applications, for instance in robotics. It includes as a special case the equivalence of nonlinear systems with no particular structure.
A zero cash dividend policy: the UK experience
Authors: Baker H. Kent , Kilincarslan Erhan , Demiralay Sercan
Published: October 2024

We investigate the perceptions of corporate managers of non-dividend-paying firms listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to identify the factors and explanations leading to a zero cash dividend policy. Our survey evidence shows that the main reasons for not paying dividends involve poor profitability, the firm’s life cycle stage and profitable growth opportunities. Managers consider shareholder preferences when setting a zero cash dividend policy, but neither taxes nor share repurchases (as substitutes for cash dividends) explain this policy. High insider ownership and transaction costs also do not explain why some UK companies pay no cash dividends. However, respondents confirm that the cost of raising new external funds (debt) is an important factor in not distributing cash dividends. Our results are inconclusive on the potential signaling effect of not paying dividends. Finally, the findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the decision to follow a zero cash dividend policy in the United Kingdom.
Crack propagation and stress evolution in fluid-exposed limestones
Authors: Liu Z. , Dabloul R. , Jin B. , Jha B.
Published: October 2024

Crack initiation and propagation in rocks exposed to injected fluids must be understood better for sustainable sequestration and geo-energy applications. One specific challenge is the characterization of the fluid-induced changes in the stress state and mechanical properties when multiple cracks grow and interact with each other. We conduct crack propagation tests on brine-exposed and supercritical $$\hbox {CO}_2$$

CO
2

-exposed Indiana limestone samples under uniaxial compression conditions. By analyzing the displacement and strain fields using Digital Image Correlation and the first arrival time and amplitude of the transmitted shear waves, we characterize the effect of crack propagation and interaction events on stress and toughness. We build 3-D simulation models of crack propagation under uniaxial compression using the extended finite element method to analyze the 3-D stress and deformation fields in high resolution. We quantify the evolution of crack-tip’s J-integral value with the crack length for wing cracks and shear cracks in samples exposed to mixtures of brine and supercritical $$\hbox {CO}_2$$

CO
2

at subsurface conditions. Experimental and simulation results are synthesized to gain insights into crack propagation, shear-to-tensile failure transition, and interaction of cracks in fluid-exposed rocks. Crack length and J-integral analysis quantifies the impact of fluid exposure on the fracture toughness.
The Role of Niobium during Heat Treatment of High-Vanadium High-Speed Steel Rolls for Improved Mechanical Properties
Authors: Chauke Rivoningo E. , Siyasiya Charles W. , Nyabadza Davisn
Published: October 2024

High-speed steel (HSS) provides superior wear resistance and high surface quality of rolled-steel products. In this study, the influence of niobium addition on the solidification behavior and microstructure of high-speed steel rolls and their impact on the roll’s hardness and wear resistance were investigated by a combination of thermodynamic simulations of solidification using ThermoCalc, optical and scanning microscopy and hardness testing. The study was conducted on two centrifugal-cast commercial high-vanadium high-speed steel sleeves whose compositions differed in niobium content. Thermodynamic simulations showed that niobium promotes the precipitation of proeutectic Nb-rich MC carbide during solidification. Microscopic observations showed that the proeutectic carbide promotes carbide dispersion in the microstructure. This was found to improve the microhardness of the martensitic matrix and counteract softening during repeated tempering treatment. The addition of less than 2 wt.% Nb in the HSS roll yielded better hot hardness as a result of the roll’s better microstructural integrity and response to HT. The conclusion was that Nb-containing HSS rolls can be produced for the hot-rolling stands that operate at higher rolling force and temperature if the cost-benefit analysis is favorable.
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 related in-hospital mortality, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation of 1.4 million patients in Germany and Switzerland, 2019 to 2022
Authors: Kodde Cathrin , Hohenstein Sven , Nachtigall Irit , Cavalli Yvonne , Schuepbach Reto , Graf Raphael , Bollmann Andreas , Kuhlen Ralf
Published: October 2024

Purpose

In the 2020 emergence of SARS-CoV-2, global response lacked unified treatment and surveillance, resulting in diverse impacts due to varied healthcare resources and national guidelines. Germany and Switzerland curbed the virus initially by promptly tracking and testing, bolstered by strong governmental capacity. This study aimed to assess country-specific healthcare disparities and their impact on ICU admission rates, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality.

Methods

To enhance healthcare quality using real-world data, the “Initiative of Quality Medicine” (IQM) was established. Pseudonymised routine data from participating hospitals, during 01/01/2019–31/12/2022, was retrospectively analysed, focusing on patients with SARI ± SARS-CoV-2-infection (U07.1). Cohorts were matched based on various factors and multivariable analyses included logistic regression.

Results

1.421.922 cases of SARI ± U07.1 involving 386 German and 41 Swiss hospitals were included. Patients in Germany were older (mean: 69.4 vs. 66.5 years) and had more comorbidities than in Switzerland (p < .001). Patients in Germany were also more likely to be treated on ICU (28% vs. 20%, OR 1.5 95% CI 1.5–1.6, p < .001) and mechanically ventilated (20% vs. 15%, OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.4–1.5, p < .001). The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in Germany than in Switzerland (21% vs. 12%, OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.9–2.0, p < .001). Matched cohorts showed reduced differences, but Germany still exhibited higher in-hospital mortality. Discrepancies were evident in both pre-pandemic and pandemic analyses, highlighting existing disparities between both countries.

Conclusion

IQM data from Swiss and German hospitals reveals country-specific differences in SARI ± U07.1 outcomes, highlighting higher in-hospital mortality in Germany, with uncertain causes suggesting varied treatments and resources.
Prevalence of Echolalia in Autism: A Rapid Review of Current Findings and a Journey Back to Historical Data
Authors: Sutherland Rebecca , Bryant Lucy , Dray Julia , Roberts Jacqueline
Published: October 2024

Purpose of Review

The aim of this rapid review was to understand how current research describes and quantifies the prevalence of echolalia, generally described as the repetition of other’s speech, in autism.

Recent Findings

Five databases were searched for papers published in the last ten years (i.e., since 2014) that reported studies presenting new data regarding echolalia prevalence among autistic participants (11 studies), and studies presenting secondary prevalence figures based on prior research (11 studies). Primary echolalia prevalence estimates among children and youth ranged from 25 to 91%. Studies citing secondary statistics drew their prevalence from six population samples reported across nine papers from 1965 to 2014, with most studies citing research published in the 1960s.

Highly varied prevalence estimates and discrepant definitions of echolalia across studies reflects longstanding and entrenched problems regarding the ways that echolalia is defined and described. More research into echolalia prevalence and change across age and ability groups is needed to inform evidence-based supports for autistic people.
Unleashing the Potential of Electroactive Hybrid Biomaterials and Self-Powered Systems for Bone Therapeutics
Authors: Liu Shichang , Manshaii Farid , Chen Jinmiao , Wang Xinfei , Wang Shaolei , Yin Junyi , Yang Ming , Chen Xuxu , Yin Xinhua , Zhou Yunlei
Published: October 2024

The incidence of large bone defects caused by traumatic injury is increasing worldwide, and the tissue regeneration process requires a long recovery time due to limited self-healing capability. Endogenous bioelectrical phenomena have been well recognized as critical biophysical factors in bone remodeling and regeneration. Inspired by bioelectricity, electrical stimulation has been widely considered an external intervention to induce the osteogenic lineage of cells and enhance the synthesis of the extracellular matrix, thereby accelerating bone regeneration. With ongoing advances in biomaterials and energy-harvesting techniques, electroactive biomaterials and self-powered systems have been considered biomimetic approaches to ensure functional recovery by recapitulating the natural electrophysiological microenvironment of healthy bone tissue. In this review, we first introduce the role of bioelectricity and the endogenous electric field in bone tissue and summarize different techniques to electrically stimulate cells and tissue. Next, we highlight the latest progress in exploring electroactive hybrid biomaterials as well as self-powered systems such as triboelectric and piezoelectric-based nanogenerators and photovoltaic cell-based devices and their implementation in bone tissue engineering. Finally, we emphasize the significance of simulating the target tissue’s electrophysiological microenvironment and propose the opportunities and challenges faced by electroactive hybrid biomaterials and self-powered bioelectronics for bone repair strategies.
Temperature driven n- to p-type conduction switching in SnSe and its mitigation through Zn doping with added advantage of Improved thermoelectric performance
Authors: Yadav Manisha , Singh Vishal , Sharma Sanjeev K. , Archana J. , Navaneethan M. , Pathak Ankita , Bharti Meetu , Singh Ajay
Published: October 2024

Tin selenide (SnSe) has emerged as a surprising new p-type thermoelectric material with exceptionally low thermal conductivity, leading to impressive thermoelectric performance. However, the presence of thermally conducting & electrically insulating SnO2 at the grain boundaries of SnSe supresses its desirable thermoelectric properties. In this work we report temperature dependence of Seebeck coefficient for polycrystalline SnSe which exhibits an unusual reversible change in conduction from n- to p-type at ~ 565 K. The n-type conduction near room temperature is attributed to the Se deficiency as well as SnO2 present at grain boundaries. At high temperature formation of Sn vacancies leads to p-type conduction. The Zn doping at Sn site (Sn1−xZnxSe) establishes the usual p-type conduction in the entire temperature range along with the lowering of thermal conductivity, resulting in a figure-of-merit of ~ 0.15 at 700 K, which is nearly 275% higher than that for pristine SnSe.

Graphical abstract
Contextual analysis of child labor laws and educational rights for children in Pakistan with a focus on KPK province
Authors: Hanane Merzougui , Xianghe Gong , Ali Danish
Published: October 2024

Child labor is defined as the exploitation of children in any form of labor that destructively affects the child's mental, social, and physical health and creates hurdles to obtaining a regular education. This study was conducted to investigate the main socio-economic factors contributing to child labor and barriers to education and analyze the practical implications of child labor laws in Pakistan. The study area in this study is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The primary data were collected through an online questionnaire survey from teachers, school administrators, government officials responsible for enforcing child labor laws and educational policies, and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), while personal observations and interviews were used for the collection of data from child laborers, parents or guardians of child laborers. A total of 80 teachers or education experts, 70 children and their guardians, 30 policymakers, and 20 social workers were participants in the data collection process. The outcomes of this study concluded that about 78% of participants lacked awareness of these laws, while 71% perceived them as ineffective. The socioeconomic factors contributing to child labor are quantitatively assessed, with poverty identified as the primary factor (65%). The statistical analysis indicates that the socioeconomic factors have a significant contribution to the implementation of child education laws in Pakistan (a p-value lower than the level of significance (0.05). Discrimination based on gender or social status, high cost of education, and insufficient qualified teachers are significant barriers to providing quality education for children in Pakistan. This study recommends promoting inclusive education and strengthening social welfare programs to support their efficacy in combating child labor and ensuring access to quality education for all children in Pakistan.
Acceptance of pharmacist-led stewardship recommendations for patients with community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Walker Ramara E. , Schulte Rebecca , Pallotta Andrea M. , Tereshchenko Larisa G. , Criswell Victoria A. , Deshpande Abhishek , Rothberg Michael B.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalizations and mortality in the US. Overuse of extended spectrum antibiotics (ESA) for CAP contributes to antimicrobial resistance. The 2019 Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society CAP guidelines emphasize de-escalation of ESA following negative cultures, early switch to oral (PO) antibiotics, and limited duration of therapy (DOT). This study describes clinicians’ acceptance of an infectious diseases-trained (ID) pharmacist-led stewardship recommendations in hospitalized patients with CAP.

Methods:

This prospective, single-arm, cohort study included adults admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia to six Cleveland Clinic hospitals receiving ID pharmacist-led stewardship recommendations. The ID pharmacist provided recommendations for ESA de-escalation, DOT, intravenous (IV) to PO transition, and antimicrobial discontinuation. Descriptive statistics were used to describe clinician acceptance rates.

Results:

From November 1, 2022, to January 31, 2024, the ID pharmacist made recommendations for 685 patient encounters to 327 clinicians. Of these patients, 52% received an ESA and 15% had severe CAP. There were 959 recommendations: ESA de-escalation (19%), DOT (46%), IV to PO transition (19%), antimicrobial discontinuation (13%), and other (3%). Clinicians accepted 693 recommendations (72%): IV to PO transition (148/184, 80%), ESA de-escalation (141/181 78%), antimicrobial discontinuation (94/128, 73%), DOT (286/437, 65%), and other (24/29, 83%).

Conclusion:

Clinicians were generally receptive to ID pharmacist-led CAP recommendations with an overall acceptance rate of 72%. Prescribers were most receptive to recommendations for IV to PO conversion and least receptive to limiting DOT.
Data-Driven Policy Making and Its Impacts on Regulation: A Study of the OECD Vision in the Light of Data Critical Studies
Authors: Valli Buttow Clarissa
Published: October 2024

While the private sector is leading the way in digital transformation, the public sector is perceived as missing the opportunity. The way forward in this transformation is pointed out as adopting data-driven technologies as drivers of public policies. This will undoubtedly transform the regulatory process. To better understand how these technologies would intervene in the policy cycle and the effect of this transformation on regulation, this paper studies the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the matter. Adopting the public policy cycle as an analytical lens and illuminated by the insights of Critical Data Studies, this paper deepens the understanding of how these technologies could change the policy cycle and bring together steps previously conceived as subsequential stages. This transformation can trigger a real disruption of the regulatory process as we currently know it.
Flow through a hollow cube in a turbulent boundary layer: towards understanding indoor pollutant dispersion
Authors: Biswas Subhajit , Vanderwel Christina
Published: October 2024

We experimentally investigate the flow through a hollow cube, with an indoor ground-level passive scalar source, immersed in a rough-wall turbulent boundary layer inside a water tunnel. The focus is on characterizing scalar transport within the cube, through simultaneous scalar and flow measurements using planar laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry. To understand the role of window positioning, three cube configurations, labelled as ‘centre’, ‘up-down’ and ‘down-up’, distinguished by window positions at the upstream and downstream ends, are studied. Varying window position alters the flow characteristics within the cube, resulting in differences in scalar concentration and distribution. The steady-state concentration is highest for ‘centre’, followed by ‘up-down’ and ‘down-up’ configurations. Regarding the scalar distribution, ‘centre’ showed accumulation near the top and bottom walls, while ‘up-down’ and ‘down-up’ exhibited scalar buildup in the lower and upper half of the cube, respectively. The flow patterns and scalar transport mechanisms remained consistent across different Reynolds numbers (

$Re=U_{Ref}H/\nu = 20\ 000$

, 35 000, 50 000) for each configuration;

$U_{Ref}=$

incoming flow velocity at cube height (

$H$

), and

$\nu =\,$

kinematic viscosity of water. The analysis is extended by revising the classical box model, accounting for practical complexities such as non-perfect mixing. Our results can help better understand and model indoor–outdoor pollutant exchange in complex urban environments.
Modification of boundary layer turbulence by submesoscale flows
Authors: Johnson Leah , Fox-Kemper Baylor
Published: October 2024

The stirring and mixing of heat and momentum in the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL) are dominated by 1 to 10 km fluid flows – too small to be resolved in global and regional ocean models. Instead, these processes are parametrized. Two main parametrizations include vertical mixing by surface-forced metre-scale turbulence and overturning by kilometre-scale submesoscale frontal flows and instabilities. In present models, these distinct parametrizations are implemented in tandem, yet ignore meaningful interactions between these two scales that may influence net turbulent fluxes. Using a large-eddy simulation of frontal spin down resolving processes at both scales, this work diagnoses submesoscale and surface-forced turbulence impacts that are the foundation of OSBL parametrizations, following a traditional understanding of these flows. It is shown that frontal circulations act to suppress the vertical buoyancy flux by surface forced turbulence, and that this suppression is not represented by traditional boundary layer turbulence theory. A main result of this work is that current OSBL parametrizations excessively mix buoyancy and overestimate turbulence dissipation rates in the presence of lateral flows. These interactions have a direct influence on the upper ocean potential vorticity and energy budgets with implications for global upper ocean budgets and circulation.
The Hilbert series of the superspace coinvariant ring
Authors: Rhoades Brendon , Wilson Andrew Timothy
Published: October 2024

Let

$\Omega _n$

be the ring of polynomial-valued holomorphic differential forms on complex n-space, referred to in physics as the superspace ring of rank n. The symmetric group

${\mathfrak {S}}_n$

acts diagonally on

$\Omega _n$

by permuting commuting and anticommuting generators simultaneously. We let

$SI_n \subseteq \Omega _n$

be the ideal generated by

${\mathfrak {S}}_n$

-invariants with vanishing constant term and study the quotient

$SR_n = \Omega _n / SI_n$

of superspace by this ideal. We calculate the doubly-graded Hilbert series of

$SR_n$

and prove an ‘operator theorem’, which characterizes the harmonic space

$SH_n \subseteq \Omega _n$

attached to

$SR_n$

in terms of the Vandermonde determinant and certain differential operators. Our methods employ commutative algebra results that were used in the study of Hessenberg varieties. Our results prove conjectures of N. Bergeron, Colmenarejo, Li, Machacek, Sulzgruber, Swanson, Wallach and Zabrocki.
The role that USAID and other development funders play in furthering mental health research
Authors: Schwartz Lyla ,   USAID Inclusive Development Hub and Victims of Torture Fund
Published: October 2024

Feb. 19, 2024.
Depo-Provera, Class, Race, and the Domiciliary Family Planning Services in Glasgow and Haringey, 1970–1983
Authors: Rusterholz Caroline , Kelly Laura
Published: October 2024

In 1976, the Committee of Safety of Medicines (CSM) in Britain authorized the contraceptive injectable Depo-Provera (DP) for short-term use and for two main reasons only: if a woman had received a rubella vaccine or if her partner had just undergone a vasectomy. Although officially authorized on restricted grounds only, the drug appears to have been widely prescribed by doctors of the Domiciliary Family Planning Services (DFPS). This article takes the prescription of DP in the DFPS of Haringey, a multiracial neighbourhood in London, and Glasgow as a comparative case-study to explore the intersections of medical authority, race, and class. Drawing on the archives of the Wellcome Collection, London, and the NHS Archives of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, we show that the DFPS offered the ideal setting to test and prescribe Depo-Provera widely. In the hands of the medical profession, the drug at times became a tool of violence towards women from disadvantaged backgrounds. In doing so, we contribute to the wider, global history of DP, and illustrate how racist, classist, and ableist prejudices could shape family planning services in the British context.
Effects of organic substrates on growth rate parameters of a boreal cyanolichen
Authors: Almer Jasmin , Werth Silke
Published: October 2024

We investigated the influence of availability as well as type of organic substrate on the growth of the cyanolichen Peltigera membranacea. A total of 145 lichen lobes were grown in a plant growth chamber for 28 days. Of these, 73 were kept in permanent darkness and another 72 were exposed to a diurnal light-dark cycle. A third of the lobes from both treatments were grown on pulverized leaf litter, the second third on pulverized bryophytes, and the remainder were grown without an organic substrate to serve as a control group. Growth was quantified via relative growth rate, relative thallus area growth rate, and changes in specific thallus mass. The lobes kept in a diurnal light-dark cycle showed higher growth rates than those kept in darkness, as is expected for an organism that obtains its carbon from its photoautotrophic symbiosis partner. Furthermore, growth rates were higher in lobes growing on organic substrates. The results show that the availability of an organic substrate positively affects lichen growth in a growth cabinet. Leaf litter led to a higher biomass gain in lichen lobes, whereas area gain was unrelated to substrate type.
Authoritarian and democratic states: the COVID-19 pandemic and the efficacy of public health outcomes
Authors: Ha Hyesong , Knox Colin , Janenova Saltanat
Published: October 2024

There is a populist narrative that authoritarian regimes were better able to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic because of their strict enforcement powers, compliance of citizens, and speed of autocratic decision-making in a crisis. Research evidence to date on this assertion is however inconclusive or inconsistent. This paper analyses data from democratic and authoritarian countries with the aim of finding out whether autocratic regimes, using greater stringency measures (policy interventions to tackle COVID-19), had better public health outcomes than their counterparts. The results show that authoritarian regimes performed better in tackling the pandemic in terms of infection and death rates than their counterparts. However, we did not find any empirical evidence on the moderation effect of trust in government on the relationship between stringency measures against COVID-19 and policy outcomes. This result might be due to the lack of data transparency in authoritarian countries.