bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Portfolio selection revisited
Authors: Shkolnik Alex , Kercheval Alec , Gurdogan Hubeyb , Goldberg Lisa R. , Bar Haim
Published: November 2024

In 1952, Harry Markowitz formulated portfolio selection as a trade-off between expected, or mean, return and variance. This launched a massive research effort devoted to finding suitable inputs to mean-variance optimization. The estimation problem is high dimensional and a factor model is at the core of many attempts. A factor model can reduce the number of parameters that need to be estimated to a manageable size, but these parameters may incorporate substantial, hidden estimation error. Recent analysis elucidates the nature of this error, identifies a mechanism by which it can corrupt optimization and provides a method for its mitigation. We explore this analysis here by illustrating how to improve the volatility ratio of large optimized portfolios, leading to superior portfolio selection.$$^{*}$$

∗
Multi-objective improvement of Android applications
Authors: Callan James , Petke Justyna
Published: November 2024

Non-functional properties, such as runtime or memory use, are important to mobile app users and developers, as they affect user experience. We propose a practical approach and the first open-source tool, GIDroid for multi-objective automated improvement of Android apps. In particular, we use Genetic Improvement, a search-based technique that navigates the space of software variants to find improved software. We use a simulation-based testing framework to greatly improve the speed of search. GIDroid contains three state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms, and two new mutation operators, which cache the results of method calls. Genetic Improvement relies on testing to validate patches. Previous work showed that tests in open-source Android applications are scarce. We thus wrote tests for 21 versions of 7 Android apps, creating a new benchmark for performance improvements. We used GIDroid to improve versions of mobile apps where developers had previously found improvements to runtime, memory, and bandwidth use. Our technique automatically re-discovers 64% of existing improvements. We then applied our approach to current versions of software in which there were no known improvements. We were able to improve execution time by up to 35%, and memory use by up to 33% in these apps.
A life cycle assessment of cover crop ensiling and co-digestion with cattle manure
Authors: Rydgård Maja , Jensen Lars Stoumann , Schwartzkopff Magdalena Vinkler , Pinna Susanna , Sørensen Peter , Bruun Sander
Published: November 2024

Cover crops offer a potential biogas feedstock, and to enable continuous operation of the biogas plant, ensiling can be used for biomass preservation. The aim of the present study was to assess the environmental impacts of biogas production at an organic dairy farm for two modelled scenarios: (1) harvesting and ensiling of cover crops and cereal straw and co-digestion with cattle manure, or (2) mono-digestion of cattle manure and direct cover crop soil incorporation. The biogas scenarios were modelled in a consequential LCA in relation to a common baseline without anaerobic digestion, with cover crop soil incorporation and field application of raw cattle manure. Biogas scenarios resulted in decreased global warming impacts of (1) 250 and (2) 120 Mg CO2eq for a 1000-hectare example dairy farm due to substitution of natural gas. However, emissions from ensiling, biogas plant operation, and agronomic effects increased other environmental impacts. Agronomic modelling with the Daisy model showed a crop yield increase of 0.11 Mg DM ha−1 year−1 on a sandy loam soil with cover crop digestion, but also an increase in N leaching of 38% and a decrease in soil C stocks of 8.1 Mg C ha−1 over 100 years relative to the reference. Emissions of VOCs and NOx during ensiling increased ozone formation and negative impacts on human health and ecosystems, although further research is needed to better understand these emissions. In conclusion, this modelling study shows that greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by using ensiled cover crops for co-digestion with manure when biogas is used to substitute fossil gas, although trade-offs with other environmental categories must be considered.
“It Requires Privacy”: Sharing a House in Thirteenth-Century Paris
Authors: Roth Pinchas
Published: November 2024

Analysis of a legal ruling by Yehiel of Paris (d. ca. 1260) in a rental dispute between two Jewish men sheds light on aspects of Jewish life in a major medieval European city. Two Jews rented an apartment from a Christian owner, and a dispute arose when one of the tenants left mid-term and his replacement, also a Jewish man, tried to renew the lease directly with the landlord. The original tenant claimed the exclusive right to renew the lease and that he was unwilling to share the apartment with the new tenant as this would impinge on his privacy in use of the lavatory. This article attempts to unravel the legal and cultural dimensions of the dispute and the demographic and architectural realities underpinning it. The article maintains that the disputants’ legal arguments drew upon both Jewish legal tradition and the legal norms of the rental market in Paris. The legal and cultural significance of privacy in the medieval urban context also plays an important role in the case.
Home and Community Participation Patterns, Quality of Life and Family Routines among Preschool Children with ADHD
Authors: Golos Anat , Paz Sapir Weintraub , Zaguri-Vittenberg Shahar
Published: November 2024

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms manifest early in childhood and impact participation in daily activities and quality of life (QoL). Family routines may enhance the participation of children with ADHD. However, few studies have examined the correlations linking participation, QoL, and family routines in this population. This study aimed to describe participation patterns, environmental factors, family routines, and QoL of preschool children with ADHD, and examine the relationships of these variables. Parents of 70 children aged 4–6 (79% boys), clinically-evaluated as having ADHD or suspected ADHD, completed demographic, participation and environment, QoL and family routines measures. Frequency of participation and desire for change at home were found to be significantly higher compared to the community, while involvement did not differ between settings. Environmental factors supporting and inhibiting participation were identified. Significant correlations were found between home participation and family routines, and between home participation and QoL. The findings reinforce the need for an in-depth examination of participation patterns, environmental factors, and family routines to determine appropriate intervention goals that promote the participation and QoL of preschool children with ADHD.
The objectivity of mathematics in Cassirer’s symbol-theoretical approach
Authors: Schneider Domenico
Published: November 2024

Cassirer’s concept of symbolic forms represents a cultural-philosophical approach in which specific modes of objectification, the symbolic forms themselves, establish an independent truth. This truth does not consist in a purely analytical truth, but in the fact that we live along these symbolic forms in a specific stubbornness. When we use language, we live and experience language in its specific autonomy. The same applies to the other symbolic forms developed by Cassirer. Both before the cultural-philosophical phase of creation and within the philosophy of symbolic forms, Cassirer refers to mathematics several times. An interesting tension arises as to whether Cassirer could have understood mathematics as a symbolic form in its own right. On the one hand, cultural-historical considerations in Cassirer’s work speak in favour of this; on the other hand, Cassirer embeds mathematics as a mere formal science in physics and thus in the philosophical form of science as a whole. The article explores this tension—mathematics as a symbolic form—and shows that only indications within the framework of the historical-hermeneutical treatment would speak in favour of such an interpretation. Furthermore, the article argues that a specific, cultural-historical semiotics can be considered for mathematics in Cassirer’s work.
Huygens synchronization of three aligned clocks
Authors: Buescu Jorge , D’Aniello Emma , Oliveira Henrique M.
Published: November 2024

This study examines the synchronization of three identical oscillators arranged in an array and coupled by small impacts, wherein each oscillator interacts solely with its nearest neighbour. The synchronized state, which is asymptotically stable, is characterized by phase opposition among alternating oscillators. We analyse the system using a non-linear discrete dynamical system based on a difference equation derived from the iteration of a plane diffeomorphism. We illustrate these results with the application to a system of three aligned Andronov clocks, showcasing their applicability to a broad range of oscillator systems.
Connectivity of Parameter Regions of Multistationarity for Multisite Phosphorylation Networks
Authors: Kaihnsa Nidhi , Telek Máté L.
Published: November 2024

The parameter region of multistationarity of a reaction network contains all the parameters for which the associated dynamical system exhibits multiple steady states. Describing this region is challenging and remains an active area of research. In this paper, we concentrate on two biologically relevant families of reaction networks that model multisite phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of a substrate at n sites. For small values of n, it had previously been shown that the parameter region of multistationarity is connected. Here, we extend these results and provide a proof that applies to all values of n. Our techniques are based on the study of the critical polynomial associated with these reaction networks together with polyhedral geometric conditions of the signed support of this polynomial.
Reorienting DMO efforts to improve sustainability and reduce the perceived crowding of tourists visiting a destination
Authors: Fierro-Rubio Paula , Sanz-Blas Silvia , Buzova Daniela
Published: November 2024

The present research analyses  the changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has generated in the attitudes and behaviour of tourists in relation to sustainability and their perception of crowding. The aim is to understand the new needs and feelings of consumers so that companies and tourist destinations are able to adapt their offer to the new demands. For this purpose, qualitative research was carried out by means of six focus groups, with a sample of 44 individuals. The focus groups were analysed with NVIVO software in order to identify the main themes, perceptions and feelings of the interviewees in relation to sustainability and crowding. The main results show that, although concerns about sustainability and rejection of the crowds increased during the pandemic, these concerns have again become less important to tourists once it has ended. Although sustainable and less crowded tourist destinations are generally preferred, the reality is that post-Covid tourist behaviour has not changed that much after the pandemic has ended. The conclusions obtained will be useful for companies, public administrations, destination management organizations and tourist destinations to know, understand and be able to adapt their offer to the trends and new demands of the post-Covid tourist.
The molecular composition of birch tar and its infrared spectrum
Authors: Schmidt Patrick , Koch Tabea J.
Published: November 2024

Birch tar was the first substance made by humans that is otherwise not available in nature. The oldest artefacts date to ~ 200 thousand years ago in Europe but birch tar becomes more frequent around 45 thousand years ago and even more so from the Mesolithic onwards. Their study has important implication for our understanding of evolutionary processes such as cognitive capacity and cultural evolution. What remains unknown is the overall molecular composition of birch tar. Several approaches based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have shown the potential of studying solvent soluble molecules to understand the botanical origin of different tars, their manufacturing techniques and their post-depositional alteration mechanisms. However, birch tar’s soluble fraction cannot shed light on its mechanical properties. In this study, we conduct gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and spectroscopic analysis of seven bulk birch tar samples, including infrared band assignment and structural refinement of organic molecules in the insoluble fraction. We find that the overall proportion that cannot be analysed by gas chromatography accounts for 85–90% in birch tar. This phase consists of polymerised molecules with a structure analogous to asphaltenes but containing a significantly greater amount of oxygen-related functional groups. Our findings have implications for understanding the viscosity, adhesiveness and stiffness of birch tar and they call for caution in applying analytical techniques that only target soluble molecules in birch tar.
Enhanced 3D-printed Matrix for Electrocatalytic Detection: A Practical and Simple Electrochemical Platform
Authors: Jędrzak Artur , Jesionowski Teofil
Published: November 2024

In this work, we proposed a novel 3D-printed manufactured electrode system. A project was developed and optimized, compatible with commercially available potetiostats. Additive manufacturing included the modification of the pseudo-reference electrode by electrodeposition of silver and its subsequent oxidation to the Ag/AgCl form. Then the system was tested using electrochemical techniques to check the application as a universal electroactive platform. As an example, we checked the detection of paracetamol as a common substance from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Finally, the system was compared to available commercial carbon electrodes, considering the screen-printed electrode (SPE no.1 and SPE no.2) and the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), showing higher sensitivity and linearity range compared to commercial screen-printed systems. The novelty of the proposed platform unveils a new way of common, simple, budget, and fast obtaining a universal electroactive platform for electrochemical research, keeping high-performance parameters.
Evolutionary game theory-based finite element model updating of a moveable cable-stayed footbridge
Authors: Jiménez-Alonso Javier Fernando , Suzana Ereiz , Duvnjak Ivan , de Sá Caetano Elsa
Published: November 2024

Evolutionary game theory allows determining directly the solution of the maximum likelihood finite element model updating problem via the transformation of a bi-objective optimization problem into a game theory problem. The formulation of the updating problem as a game avoids the computation of the Pareto front and the solution of the subsequent decision-making problem, the selection of the best solution among the elements of the Pareto front. For this purpose, each term of the bi-objective function is considered as a player that interacts collaboratively or non-collaboratively with the other player during the game. One of the main advantages of this method is that a different global optimization algorithm can be associated with each player. In this manner, a higher performance in the solution of the updating problem is expected via the linking between each term of the objective function (a player) and the algorithm considered for its minimization. In this study, this advantage is analysed in detail. For this purpose, the finite element model updating process of a real footbridge, the Viana do Castelo footbridge, has been considered as a benchmark. As global optimization algorithms, different nature-inspired computational algorithms have been considered. The updating problem has been solved using two different methods: (i) the linking of a conventional bi-objective optimization method together with a decision-making method; and (ii) an evolutionary game theory method. As a result, a higher performance of the game theory method has been highlighted. Additionally, the influence of the considered optimization algorithm in the updating process has been noted.
Sand and Dust Storm Risk Assessment in Arid Central Asia: Implications for the Environment, Society, and Agriculture
Authors: Wang Wei , He Shanfeng , Guo Hao , Abuduwaili Jilili , Samat Alim , De Maeyer Philippe , Van de Voorde Tim
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to assess sand and dust storm (SDS) risks in arid Central Asia during 2001–2021 from a multisectoral (environment, society, and agriculture) and comprehensive perspective on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The results show that the areas with moderate or greater SDS risk accounted for 18.75% of the total area of arid Central Asia. The high SDS risk areas are mainly concentrated in the oases around the desert and are most widely distributed in spring and summer. The SDS risk in the oasis area of southern Xinjiang increased significantly, while the SDS risk in the northeastern Aral Sea region and the Kazakh hilly region decreased significantly over the 21 years. Khwarazm of Uzbekistan, located in the Amu Darya River Delta, is the administrative district with the highest comprehensive risk of sandstorms, and the Balkan State of Turkmenistan and Kashi City and Zepu County in China are the administrative districts with the highest multisectoral risk of sandstorms. The results of this study provide a complete picture of SDS risks in the arid Central Asia region and will provide some guidance to policymakers and local authorities in SDS risk mitigation.
Deoxidation of Titanium Utilizing Thulium and Halide Flux
Authors: Kamimura Gen , Akaishi Kenta , Ouchi Takanari , Okabe Toru H.
Published: November 2024

Development of an efficient deoxidation method for titanium (Ti) is desired to recycle oxygen (O)-contaminated Ti scrap. In this study, the utilization of thulium (Tm) as a deoxidant for Ti in various halide fluxes was investigated. Tm is a rare-earth metal, which is a by-product of other rare-earth metals with high demand and has limited industrial uses. When NaCl or KCl flux was installed in the deoxidation experiments, the impurity oxygen in Ti was removed to the concentrations of 140–590 mass ppm O, which are lower than that achieved under the equilibrium between Tm and Tm2O3 (290–530 mass ppm O). The results show that the nominal activity of the deoxidation product (Tm2O3) was lowered by the presence of halide fluxes in the reaction systems. The combination of Tm and halide fluxes in a new deoxidation technique holds promising potential for both accelerating the Ti recycling and exploring novel applications for Tm.

Graphical Abstract
A New Method for Measuring Multilayer Thickness Using a Chromatic Confocal Sensor
Authors: Liu Tiancheng , Hong Yutong , Wu Jiajun , Zhu Wule , Ju Bingfeng
Published: November 2024

Multilayer transparent plates play a crucial role in industrial fields, such as optical lenses, electrodes, and solar panels, because of their superior optical and electrical properties. The thickness and uniformity of such plates are decisive for the quality of the final product. However, traditional contact measurement methods are inadequate in accuracy and pose the risk of damaging the plates, making nondestructive measurement of multilayer transparent plate thickness rather challenging. A new measurement technology is urgently needed. This study proposes a new method for the thickness measurement of multilayer transparent plates based on chromatic confocal sensor technology. First, we investigated the dispersive behavior of light in various media layers and derived theoretical measurement models for single-layer and multilayer transparent plate thicknesses. Subsequently, we designed and constructed a measurement system using a C-series chromatic confocal sensor and optical instruments and prepared a five-layer transparent sample consisting of quartz and air layers to confirm the feasibility of the method. The results of the experiment show that the proposed method can accurately measure the thickness of the five-layer sample with a maximum absolute error within 13 µm and a maximum relative error of 4.27%, thus proving its validity, precision, and stability. The results further indicate the high practicality and reliability of this technology in production environments, theoretically enabling the simultaneous measurement of up to 18 layers of the plate and offering broad application prospects in the industry.
What imaging does my AIS patient need? A multi-group survey of provider preferences
Authors: Zheng Jenny L. , Li Ying , Hogue Grant , Johnson Megan , Anari Jason B. , Regan Maia D. , Baldwin Keith D.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common diagnosis managed by pediatric orthopedic surgeons with nonoperative radiographic monitoring representing a cornerstone of treatment. Differences in practices and techniques for obtaining radiographic studies contribute to variation, cost of care, and hamper data aggregation. We surveyed several large organizations dedicated to children’s orthopedics or scoliosis care to obtain a consensus for radiographic evaluation of AIS.

Methods

A REDCap-based survey was developed across four institutions and beta-tested by staff and fellows from a single institution. The finalized survey was distributed to members of POSNA, PSSG, and SOSORT, and shared on social media. Participants were asked to rank the importance of various datapoints in radiographic assessment of the spinal deformity, skeletal maturity, and study indications during initial, subsequent, preoperative, and final office visits for AIS. Response rate for the overall group was 26%.

Results

Cobb angle was considered the most important (> 94%) radiographic index across all time points. For positioning, 46% of respondents favored arms bent touching clavicles as the ideal positioning for X-rays, and another 24% favored arms down with palms forward (Table 2). The majority of respondents obtain lateral X-rays at the first visit (99%) and at the preoperative visit (70%). At the preoperative visit, sagittal contour (86%), apex location (85%), and Lenke classification (73%) were considered important factors to record. Flexibility studies are primarily obtained at the preoperative visit (89%) and 81% of respondents prefer bending films as the flexibility technique of choice. Regarding measures of skeletal maturity, Sanders bone age was considered to be the most important by over 70% of respondents across initial, subsequent, preoperative and brace wean visits (Fig. 2). MRIs were obtained routinely by 34% of respondents and only when the patient had a concerning symptom or finding for 67% of respondents.

Conclusions

Despite large variations in radiographic examination of AIS, large areas of agreement were found. It is important to establish standards for positioning patients, evaluating skeletal maturity, and obtaining assessments including lateral views, flexibility studies, and advanced imaging. Establishing common practices for radiographic evaluation of AIS will allow for less variation in care and for critical questions to be answered through registry formation and large multicenter data collection.

Significance

This study establishes current practitioner opinion on the radiographic evaluation of the AIS patient. Minimum data sets are useful for data aggregation and answering research questions in the face of data variability.

Level of evidence

Level V.
LY354740, an agonist of glutamatergic metabotropic receptor mGlu2/3 increases the cytochrome P450 2D (CYP2D) activity in the frontal cortical area of rat brain
Authors: Bromek Ewa , Haduch Anna , Pukło Renata , Daniel Władysława A.
Published: November 2024

Background

Our previous studies indicated that changes in the functioning of the brain glutamatergic system involving the NMDA receptor may affect cytochrome P450 2D (CYP2D) in the brain. Since CYP2D may contribute to the metabolism of neurotransmitters and neurosteroids engaged in the pathology and pharmacology of neuropsychiatric diseases, in the present work we have investigated the effect of compound LY354740, an agonist of glutamatergic metabotropic receptor mGlu2/3, on brain and liver CYP2D.

Methods

The activity (high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection) and protein levels (Western blotting) of CYP2D were measured in the microsomes from the liver and different brain areas of male Wistar rats after 5 day-treatment with LY354740 (10 mg/kg ip). The results were analyzed statistically using Student’s t-test.

Results

Among the investigated brain areas, the highest CYP2D activity was found in the cerebellum and brainstem, which exceeded that in the thalamus, cortex, hippocampus and frontal cortex. The mGlu2/3 receptor agonist LY354740 administered for five consecutive days significantly increased the protein level and activity of CYP2D in the frontal cortex. Such a tendency was also observed in the other brain areas. LY354740 did not affect the CYP2D activity in the liver.

Conclusions

Repeated administration of the mGlu2/3 receptor agonist, the compound LY354740 specifically increases the protein level and activity of CYP2D in the frontal cortex, which may accelerate dopamine synthesis via an alternative CYP2D-mediated route in the mesocortical dopaminergic pathway, and thus may contribute to the beneficial pharmacological effect on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Versorgungsforschung im Strafvollzug
Authors: Stiel Stephanie , Heyl Lia
Published: November 2024

Hintergrund

Allgemeinmedizinische Versorgungsforschung im Strafvollzug ist insbesondere aufgrund der Vulnerabilität und der starken Abhängigkeit der zu versorgenden Inhaftierten von hoher Relevanz. Gleichzeitig unterliegt sie speziellen Regularien, die sich deutlich von denen der Forschung im öffentlichen Gesundheitssystem unterscheiden. Diese Arbeit zeigt auf, mit welchen Herausforderungen Versorgungsforschung im Strafvollzug verbunden ist, und liefert Lösungsansätze für die praktische Umsetzung.

Methoden

Im November 2023 wurde ein Fokusgruppeninterview mit 5 Expert:innen aus Praxis und Wissenschaft mit Erfahrung im Bereich Versorgungsforschung im Strafvollzug durchgeführt. Das Interview wurde mithilfe der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Die Auswertung brachte spezifische Herausforderungen für die Machbarkeit von Versorgungsforschung im Strafvollzug hervor. Eine Barriere kann in dem meist aufwendigen Feldzugang zu Anstalten bestehen. Föderalistische Regelungen und daraus resultierende Unterschiede in der Versorgungsrealität zwischen den Ländern machen bundeslandübergreifende Projekte erforderlich, gleichzeitig erhöht sich hierfür der bürokratische Aufwand. Zudem setzt die Nutzung sensibler medizinischer Daten von Inhaftierten strenge datenschutzrechtliche Prüfungen voraus. Die Motivation zur Unterstützung von Forschungsvorhaben sei dennoch sowohl bei Versorgenden in Anstalten als auch bei Inhaftierten hoch.

Schlussfolgerungen

Eine gute Vernetzung mit dem Anstaltspersonal und die rechtzeitige Einbindung von Kriminologischen Diensten sind besonders relevant für das Gelingen von Versorgungsforschung im Strafvollzug. Auch der Austausch mit externen Forschenden (z. B. aus dem eigenen Themengebiet) mit Strafvollzugerfahrung erscheint ratsam.
Thoughtful or distant farmer: Exploring the influence of human-animal relationships on rabbit stress, behaviour, and emotional responses in two distinct living environments
Authors: Fetiveau Manon , Savietto Davi , Janczak Andrew M , Fortun-Lamothe Laurence , Fillon Valérie
Published: November 2024

Both the nature of the human-animal relationship (HAR) and housing conditions significantly impact the welfare of farmed animals. To evaluate the influence of HAR on the behaviour, emotions and stress of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in two distinct outdoor living environments, we allocated 144 young rabbits to four groups (CPX-H, CPX-N, SPL-H, SPL-N) differing in the living environments (CPX for complex, and SPL for simple). The treatment by human (H) involved daily provision of additional food resources and stroking (thoughtful farmer). It commenced at 49 days of age and lasted for 16 days. N groups did not receive the treatment (distant farmer). The rabbits were observed between 48 and 73 days of age. Their behavioural responses to human presence were evaluated at 48 and 68 days using Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) and scan sampling. A set of tests was conducted at 68 days of age to assess their reactions to a novel object and human presence. Stress levels were measured by analysing corticosterone concentrations in their hair. Rabbits in the SPL environment spent significantly more time near the novel object than those in the CPX environment (24.7 vs 17.2%). Additionally, rabbits in the H treatment group spent more time near the human than those in the N treatment group (28.2 vs 17.1%) and accepted more strokes (90.2 vs 45.9%). Following the HAR treatment, rabbits in the H group were significantly more likely to be described as ‘Affectionate/Interested’ than those in the N treatment. Rabbits in the N treatment were described as ‘Indifferent’ significantly more in the SPL environment. However, there were no significant differences in hair corticosterone concentrations between the groups. These findings indicate that rabbits’ responses are influenced by both their living environment and the quality of their relationship with humans. Encouraging positive interactions with animals may enhance their welfare and facilitate daily care from farmers.
Extended Delays in Recognition of Stroke Symptoms and Stroke Code Activation for In-Hospital Strokes: The DELAY Study
Authors: Correia Pamela N. , Roy Justine , Haumesser Claire , Touma Lahoud , Jacquin Gregory , Poppe Alexandre Y. , Deschaintre Yan , Carpentier Ariane Veilleux
Published: November 2024

Background:

Patients with stroke while hospitalized experience important delays in symptom recognition. This study aims to describe the overall management of an in-hospital stroke population and how it compares with an out-of-hospital community-onset stroke population.

Methods:

In this retrospective observational study, we included consecutive patients with in-hospital and out-of-hospital strokes (both ischemic and hemorrhagic) over a period of one year treated at a comprehensive stroke center. Demographic and clinical data were extracted, and patient groups were compared with regard to stroke treatment time metrics.

Results:

A total of 362 patients diagnosed with acute stroke were included, of whom 38 (10.5%) had in-hospital and 324 (89.5%) had out-of-hospital strokes. The median delay to stroke recognition (time between the last time seen well and first time seen symptomatic) was significantly longer in in-hospital compared to out-of-hospital strokes (77.5 [0–334.8] vs. 0 [0–138.5] min, p = 0.04). The median time interval from stroke code activation to the arrival of the stroke team at the bedside was significantly shorter in in-hospital versus out-of-hospital cases (10 [6–15] vs. 15 [8–24.8] min, p = 0.01). In-hospital strokes were less likely to receive thrombolysis (12.8% vs. 45.4%, p < 0.01) with significantly higher mortality (18.2% versus 2.6%, p < 0.01) and longer overall median hospital stay (3 [1–7] vs. 12 days [7–23], p < 0.01) compared to out-of-hospital strokes.

Conclusion:

This study showed significant delays in stroke symptom recognition and stroke code activation for in-hospital stroke patients despite comparable overall stroke time metrics. Development of in-hospital stroke protocols and systematic staff training on stroke symptom recognition should be implemented to improve care for hospitalized patients.
Sub-100 fs pulse generation from dispersion-managed mode-locked Er:ZBLAN fiber laser at 2.8 μm
Authors: Zhou Xiabing , Qin Zhipeng , Xie Guoqiang
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate the sub-100 fs pulse generation from a dispersion-managed mode-locked Er:ZBLAN fiber laser at 2.8 μm. Both numerical simulation and experiment demonstrate that stretched-pulse and dissipative soliton mode lockings coexist in the near-zero-dispersion region of a fluoride fiber laser. With fine dispersion management, the shortest pulse of 95 fs was obtained from the stretched-pulse mode-locked Er:ZBLAN fiber laser, with an average power of 280 mW and repetition rate of 52 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest pulse to date directly generated from a mid-infrared mode-locked fluoride fiber laser.
The generalized quasilinear approximation of two-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection
Authors: Bose Rikhi , Kannan Veeraraghavan , Zhu Xiaojue
Published: November 2024

In the generalized quasilinear approximation (GQLA) (Marston et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 116, 2016, 214501), a threshold wavenumber (

$k_0$

) in the direction of translational symmetry segregates the total into large- (

$l$

) and small-scale (

$h$

) fields. While the governing equation for the large-scale field is fully nonlinear, that for the small scales is linearized with respect to the large-scale field. In addition, some nonlinear triad interactions are omitted in the GQLA. Herein, the GQLA is applied to two-dimensional planar Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC). A scale separation between the large-scale convection rolls and small-scale turbulent fluctuations is typical in RBC. The present work explores the efficacy of GQLA in capturing the scale-by-scale energy transfer processes in RBC. The initial condition for the GQLA simulations was either the statistically stationary state obtained in direct numerical simulation (DNS) or random fluctuations superimposed on the linear conductive temperature profile and

$\boldsymbol {u}=0$

. The GQLA simulations can capture the convection rolls for

$k_0$

larger than or equal to the dominant wavenumber for thermal driving of the flow (

$k_0 \ge k_{\hat {Q}}$

). Additionally, the GQLA emulates the fully nonlinear dynamics for

$k_0$

larger than or equal to the first harmonic of the convection-roll wavenumber (

$k_0 \ge 2k_{roll}$

). In the intermediate regime with

$2k_{roll} > k_0 \ge k_{\hat {Q}}$

, the dynamics captured in GQLA simulations is different from the DNS. In DNS, two primary energy transfer processes dominate: (i) the energy transfer to/from the convection rolls and (ii) the scale-by-scale inverse kinetic energy and forward thermal energy cascades mediated by the convection rolls. The fully nonlinear dynamics is emulated by GQLA when these energy transfer processes are faithfully reproduced. Utilizing the framework of altering the triad interactions in GQLA, an additional intrusive calculation, including target triad interactions, is performed here to study their influence. This intrusive calculation shows that the convection rolls are not captured in GQLA for

$k_0 < k_{\hat {Q}}$

because of the exclusion of the

$h \to l \to l$

and

$l \to h \to h$

triad interactions in GQLA. The inclusion of these triad interactions in the intrusive calculation yields the convection rolls, and the reproduced dynamics is similar to that of the intermediate GQLA regime with

$2k_{roll} > k_0 \ge k_{\hat {Q}}$

.
Step-change in supraglacial pond area on Tshojo Glacier, Bhutan, and potential downstream inundation patterns due to pond drainage events
Authors: Carr J. Rachel , Barrett Amy , Rinzin Sonam , Taylor Caroline
Published: November 2024

Climate change is causing Himalayan glaciers to shrink rapidly and natural hazards to increase, while downstream exposure is growing. Glacier shrinkage promotes the formation of glacial lakes, which can suddenly drain and produce glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Bhutan is one of the most vulnerable countries globally to these hazards. Here we use remotely sensed imagery to quantify changes in supraglacial water storage on Tshojo Glacier, Bhutan, where previous supraglacial pond drainage events have necessitated downstream evacuation. Results showed a doubling of both total ponded area (104 529 m2 to 213 943 m2) and its std dev. (64 808 m2 to 158 550 m2) between the periods 1987–2003 and 2007–2020, which was predominantly driven by increases in the areas of the biggest ponds. These ponds drained regularly and have occupied the same location since at least 1967. Tshojo Glacier has remained in the first stage of proglacial lake development for 53 years, which we attribute to its moderate slopes and ice velocities. Numerical modelling shows that pond outbursts can reach between ~6 and 47 km downstream, impacting the remote settlement of Lunana. Our results highlight the need to better quantify variability in supraglacial water storage and its potential to generate GLOFs, as climate warms.
Decolonizing Ukrainian Art History
Authors: Demchuk Stefaniia , Levchenko Illia
Published: November 2024

In this article, we analyze the influence of the colonial policy of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union on Ukrainian art-historical writing. As we shall reveal, the mechanisms of knowledge production created during that period continued to operate after the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine in 1991. The limitations that were imposed on the art-historical community, which can be regarded as colonial, shaped the crucial narratives (of the “triune nation”) and dictated the thematic scope of Ukrainian scholarship. The new notion of “mysteztvoznavstvo,” introduced in 1937 instead of the previously established Theory and History of Art, eventually led to a profound rift between Soviet Russian and Ukrainian scholarship and the Western world more generally. “Mysteztvoznavstvo” was supposed to be an umbrella term for art history, theory, and art criticism but ended up doing a disservice to each domain. Art theory in Ukraine was virtually nonexistent, whereas art history was mixed with art criticism, resulting in writing that did not meet widely accepted academic standards. This led to the isolation of Ukrainian scholars, who were confined to the Russian-speaking community and had very limited access to foreign scholarship. We also analyze the decolonization processes in the history of Ukrainian art prompted by the invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine after 2013, such as The Revolution of Dignity and “decommunization.” We argue that horizontal art history and decolonial approaches cannot adequately be applied if colonial tools are still used by the discipline. Epistemic decolonization can only be achieved after challenging the standards of “mysteztvoznavstvo” and, thus, by dividing art studies into three separate domains: art history, art theory, and art criticism, as each discipline has its own goals and methods.
Licking Milk Cans and Smashing Car Windows on Tape: On the Influence of Feminist Video Art on Today’s Pop Stars and the Framing of the Female Gaze in Public Discourse
Authors: Mantoan Diego
Published: November 2024

The essay aims at discussing visual arts and gender issues, with specific reference to models for female empowerment by means of aesthetic paradigm shifts. These took place thanks to pioneering video artists in the 1990s and were then upheld by new millennium music pop stars in highly influential videoclips. I argue that videos by artists such as Pipilotti Rist, Cheryl Donegan, Mona Hatoum, Andrea Fraser, and Susan Hiller matter today for how they tackled gender issues by means of the moving image, especially by challenging the male gaze and creating gender specific perspectives long before women could claim a similar influence on the television business and in the movie industry. They offered ground-breaking strategies in visual representation and video narratives of considerable impact since they were later adopted in public life, particularly through female pop stars’ aesthetic transfer into music videoclips, such as with Beyoncé. In this regard, I observe how art historical references are applied in recent videoclips to challenge the male gaze, letting a threefold strategy emerge: thematic reprise, iconographic substitution, and aesthetic transposition.
An Interview with National Leaders in the Arts and Humanities
Authors: Sierra Horacio
Published: November 2024

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) has played a significant role in American government since its establishment by President Reagan in 1982. Although not part of the President’s Cabinet, the PCAH serves as an advisory body directly appointed by the president to support and promote arts and humanities across the nation. Despite its non-partisan mission, the PCAH has not been immune to political turmoil. In 2017, following President Trump’s controversial comments on the Charlottesville violence, the PCAH members resigned en masse, leading to the committee’s temporary disbandment. President Biden reinstated the PCAH in 2022, emphasizing its importance in fostering civic engagement, social cohesion, and equity through the arts and humanities. This article features an interview with current PCAH members, including National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Shelly C. Lowe, Oscar- and Tony-award winner and PCAH Co-Chair Bruce Cohen, and PCAH member and interdisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. The discussion highlights their personal and professional journeys within the arts and humanities, underscoring the profound impact of cultural experiences on their lives. They advocate for continued government support, citing the arts and humanities as essential for a functioning democracy.
“But What If I Can’t Imagine That?”: Rethinking and Redefining Empathy
Authors: Lester Neal A.
Published: November 2024

As an African American deeply impacted by the personal and communal trauma from the police murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and alleged “racial reckoning” that took place globally immediately thereafter, I have personally wrestled with the responses of many non-Black persons to these events. Though the responses came from well-intentioned friends and colleagues trying to be helpful and conciliatory, they resonated as an empty refrain: “I don’t know what it means to be Black, but….” Each time I heard this refrain, I found myself pondering more deeply what and how these folks, and all folks, understand and practice empathy. My experiences and research revealed a similar concern that I witness across many situations in which people think they are being helpful when in fact they are not doing what real empathy requires – being with the person rather than trying to imagine what the person is going through. This article challenges the faulty ways that people have been taught to think about and practice empathy in hopes of offering a model that might facilitate in more meaningful ways ties that bind human hearts and minds.
In the Belly of the Beast: Service and the Future of the Public Humanities
Authors: Sheftel Anna , Yeager Stephen M.
Published: November 2024

In this piece we argue for the revolutionary power of collective and collaborative work through the most maligned aspect of academic labour: service. The co-authors are the heads of academic units at Concordia University, who in fall 2023 organized a coalition of unit heads from across their university who worked collecitvely to push for greater budget transparency. Their experience challenges the false paradigm that would identify the “public humanities” exclusively with academic research and teaching, to show how service to one’s unit, faculty, and university is an important site of resistance, activism, and struggle. Done with intention and by modelling democratic and collective processes, service is not only a form of resistance to the erosion of any thinking and doing that is not under the thrall of capitalism, but it is also a way of enacting the public humanities themselves, through thinking, writing, talking and working out ideas together, a potential site for creating intellectual life by co-opting bureaucracy to creative and political ends.
Black Studies and Public Humanities
Authors: Johnson Jajuan S.
Published: November 2024

This essay brings Black Studies, now commonly referred to as Africana Studies, further into the public humanities dialogue. Scholars in the public humanities field are urging a practice of humanities that is collaborative and committed to racial and social justice, especially in the context of community-based scholarship. The origin and current protocols of Black Studies are also community-centric and operate within a liberatory framework in that it is ultimately concerned with the vitality of Black people across the diaspora. The essay describes the correlation between Black Studies and public humanities and discusses the usefulness of both disciplines in reckoning with slavery and its legacies at higher education institutions. In addition to giving a short genealogy of public humanities and Black Studies, the essay uses William & Mary’s Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation and Chesapeake Heartland: An African American at African American Humanities Project at Washington College as examples on how to possibly navigate the challenges ahead as public humanists and Black Studies scholars critically engage with the public on memorialization, reconciliation, and redress.
Associations between nutrition literacy and possible sarcopenia among older adults in Bengbu, China
Authors: Du Jing , Cui Yan , Yang Ling , Sun Yuhui , Tian Xi , Hu Xiaoting , Liu Huaqing
Published: November 2024

To explore the associations between nutrition literacy (NL) and possible sarcopenia in older Chinese adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted. NL was assessed using a twelve-item short-form NL scale. Possible sarcopenia was identified using SARC-CALF. Logistic regression was used to calculate OR and 95 % CI for NL and the incidence of possible sarcopenia. A total of 1338 older individuals, aged 71·41 (sd 6·84) years, were enrolled in this study. After confounders were adjusted for, older adults in the upper quartile of NL were found to be 52 % less likely to have possible sarcopenia than those in the lower quartile of NL (OR = 0·48, 95 % CI: 0·29, 0·77). The associations between NL and possible sarcopenia were present only in those who lived in rural areas (OR: 0·38, 95 % CI: 0·19, 0·77), had a primary school education or less (OR: 0·21, 95 % CI: 0·09, 0·48), had a monthly income < 3000 RMB (OR: 0·39, 95 % CI: 0·22, 0·70) and had chronic diseases (OR: 0·37, 95 % CI: 0·22, 0·63). Moreover, an interaction effect was observed between having a chronic disease and junior high school education and being in the upper quartile of NL. The prevalence of possible sarcopenia in older Chinese adults is substantial, with prevalence decreasing with increasing NL. Moreover, the association between NL and possible sarcopenia varies by residence type, education level, monthly income and chronic disease experience. Targeted NL interventions are required to prevent and manage sarcopenia in older adults, particularly those with low socio-economic status and chronic diseases.
Christian Worldview and Cosmic War: Contexts and Origins of a Religious Combat Concept
Authors: Kennedy Simon P.
Published: November 2024

This paper explores the origins of two different emergences of the Christian worldview concept, and their relationship to understandings of cultural conflict. It will offer an analysis of the historical, cultural, and theological context for each emergence. In both cases, worldview was what Ian Hunter has termed a “combat concept.” Section I of the paper will offer an overview of the origins of Christian worldview thinking in the late nineteenth century through the thought of James Orr (1844–1913) and Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920). Section II will deal with the second major emergence of Christian worldview as a combat concept in the 1970s, focusing on figures like Francis Schaeffer (1912–1984), Chuck Colson (1931–2012), and Nancy Pearcy (1951–). Both contexts exhibited increased cultural and religious pluralism, and conservative Christians displayed a heightened sense of ideological conflict. Worldview became a tool for differentiation from, and contention with, the “other.”