bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explaining Long-Term Trajectories in Youth Delinquency: Evidence From Survey and Register Data
Authors: Näsi Matti , Aaltonen Mikko , Kaakinen Markus , Suonpää Karoliina , Martikainen Pekka
Published: November 2024

This study examines survey-based and register-based trends in youth delinquency, namely theft and assault, in Finland over the past two decades. Our survey data includes data from five measuring points between 2004 and 2020. Our register data includes all individuals born in Finland between 1986 and 2000 who were alive and who were residing in Finland at the end of 2000. Survey findings indicate that changing routine activities in the form of declining risk routines, truancy, and alcohol consumption were the notable factors behind the declining trends in youth delinquency. With register data, maternal education appears to be the strongest contributor to the observed change, followed by maternal age. Overall, our finding emphasizes changes in the everyday activities of adolescents.
Beauty Builds Cooperation by Increasing Moral Concern for the Environment
Authors: Kirkland Kelly , Van Lange Paul A. M. , Charalambous Noah , Strauss Calypso , Bastian Brock
Published: November 2024

We aimed to investigate the role of moral value in influencing cooperative behavior in environmental conservation. Our research involved two studies examining whether attributing moral value to non-sentient resources (the environment) impacts participants’ resource preservation actions. Results revealed that associating an environmental consequence with resource consumption led to increased cooperative behavior, driven by a desire to protect trees and nature’s intrinsic value. Further, participants demonstrated higher conservation efforts when the environmental consequence was paired with a beautiful image of a tree. These findings suggest that the beauty of nature may be a significant driver of cooperation. The results of these studies shed light on the non-monetary value that people place on resources. Beauty and the inherent value of nature may be critical for our understanding of environmental conservation, emphasizing the potential of moral and aesthetic appreciation as key drivers of pro-environmental actions.
Book review: Trijita Gonsalves, Women in the Civil Services: Gender and Workplace Identities in India
Authors: Sodhi Inderjeet Singh
Published: November 2024

Trijita Gonsalves, Women in the Civil Services: Gender and Workplace Identities in India (Routledge, 2022), 170 pp. ₹1,295; £38.99.ISBN: 978-1-032-02417-2 (HBK); ISBN: 978-1-032-04528-3 (PBK); ISBN: 978-1-003-19363-0 (EBK).
Drivers of Iran’s Africa Engagement: An Analysis of High-Level Leadership Visits
Authors: Balci Ali
Published: November 2024

The nuanced dynamics of Iran’s engagement with Africa have captivated the attention of a broad spectrum of analysts and academicians. Endeavoring to elucidate the underpinnings of Tehran’s involvement on the continent, these scholars have posited a variety of determinants, yet the empirical validation of these factors remains largely unexplored. Leveraging a comprehensive dataset of Iran’s high-level diplomatic visits to African nations, this study seeks to critically assess the relevance and explanatory capacity of the determinants in the literature. Our findings indicate that ideological imperatives, market needs and access to strategic resources predominantly fuel Iran’s interests in Africa.
Multi-scale stochastic dynamic analysis of a damaged pretwisted composite strip
Authors: Patil Priyanka , Naskar S , Guruprasad P. J.
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes a stochastic approach for estimating the natural frequencies of reducible composite strips. The framework accounts for multi-scale uncertainty at micro, meso, and component levels; additionally, it accounts for damages due to matrix cracking and delamination in a pretwisted composite strip. An asymptotically accurate Variational Asymptotic Method (VAM) based model for cross-sectional stiffness is coupled with a one-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM) approach for the determination of natural frequencies of the pretwisted strips. The proposed model is validated by comparing the deterministic natural frequencies of composite strips with experimental and numerical results reported in the literature. The quantification of uncertainty is carried out by determining the probabilistic variations in the first three natural frequencies of the strips and analyzing the local and global sensitivity measures. The study identifies the uncertainties in material attributes, addressed at micro and macro levels, influencing the free vibration response of the strips.
Pedagogizing Identity in Teacher Education Through Critical Autoethnographic Narrative
Authors: Yazan Bedrettin
Published: November 2024

In this study, I report on my use of critical autoethnographic narrative (CAN) writing with English language teacher candidates (TCs) in a graduate-level teacher education course. In that iterative, scaffolded writing activity, I coached TCs to construct their teacher identity in narrative and make visible to themselves ideologies dominant in the sociopolitical context of language teaching. Drawing data from my CAN implementation in Spring 2023, I analyze Pamela's (pseudonym) case to address this research question: How does she construct her English language teacher identity in a semester-long CAN writing activity? The qualitative data analysis demonstrates that Pamela's language teacher identity involved: (a) becoming a social justice advocate, (b) grappling with neurodiversity, and (c) positioning language as an evolving local contextualized practice. Based on her positioning of language, she denies ‘one right way’ approach to language use, ‘teaching as correcting errors’ approach, and ‘assessment as gatekeeping’ approach as part of her teacher identity. Pamela's CAN shows that the personal, professional, and political dimensions of language teaching are intricately intertwined in teacher identity, and that teacher identity construction involves tensions of competing ideologies in the sociopolitical context.
The far right, banal nationalism and the reproduction of Islamophobia through the consumer activist campaign of Boycott Halal
Authors: Jafari Aliakbar , Saleh Alam
Published: November 2024

In this case study, we examine a UK-based anti-halal consumer activist campaign called the Boycott Halal Campaign (BHC). Using critical discourse analysis applied to online data, we show how, by framing halal-certified products as an existential threat to the UK, BHC drew from and contributed to the institutionalized ideology of Islamophobia. Given the potential of markets and consumptionscapes in increasing the visibility of ethnoreligious markers, we show how the far right has used these mundane arenas as fertile grounds on which to reproduce its discourse through banal nationalism and exclusionary civilizationism. We argue that beyond public protests, the far right has used consumer activism as a powerful tool for recruiting members and mobilizing different groups against Islam and Muslims. We contribute to the sociological accounts of inter-group identity dynamics by showing how activists can leverage the securitization discourse to mobilize different groups for their political ends. We argue that such mobilization (aimed at reproducing a collective identity) becomes possible when a social group perceives its collective identity to be under threat by another social group. The study calls for more research on how and why different forms of exclusionary ideologies can arise and evolve over time and what tools and mechanisms they can use to transmit their agendas and recruit members.
Everyday practices of administrative ambiguation and the labour of de-ambiguation: Struggling for water infrastructure in Mumbai
Authors: Dewoolkar Purva , Iossifova Deljana , Shelar Sitaram , Browne Alison L , Holm Elsa
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we use the notion of administrative precarity to refer to the vulnerability and insecurity experienced by marginalised and disadvantaged groups as a result of their interactions with ambiguous administrative procedures. Using the example of water infrastructure administration in Mumbai, specifically the experiences of ‘Pani Haq Samiti’– the ‘Right to Water campaign’– we formulate how administrative precarity and infrastructural violence intersect in transcalar practices of ambiguation in urban governance. We build on a nascent set of literature that illustrates how ambiguity in administrative processes is used as a tactic to avoid or deny the impacts of bureaucratic process of water and sanitation governance in Mumbai. We work through several examples of the ambiguous practices and paperwork involved in implementing the universal right to water in urban Mumbai with a specific focus on the challenges in non-notified slums. We demonstrate that the practices of ambiguation, are often entrenched in everyday interactions between citizens or activists and administrators on the ground. In enabling the continued withholding of water infrastructure these ambiguous bureaucracies create an administrative precarity and are thus constitutive to persistent infrastructural violence against marginalised groups. We show that everyday practices of activists and administrators provoke the labours of de-ambiguation as a pre-requisite to the implementation of infrastructural solutions to achieve the ‘Right to Water’ under administrative precarity. We call for more research on everyday practices of (de-)ambiguation, including highlighting the potentially transformative role that urban scholarship may take to support the labour of de-ambiguation.
Book review: Susan Visvanathan. 2022. Work, Word and the World: Essays on Habitat, Culture and Environment
Authors: Aiyadurai Ambika
Published: November 2024

Susan Visvanathan. 2022. Work, Word and the World: Essays on Habitat, Culture and Environment. New Delhi: Bloomsbury India. xiii + 315 pp. Index. ₹1,299 (hardback—ISBN: 9789354353734)
Challenges, coping strategies, and sources of support available to South African parents with children with autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown: a qualitative study
Authors: Karrit Miriam , Coetzee Bronwyne Jo’sean
Published: November 2024

Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known to be complex and challenging and likely to be exacerbated under conditions of stress and uncertainty. We aimed to explore how parents experienced parenting their child with ASD during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. We also aimed to identify the coping strategies and sources of support available to them during this time. Using an exploratory qualitative design within an interpretivist paradigm, we interviewed 23 parents of children with ASD between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Parents were recruited from an online support group for ASD in South Africa. Interviews were semi-structured and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis, using ATLAS.ti. We identified five themes: (1) The experience of communicating lockdown rules and disease containment measures to children, (2) Consequences of disruption to routine, (3) Parenting and interpersonal relationships in conditions of confinement, (4) Help-seeking and sources of support, and (5) Finding ways to cope amid a crisis. The findings demonstrate that the initial COVID-19 lockdown placed parents of children with ASD under considerable stress. Disrupted routines and interrupted access to financial, psychological, social, and educational support during the initial lockdown period exacerbated parenting experiences. This study highlights the importance of providing parents of children with ASD strategies to communicate significant change and various forms of support to navigate the negative effects of routine disruptions during conditions of uncertainty and crisis.
Older Adults’ Understanding of COVID-19 and Successful Aging: An Application of CEMSA to Ghana and Uganda
Authors: Otchere Faith Afua , Komuhendo Miriam , Anderson Lindsey , Ashby-King Drew T. , Agboada Delight
Published: November 2024

COVID-19 heightened the uncertainty of aging, mainly because older adults were considered most vulnerable to the virus's effects. This study utilized the Communicative Ecology Model of Successful Aging (CEMSA) as a framework to understand the intersection of aging, COVID-19, and communication. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore the nuanced accounts given by fourteen eligible participants from Ghana and Uganda to understand their communicative practices about successful aging during COVID-19. Findings revealed that expressing optimism about aging, planning for future care needs, self-categorization as old, or attributing behavior to old age, and using emerging communication technologies to foster engagement with friends and loved ones are crucial aspects of older adults’ communication around successful aging during the pandemic. The study also extended CEMSA to the African context and introduced faith as a new element that influenced how older adults communicate about successful aging that the model had not previously accounted for.
John R. Mott amidst the students: Historical and missiological gleanings for today
Authors: Hartley Benjamin L.
Published: November 2024

A century ago, John R. Mott (1865-1955) was the most recognizable name among Christian student movement leaders on six continents. Working together with other leaders from around the world, Mott was instrumental in ministry of the YMCA, the World’s Student Christian Federation, and the Student Volunteer Movement. This article first discusses Mott’s contributions as a strategist and analyzes the nature of his expansive network. It concludes with an examination of some theological themes that appear most prominently in his writings and correspondence. The article also interrogates what the American Society of Missiology and related organizations might learn from a similar examination of our network and Mott’s theological reflections on the ‘larger Christ’.
A Response to Dr. Hartley’s Presidential Address – ASM 2024
Authors: Kach-Yawnghwe Allison
Published: November 2024

The author reflects on some of the missiological insights from the life of John R. Mott, in response to Dr. Hartley’s presidential address to the American Society of Missiology at the 2024 Annual Meeting.
Infrastructure Megaprojects as World Erasers: Cultural Survival in the Context of the Tehuantepec Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor
Authors: Hofmann Susanne
Published: November 2024

This article explores the meanings of infrastructural changes resulting from the Corredor Interoceánico del Istmo de Tehuantepec (CIIT) infrastructure project for the cultural survival of Indigenous peoples resident in the Tehuantepec Isthmus region through the lens of ontological justice. Based on interviews with affected residents in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, this research finds a strong desire for cultural continuity, collective life projects, Indigenous languages, cultural identities, beliefs, spirituality, established political and legal systems, and a solidarity economy. Contemporary megacorridors function as circulatory infrastructures that shift the life-reproducing benefits from territories elsewhere, thereby effectively imposing integration and assimilation of Indigenous peoples, Afrodescendant and comunidades equiparables into the dominant modern/colonial extractivist one-world world, and provoking mundicide. This article provides an empirical case for the urgency of recreating an ontodiverse world order that can guarantee the futurity of other ways of world-making.
The Role of the North-China Herald in the Anti-Tax Activities of British Businessmen in Shanghai, 1850-1854
Authors: Cheng Hong , Zhu Boyan
Published: November 2024

Leveraging historical records from the North-China Herald alongside British Parliamentary archives and correspondence from key stakeholders, this article delves into the publication’s influence during the period of the “Shanghai Insurgents (1853-1855, i.e., from Qing Heen-Fung 3rd to 5th year).” Specifically, it investigates the North-China Herald’s involvement in the advocacy efforts of British merchants in Shanghai against taxation policies amid the backdrop of the conflict. Analysis reveals a notable shift: preceding the “Shanghai Insurgents,” British merchants voiced dissent against Qing government tax policies through the North-China Herald; post-war, the newspaper actively championed the grievances of British traders in Shanghai, amplifying their concerns through extensive coverage and commentary. Ultimately, the establishment of the “Office of Inspector of Chinese Customs” marked a significant triumph for the anti-tax activities led by British businessmen in Shanghai, with the North-China Herald in shaping public opinion and influencing policy outcomes.
Deliberate Practice with Motivational Interviewing: Basic Listening Skills for Undergraduates
Authors: Vega Angel L. , Olsen Joseph , Ogles Benjamin M.
Published: November 2024

Background

Training in professional psychology is moving beyond knowledge-based education and toward competency-based education. Similarly, experiential learning, focused more on skills than facts, is emphasized in undergraduate education. Few studies, however, have investigated the use of skill-based learning for clinically relevant skills in undergraduate psychology courses.

Objective

This study investigated deliberate practice as a skill-based method for training undergraduates to use basic Motivational Interviewing and reflective listening skills.

Method

In an upper-level undergraduate clinical psychology course, students were randomly assigned to an MI workshop that included deliberate practice to learn basic reflective listening skills or a waitlist control group.

Results

In both between (workshop versus waitlist) and within (pre versus post) group comparisons, students’ ability to use reflective listening improved as evaluated by raters, blind to condition, and in self-report measures of MI knowledge and skill.

Conclusion

Deliberate practice may be effectively incorporated into undergraduate courses to prepare novice helpers with basic listening skills.

Teaching Implications

Competency-based training in listening skills may help undergraduate students prepare for graduate school in the helping professions or any of multiple post-graduation professions not requiring professional training and licensure.
A Yin-Yang approach: Investigating students’ beliefs about teaching and learning in music among college students in Macau, China
Authors: Weatherly Katy Ieong Cheng Ho , Lin Yuqi
Published: November 2024

This exploratory study aims to investigate the beliefs of college students in Macau, China, regarding teaching and learning in the field of music education, including factors influencing students’ views and their ideal music classroom environment. Employing a Rigorous Mixed Methods Framework that included surveys, observations, interviews, and reflective essays, a sample of ( n = 120). Chinese college students and ( n = 3) college music instructors were selected for participation. In the initial phase, findings revealed a nuanced perspective among students, demonstrating a stronger preference for the Constructivist Conception over the Traditional Conception. However, during the second and third phases, the findings revealed a preference for traditional and master-apprentice styles of learning in practice. Through the analysis of all three phases of research, this study unveiled a complex and juxtaposed ideology of music learning among Chinese students. While there was a misalignment between students’ ideologies and behaviors, they consistently expressed a desire for a more collaborative, creative, supportive, and open environment in which they can freely share their musical passion. Rather than adhering to a binary approach, the findings suggest the necessity of embracing a more nuanced “Yin-Yang” perspective in Macau.
Improving Real-Time Trend Estimates Using Local Parametrization of Polynomial Regression Filters
Authors: Quartier-la-Tente Alain
Published: November 2024

This paper examines and compares real-time estimates of the trend-cycle component using moving averages constructed with local polynomial regression. It enables the reproduction of Henderson’s symmetric and Musgrave’s asymmetric filters used in the X-13ARIMA-SEATS seasonal adjustment algorithm. This paper proposes two extensions of local polynomial filters for real-time trend-cycle estimates: first including a timeliness criterion to minimize the phase shift; second with procedure for parametrizing asymmetric filters locally while they are generally parametrized globally, which can be suboptimal around turning points. An empirical comparison, based on simulated and real data, shows that modeling polynomial trends that are too complex introduces more revisions without reducing the phase shift, and that local parametrization reduces the delay in detecting turning points and reduces revisions. The results are reproducible and all the methods can be easily applied using the R package rjd3filters.
Risk factors for and short-term prognosis of intrauterine infection in preterm infants
Authors: Zhao Xuemei , Song Yue , Lu Liqun
Published: November 2024

Objective

To identify the risk factors for and short-term prognosis of intrauterine infection (IUI) in preterm infants.

Methods

We retrospectively collected clinical data regarding preterm infants (28+0–36+6 weeks of gestational age) with IUI from the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital between June 2017 and June 2022. The pathologic characteristics of the infants were classified using the Redline criteria, and the resulting groups were compared with respect to their clinical characteristics, indicators of infection, complications, and mortality rates.

Results

Three hundred thirty (78.1%) of the 422 enrolled neonates showed signs of histologic IUI; 51.8% showed histologic chorioamnionitis alone, and 48.2% showed both histologic chorioamnionitis and funisitis. The independent risk factors identified for IUI were maternal prenatal invasive manipulation, premature rupture of membranes (>18 hours before labor), and prenatal C-reactive protein concentration. The infants with IUI showed higher incidences of respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Low gestational age and low birth weight of preterm infants were significantly associated with a higher incidence of histologic IUI, more severe inflammation, and a higher incidence of complications.

Conclusions

Histologic IUI is associated with high complication and mortality rates in preterm infants, as is an increasing severity of inflammation.
The Use and Misuse of the ‘Local Turn’
Authors: Richmond Oliver P.
Published: November 2024

The following theoretical essay reassesses the critical project for peace and conflict research, and the implications of the related ‘local turn’. This represented an attempt to connect peace and justice more closely together by uncovering localised and subaltern political claims in conflict-affected societies, drawing on concepts of the everyday and hybridity, and on post-colonial and critical debates. The local turn’s subsequent and wide-ranging applications and appropriation were a reaction to the structural findings that were emerging in the field, which was no longer so clearly organised around hegemonic epistemologies, but was developing new ethico-political groundings (some of which indicated the direction of the emerging ‘sustainable development’ and ‘sustaining peace’ framework). The local turn’s critical implications transcend such doctrines even if its wider application has often been problematic.
The Biopolitics of Liberal War: Humanity, Temporality and Cosmology
Authors: Johnson Jamie M.
Published: November 2024

What is the relationship between war and liberalism? Over the last two decades, an extensive and influential literature inspired by Michel Foucault’s conception of biopolitics has argued that the ‘war on terror’ is defined by distinctly liberal forms of government. Underpinning this approach is an assumption of the primacy of contingency to the contemporary biopolitical imaginary. Through this governing cosmology, the ‘war on terror’ is said to be motivated by a politics of fear and uncertainty. This article contests this account of liberal war by demonstrating the biopolitical significance of potentiality. By illustrating how a specific configuration of potentiality informs contemporary governing understandings of humanity and temporality, this article argues that liberal war is also waged according to a politics of hope and certainty. Adopting a cosmological approach allows this article to develop the case for a pluriversal conception of biopolitics which better reflects the complex and contradictory character of liberal war in the 21st century. Such a perspective invites us to see how the ‘war on terror’ is not only a reflection of our darkest fears but also of our highest hopes.
Making Quick-Build Sidewalk Extensions Accessible to Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities
Authors: Scott Alan C. , Myers Linda , Schroeder Bastian , Worth O’Brien Sarah , Kent Margaret , Mello Megan , Bentzen Billie Louise (Beezy)
Published: November 2024

Quick-build sidewalk extensions that shorten crossing distances and improve visibility between drivers and pedestrians waiting to cross the street are understood by most travelers, but wayfinding is difficult for pedestrians with vision disabilities who are unlikely to know they exist without specific familiarization. This research evaluated the effectiveness of three potential treatments for mitigating these wayfinding problems, all of which resulted in improvements in measures of wayfinding: 1) removing the detectable warning surface (DWS) from the curb ramp and installing DWS across the width of the crosswalk at the perimeter of the sidewalk extension; 2) placing a 24-inch wide strip of raised-bar tactile direction indicators with bars oriented perpendicular to the crossing direction along one side of the curb ramp and extending through the sidewalk extension to the DWS at the perimeter; and 3) placing trapezoidal tactile warning delineators (TWDs) along the edges of the crosswalk, within the sidewalk extension, to delineate the pedestrian path. A combination of moving the DWS and installing TWDs along crosswalk edges resulted in the most accurate and effective wayfinding to and through the quick-build sidewalk extension. The spacing of vertical perimeter elements (e.g., flexible posts) to ensure they were detectable by pedestrians with vision disabilities was also evaluated. Participants who traveled outside the crosswalk reliably encountered and detected at least one vertical perimeter element when the maximum separation between vertical elements was 24 inches. The perimeter was not reliably encountered and detected when the separation between vertical elements was considerably greater.
Raman spectroscopy combined with active hyperspectral sensing for classification of waste plastics containing brominated flame retardants: A sensor fusion approach
Authors: Sormunen Tuomas , Rytöluoto Ilkka , Tenhunen-Lunkka Anna , Senna Vieira Francisco
Published: November 2024

Discrimination of waste plastics according to brominated flame retardant (BFR) concentration is essential to ensure quality and safety in recycling. We present a sensor fusion approach to classify BFR-containing plastic waste by combining Raman and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopies. We analysed 210 waste plastic samples sourced from waste electronics and electrical equipment stream and 25 laboratory-made plastics. The Raman spectra were acquired in the range 27–2481 cm−1 using a time-gated Raman and the NIR spectra in the range 4000–5260 cm−1 using a novel active hyperspectral sensor. Total elemental bromine concentrations were determined with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and used as reference for training extremely randomized trees classifiers for high- and low-bromine plastics with different thresholds of segmentation. The classifier models were built using Raman and NIR spectral data after reducing dimensions with principal component analysis, both separately and by fusing the data. We achieved over 80% balanced classification accuracies using all models, with significant improvements by data fusion.
The Clean Air Act and Local Employment Base Sensitivity
Authors: Carr Douglas , Yan Wenli
Published: November 2024

The Clean Air Act, an important part of U.S. federal environmental regulations, is designed to improve air quality in targeted localities. However, its implementation has unexpected impacts on local industrial structure. The authors identify the effect of nonattainment regulations under the Clean Air Act on the sensitivity of county employment to changes in the national economy, providing guidance for local economic development in counties affected by these regulations. The authors use nationwide, county-level, longitudinal data from 1979 to 2019 and adopt a difference-in-differences approach and implement Coarsened Exact Matching to make the treatment and control groups approximate a fully blocked experiment. The findings indicate that nonattainment for ground-level ozone and sulfur dioxide results in decreased employment sensitivity. This effect is seen immediately for ground-level ozone nonattainment, while it is not seen until 25 years for sulfur dioxide nonattainment. Furthermore, these employment effects persist after attainment status has been regained.
A Trajectory planning technique for grinding and polishing aerospace turbine blades’ thermal barrier coatings based on PCL point cloud processing
Authors: Shan Zhipeng , Cai Zhenhua , Chen Tingyang , Chen Ziyang , Hu Yu
Published: November 2024

The core components of an airplane are its aerospace engines, which are intricate in a wide range of applications and specialties. Their high technological barriers make them a crucial barometer of the power of an industrialized nation. The most common component in an engine among these pieces are the aviation blades. Thermal barrier coatings are very beneficial to aviation engine blades because they increase their resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, extending their lifespan in an environment where high temperatures, stress, and corrosion are common. However, the surface roughness of the coating during its application directly impacts engine performance. To reduce the surface roughness, it is necessary to grind and polish the coated surface. Traditional methods involve manual grinding and polishing or CNC machining. The former heavily relies on the skill level of workers, making it challenging to ensure precision, especially for small-sized blades with complex surface curvature. The latter, due to high costs and limited adaptability to various blade types, particularly for small blades, often fails to meet processing requirements. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an automatic grinding and polishing technique based on industrial robots. The method creates robot pathways that adapt to the complex surfaces of the blades by preprocessing scanned point cloud pictures of the blades, segmenting and discretizing the point cloud, and fitting B-spline curves. This approach ensures precision in grinding and polishing while preserving the coating thickness. It also enables quick changes to robot trajectories for various kinds of blades. Based on experimental results, the suggested method can meet the accuracy requirements for industrial blade grinding and polishing procedures by reducing roughness to less than Ra0.7μm while preserving the thickness of the blade coating.
Dynamic fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of wet friction components performance degradation based on G1-CRITIC
Authors: Wu Jianpeng , Yang Chengbing , Wang Yuxin , Li Pengpeng , Wang Liyong , Ding Ao
Published: November 2024

High power density wet friction components are crucial in heavy equipment transmission systems, directly influencing equipment reliability. This paper proposes a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method with combined weighting, which dynamically divides the performance degradation of wet friction components into three stages. It constructs a multi-indicator, multi-level evaluation system, in which the performance degradation data is obtained from the wet clutch accelerated life test. Additionally, we utilize the combined weighting method to dynamically allocate weights for evaluation indicators at different stages and introduce the trapezoidal distribution membership function. The accuracy of the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is then verified by using two prediction models as a comparison method. The results indicate that the model achieves an average relative error of 14.79% and a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.9580, indicating higher usability and accuracy than the prediction models. Furthermore, the evaluation indicator weights are more sensitive to pressure variations.
Mapping the Scientific Shreds on Barriers to SMEs’ Innovation
Authors: Gulia Disha , Arora Sapna , Rahul Kumar
Published: November 2024

The present study aims to showcase the vital contributions to innovation barriers in the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for 1975–2022.

With the help of VOSviewer, this bibliometric analysis employs a quantitative method based on documents retrieved from SCOPUS database to assess historical patterns, results and the key elements affecting open innovation in SMEs.

The results show an upward trend of research publications in the totality of the 222 documents contributed by 160 authors from 59 countries. The majority of research was conducted in developed countries. Findings also reveal the most cited research articles, keyword analysis, country collaboration and the number of documents published yearly.

Language bias may occur as this bibliometric study only included literature written in a single language. Consequently, studies released in other languages may go unnoticed.

This study is helpful for policymakers to provide a conducive environment for innovation among SMEs to keep economic growth on priority.

This study offers the first comprehensive assessment of innovation barriers in a holistic manner. With the help of bibliometric analysis, the study assesses the intellectual framework of open innovation in SMEs.
Living in the City: Jews and Their Residences in Medieval Fusṭāṭ
Authors: Yagur Moshe
Published: November 2024

Scholarly consensus maintains that there was a ‘Jewish neighbourhood’, or perhaps several such neighbourhoods, in cities throughout the Islamicate world. In the present article, I delve deeply into this concept, seeking to problematise and unpack it more fully, using the city of Fusṭāṭ in Egypt as a test case.
Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum in a rabies-positive striped skunk in Texas
Authors: Myers Sarah , Taylor Brianne , Wilson Ragan , Caseltine Shannon , Scimeca Ruth C.
Published: November 2024

We describe here a case of the sinus roundworm, Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum, found incidentally in a rabies-positive striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) in Texas, USA. Skunks serve as a natural definitive host for this metastrongylid nematode in North America, in which infections result in observable damage to the host cranium, where adult parasites reside. Additionally, skunks are considered the primary reservoir of rabies in Texas. In November 2022, the animal was discovered in northern Texas displaying neurologic signs before euthanasia and submission to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for rabies testing. Direct fluorescent antibody testing indicated that the animal was rabies-positive, and, upon tissue collection, numerous adult nematodes were recovered from the cranium and identified as S. chitwoodorum by morphology and amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Histologically, we found lymphohistiocytic meningitis in several loci and chronic sinusitis rostral to the cribriform plate. Due to behavioral abnormalities, we additionally tested for Toxoplasma gondii via PCR, but no parasite DNA was detected. Concurrent infection by S. chitwoodorum and rabies virus may contribute to neurologic signs in skunks.
Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Early Intervention Service Provision for Military Families: A Brief Report
Authors: Zellner Matthew A. , Grauzer Jeffrey , Kaat Aaron J. , Roberts Megan Y.
Published: November 2024

Understanding the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted birth-to-three early intervention (EI) service provision is critical as these services play an essential role in ensuring positive long-term developmental outcomes for children with disabilities, including those who are military dependents. The present study leveraged an interrupted time series approach to compare monthly service provision rates before and after the onset of the pandemic for a subset of children served by the Army Medical Department’s Educational and Developmental Intervention Services EI program. Analysis identified 77% and 93% immediate step decreases in EI referral and enrollment rates, respectively, following the onset of the pandemic in March 2020; however, rates returned to, or exceeded, prepandemic levels by late 2020. There were limited differences by race or ethnicity. Additional research is necessary to explore the mechanisms underlying these changes and to understand the long-term impact of missed referrals and enrollments on military children.
Peridynamics simulations of the damage of reinforced concrete structures under radial blasting
Authors: Shi Chuangxiang , Zhang Songxuan , Zhang Xiaoliang , Li Shaofan
Published: November 2024

Concrete is prone to damage under explosive loads, which can cause a large number of casualties and property losses. The concrete fragmentation process during explosion is transient and dynamic, and the experimental measurement of such events is difficult and risky to conduct, and the intermediate explosion process is difficult to observe in the experimental tests. Therefore, the numerical simulation is an ideal method to model and simulate the explosion process of concrete. Different from the traditional finite element method, Peridynamics (PD) method uses the spatial integral equation to replace the traditional local differential equation to solve the fragmentation problem with massive and complex discontinuous patterns. In this study, a peridynamics (PD) model is developed to simulate the failure process of reinforced concrete (RC) structures under radial blasting. Concrete PD models with different cavity sizes and reinforcement conditions were established and calibrated with the experimental data. We find that the crack growth and damage pattern obtained in the peridynamics simulation is consistent with the experiment test results, which verifies the feasibility of peridynamics method as a modeling tool for modeling concrete damage under explosive load and for evaluating anti-explosion performance of RC concrete structures.
Experimental and theoretical model study on grouting reinforcement effect of fractured rock mass
Authors: Wang Hui , Yu Hairong , Zhang Xiaotong , Zhuo Hongyu , Jia Jitao , Wang Haosong , Huai Hongyuan
Published: November 2024

The mechanical properties of fractured rock mass have an important influence on the safety and stability of underground engineering. Grouting is a common way to reinforce fractured rock mass. The uniaxial compression tests of red sandstone specimens with different prefabricated crack inclination angles before and after grouting were carried out. Based on the load-deformation data and synchronous image acquisition, the mechanical properties, crack propagation law and failure mode of the specimens before and after grouting were studied. The results show that the peak strength and elastic modulus of the ungrouted specimen increase with the increase of the inclination angle of the prefabricated crack. Compared with the ungrouted specimen, grouting can significantly improve the peak strength and elastic modulus of the specimen. The cracks of the ungrouted specimen mainly initiate from the tip of the prefabricated crack, and the cracks of the grouting specimen mainly initiate from the upper and lower surfaces of the specimen and the far field. Based on the macroscopic and microscopic damage theory, the constitutive model of grouting rock mass is proposed. By comparing with the experimental data, the rationality of the constitutive model is verified.
Ultrasound Imaging for the Evaluation of Anterior Talofibular Ligament Remnants in 547 Ankles With Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability
Authors: Takao Masato , Iwashita Kosui , Miura Taihei , Sivasamy Parthiban , Inagawa Miyu , Watanabe Takashi , Jujo Yasuyuki
Published: November 2024

Background:

There are few reports on the intra- and interobserver agreement and parameters for the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) imaging for chronic lateral ankle instability (LAI). The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of US imaging for identifying anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) remnants in patients with LAI.

Methods:

A total of 547 ankles from 406 patients underwent surgery for LAI between 2019 and 2022. If ligament fibers remained in US images, they were evaluated as positive. If the ligament was not visualized, it was evaluated as negative. Two observers performed repeated measurements. Arthroscopic findings were considered the “gold standard” for validity and diagnostic test accuracy purposes. The intra- and interobserver agreements and parameters for diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of preoperative US imaging as intraoperative arthroscopic findings were used as reference standards.

Results:

The intraobserver agreement was substantial, with an agreement of 98.54% and a kappa coefficient of 0.76. The interobserver agreement was also substantial, with an agreement of 98.72% and a kappa coefficient of 0.75. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of preoperative US imaging were 98.7%, 100%, and 98.7%, respectively. The PPV and NPV of US imaging were 100% and 61.1%, respectively. In the arthroscopic evaluation of the 7 cases in which US imaging showed false negative results, the ATFL ruptured at the fibular attachment and ran in contact with the talus.

Conclusion:

A US examination finding of an intact ATFL is highly likely to be correct. An US examination finding of a ruptured ATFL can be false and may require arthroscopic confirmation.
An efficient Volterra series approach for identifying nonlinear system vibration responses to an excitation
Authors: Liu Wentao , Zhang Yun , Wu Jiafeng , Wang Shouren , Shao Haiyan , Yang Yu'e
Published: November 2024

This paper focuses on the issue of nonlinear vibration responses identification of nonlinear systems. An efficient algorithm is presented, in which the nonlinear vibration system under studied is decomposed into a multiple-input/single-output (MISO) linear system with a series of power characterized inputs based on Volterra series, and the nonlinear output responses of different orders are identified by taking power spectra operation to the input and output data, revealing the contributions of each order nonlinearity to the output of the system. Compared to the existing method, the input signal of the system required in the presented approach need not remain unchanged in waveform and adjustable in magnitude. To verify the approach, a classic Duffing–Van der Pol oscillator was simulated, obtaining results very close to the fourth order Runge–Kutta method. Finally, an experiment analysis was carried out, in which the vibration transmission properties of a bolt connection were tested when the bolt was tight and loose, respectively. The results proved that the approach is effective in identifying nonlinear vibration frequency responses.
Advances in ArborX to support exascale applications
Authors: Prokopenko Andrey , Arndt Daniel , Lebrun-Grandié Damien , Turcksin Bruno , Frontiere Nicholas , Emberson J.D. , Buehlmann Michael
Published: November 2024

ArborX is a performance portable geometric search library developed as part of the Exascale Computing Project (ECP). In this paper, we explore a collaboration between ArborX and a cosmological simulation code HACC. Large cosmological simulations on exascale platforms encounter a bottleneck due to the in-situ analysis requirements of halo finding, a problem of identifying dense clusters of dark matter (halos). This problem is solved by using a density-based DBSCAN clustering algorithm. With each MPI rank handling hundreds of millions of particles, it is imperative for the DBSCAN implementation to be efficient. In addition, the requirement to support exascale supercomputers from different vendors necessitates performance portability of the algorithm. We describe how this challenge problem guided ArborX development, and enhanced the performance and the scope of the library. We explore the improvements in the basic algorithms for the underlying search index to improve the performance, and describe several implementations of DBSCAN in ArborX. Further, we report the history of the changes in ArborX and their effect on the time to solve a representative benchmark problem, as well as demonstrate the real world impact on production end-to-end cosmology simulations.
Examining Immediate and Sustained Effects of Check-In/Check-Out in Finnish Elementary Schools
Authors: Paananen Mika , Karhu Anne , Tolvanen Asko , Savolainen Hannu
Published: November 2024

Check-in/Check-out (CICO) behavioral support has been implemented in Finnish School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (SWPBIS) schools to cater to students who require personalized behavior support beyond the universal level. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of CICO as a behavioral support method. However, further research is needed to investigate its effectiveness in a larger sample and to analyze the timeline for behavioral change. This study focused on 51 elementary school students in Finland, assessing their behavior at baseline and during the CICO intervention phase using two data collection methods: the Daily Report Card (DRC) and the School Situation Questionnaire (SSQ). Nonlinear growth modeling was employed to examine the effects of the intervention. The results indicated that CICO yielded significant positive effects on behavior within 1 week of initiating support. After the outcomes stabilized, the behavior change remained stable beyond the first week of the intervention. These effects were detected in both the target behavior measured with DRC and the problem behavior measured with SSQ. These findings suggest that CICO interventions produce rapid and sustained changes in behavior. Further, the effects of CICO were observed in various settings within the school environment, indicating distal outcomes.