bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A scaled boundary shell formulation in isogeometric analysis for static and dynamic analysis
Authors: Reichle Mathias , Hellers Anna , Klinkel Sven
Published: September 2024

In modern applications of computer‐aided design (CAD) for the analysis of shell structures, isogeometric analysis is a powerful tool that integrates both design and analysis. An exact geometry description and a straightforward computation without loss of information are advantageous, especially for shell structures such as roofs, satellite hulls, or car bodies. In addition, the scaled boundary method provides a scale separation with a semi‐analytical solution procedure to consider a three‐dimensional linear elastic constitutive law. The presented approach deals with a scaled boundary solid shell formulation in the framework of isogeometric analysis. The formulation utilizes a normal scaling strategy which scales the shell along its normal vector at each point on the discretized bottom surface. This is fundamentally different from the well‐known radial scaling strategy, where each point on the problem domain is obtained from a fixed scaling center. This results in a separation of the analysis into an in‐plane direction and a scaling (normal) direction. By introducing the scaling, a scaled boundary differential equation is derived that is dependent on the scaling parameter only. Choosing a proper set of conditions, the differential equation can be solved by a Padé expansion. While the in‐plane direction is solved in a weak sense, the thickness direction along the normal vector can be solved analytically resulting in a semi‐analytical procedure. The isogeometric description of the CAD structure inherently yields the exact normal vector, its derivatives and a higher order continuity throughout the structure. Herein, the focus is on the solution technique in the thickness direction and the challenges are addressed. The power of the formulation is outlined in several numerical examples of static and dynamic analysis and a comparison to shell formulations in literature is provided.
Incidence Angle Effect: Validation of New Measurement Methods for IEC 61853‐2
Authors: Pravettoni Mauro , Saw Min Hsian , Bardizza Giorgio , Bellenda Giovanni , Couderc Romain , Friesen Gabi , Herrmann Werner , Leow Shin Woei , Riechelmann Stefan , Valoti Flavio , van der Heide Arvid , Weinrich Frank , Winter Stefan
Published: September 2024

The incidence angle effect causes a decrease in the photogenerated current of PV modules when they are subject to incident irradiance at wide angles: Its relevance should be quantified for accurate energy yield purposes and has recently gained significance due to the rising interest in novel integrated PV applications, where vertical or nonoptimal tilt are favored (e.g., in urban structures, in agrivoltaics, and vehicles). The international standard IEC 61853‐2 presents both outdoor and indoor measurement methods: However, the indoor measurement method for commercial‐size modules is often impractical due to irradiance uniformity limitations on the volume spanned by the tested module upon rotation in most of the solar simulators available on the market. In recent years, new solutions have been proposed to overcome these limitations and allow wider adoption of this standard: However, method validations and interlaboratory comparisons have been conducted so far only on small‐area samples, and a real validation on commercial‐size modules is still missing. In this work, we aim at filling this gap, reporting the results of an interlaboratory comparison conducted within the international project team that is currently working at the new edition of IEC 61853‐2. The results show a remarkable agreement between different measurement methods, thus validating more options for the evaluation of this important effect.
Deciphering chemical diversity among five variants of Abeliophyllum distichum flowers through metabolomics analysis
Authors: Lee Yeong‐Geun , Kwon Jeong Eun , Choi Won‐Sil , Baek Nam‐In , Kang Se Chan
Published: September 2024

Abeliophyllum distichum (Oleaceae), endemic to the Korean Peninsula and the sole member of its genus and species, possesses high scarcity value, escalating its importance under the Nagoya Protocol. Despite its significance, their metabolites and activities of A. distichum flowers remain unexplored. This study employs an integrated metabolomic approach utilizing NMR, LC/MS, GC/MS, and FTIR techniques to comprehensively analyze the metabolite profile of A. distichum flowers. By combining these methods, we identified 35 metabolites, 43 secondary metabolites, and 108 hydrophobic primary metabolites. Notably, distinct concentration patterns of these compounds were observed across five variants, classified based on morphological characteristics. Correlation analyses of primary and secondary metabolites unveiled varietal metabolic flux, providing insights into A. distichum flower metabolism. Additionally, the reconstruction of metabolic pathways based on dissimilarities in morphological traits elucidates variant‐specific metabolic signatures. These findings not only enhance our understanding of chemical differences between varieties but also underscore the importance of considering varietal differences in future research and conservation efforts.
Associations Between a Social Determinant of Health Summary Measure and Self‐Reported Physical and Mental Health Among Cancer Survivors
Authors: Tsai Meng‐Han , Coughlin Steven S. , Lee Minjee , Cortes Jorge , Dong Yanbin
Published: September 2024

Objective

We sought to examine the associations between a social needs measure and physical, and mental health among cancer survivors in the United States.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis using the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey involving 16,930 eligible cancer survivors. The primary outcomes of interest were self‐reported physical and mental health in the past 30 days. A social needs measure was our primary exposure of interest. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the associations of interest.

Results

Overall, 56% and 73% survivors with several days of poor physical and mental health, respectively, reported having two or more social needs. In multivariate analysis, those having at least one social need were more likely to report several days of poor physical (one need: OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.31–2.00, two or more needs: OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 2.84–4.35) and mental health (one need: OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 2.07–4.57, two or more needs: OR, 9.69; 95% CI, 6.83–13.74). Among survivors with two or more social needs, having exercised in the past 30 days were 41% and 59% less likely to experience poor physical and mental health, respectively (p‐value < 0.05). However, having at least one chronic disease was associated with several days of poor physical/mental health among those with two or more needs (p‐value < 0.05).

Conclusion

Having social needs was associated with self‐reporting of several days of poor physical and mental health among cancer survivors. Integrated care should include mental/physical health management addressing cancer survivors' various social needs.
Unveiling Stage Zero Conditions in the New Forest National Park: A UAV‐Based Structure‐From‐Motion Photogrammetry and LiDAR Approach for Reconstructing an Anastomosing Wet Woodland at the Avon Water
Authors: Fleming Edward
Published: September 2024

In recent years, there have been significant technological advances in uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and in particular the use of lightweight consumer‐grade ‘drones’. This combined with the development of structure‐from‐motion (SfM) technology has provided river restoration practitioners with a new tool that can be used to give an affordable, repeatable and objective assessment of river restoration projects. In this study, a combined SfM photogrammetry and LiDAR approach is utilised on a section of the Avon water, a small watercourse in the New Forest National Park. Victorian‐era straightening and channelisation has significantly altered the ecological and morphological state of the river system, but recent river restoration projects aim to reverse these effects. Whilst historic maps may be used as a guide to reveal the former alignment, changes in river planform occurred much earlier and these maps may not represent the natural course of the river. High‐resolution orthophotos and 3D photogrammetric models of the site are created that reveal a palaeolandscape consisting of a mosaic of anabranching channels. These are interpreted to represent a former anastomosing wet woodland and ‘Stage Zero’ of the river system. It is inferred that early human habitation and associated land clearance altered hydrological and hydrogeological conditions, reducing floodplain connectivity and promoting single‐threaded planform configurations. This was then followed by the most recent Victorian‐era straightening. The palaeolandscape revealed by the study provides a guide for future Stage Zero river restoration in the New Forest and elsewhere, demonstrating an application of low cost, UAV‐derived photogrammetry in river restoration research.
Near‐Infrared Carbon Dots With Antibacterial and Osteogenic Activities for Sonodynamic Therapy of Infected Bone Defects
Authors: Tang Jianfei , Hu Jinyan , Bai Xue , Wang Yang , Cai Jinming , Zhang Zhenlin , Geng Bijiang , Pan Dengyu , Shen Longxiang
Published: September 2024

Repairing infected bone defects is hindered by the presence of stubborn bacterial infections and inadequate osteogenic activity. The incorporation of harmful antibiotics not only fosters the emergence of multidrug‐resistant bacteria, but also diminishes the osteogenic properties of scaffold materials. In addition, it is essential to continuously monitor the degradation kinetics of scaffold materials at bone defect sites, yet the majority of bone repair materials lack imaging capability. To address these issues, this study reports for the first time the development of a single nanomaterial with triple functionality: efficient sonodynamic antibacterial activity, accelerated bone defect repair capability, and NIR imaging ability for visualized therapy of infected bone defects. Through rationally regulating the surface functional groups, the obtained multifunctional NIR carbon dots (NIR‐CD) exhibit p–n junction‐enhanced sonodynamic activity, narrow bandgap‐facilitated NIR imaging capability, and negative charge‐augmented osteogenic activity. The validation of NIR‐CDs antibacterial and osteogenic activities in vivo is conducted by constructing 3D injectable hydrogels encapsulated by NIR‐CDs (NIR‐CD/GelMA). The implantation of multifunctional NIR‐CD/GelMA hydrogel scaffolds in a model of MRSA‐infected craniotomy defects results in almost complete restoration of the infected bone defects after 60 days. These findings will provide traceable, renewable, repairable and antibacterial candidate biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.
Calibration‐Free and Highly Sensitive Potentiometric Enzyme‐Based Biosensors
Authors: Asai Mitsuo , Isshiki Nobuyuki , Takesue Masafumi , Takei Kuniharu
Published: September 2024

Enzyme‐based amperometric biosensors have become popular for healthcare applications. However, they have been under constant pressure for technological innovation to improve their sensitivity and usability. An ideal biosensor has high sensitivity and calibration‐free characteristics. This study aims to report enzyme‐based glucose and lactate sensors that utilize a proposed “time‐derivative of potential (dOCP/dt)” method, with a further aim being to prove theoretically and experimentally that dOCP/dt values are proportional to substrate concentration. High sensitivity is obtained regardless of the electrode size because the electrode potential is independent of the electrode area in the biosensor. Importantly, because the substrate diffusion determines the enzyme reaction rate on the sensors, the dOCP/dt biosensors can essentially eliminate external influences such as temperature and pH. The result is the successful realization of a biosensor that is calibration‐free, making it a much more practical option.
Development of an Enhanced Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe Method for Determination of Quinolone Drug Residues in Quail Eggs
Authors: Liu Chuan , Lin Hao , Yao Jing , Chen Yan‐Qiu , Shi Pei‐Yu , Song Juan , Mao Rui , Xiao Quan‐Wei , Dai Qin
Published: September 2024

An enhanced quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) purification method utilizing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been developed and coupled with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of eight quinolone drug residues in quail eggs. The sample was extracted using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid‐McIlvaine buffer (pH = 4.0) and 2% formic acid in acetonitrile, followed by salting out with MgSO4, and purification with primary secondary amine (PSA), MWCNT, and Octadecylsilane (C18). The method demonstrated linear relationships for the target compounds within the range of 2–100 µg/L with correlation coefficients (r) exceeding 0.99. The limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 0.4 and 0.8 µg/kg, respectively. Validation through a three‐level spiking test (low, medium, and high) in quail eggs resulted in an average recovery rate ranging from 86.8% to 113.7%, with relative standard deviations between 2.6% and 10.2% (n = 6). This method offers rapid operation, excellent purification efficiency, and high sensitivity, making it suitable for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of quinolone drug residues in eggs. Application of this method to a batch of 20 quail eggs revealed the presence of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, suggesting a potential risk of non‐compliant quinolones use in quail egg production.
Empowering Chemical AI Through Systems Chemistry
Authors: Gentili Pier Luigi , Stano Pasquale
Published: September 2024

This work presents some ambitious perspectives on how Systems Chemistry can contribute to developing the quite new research line of Chemical Artificial Intelligence (CAI). CAI refers to the efforts of devising liquid chemical systems mimicking some performances of biological and human intelligence, which ultimately emerge from wetware. The CAI systems implemented so far assist humans in making decisions. However, such CAI systems lack autonomy and cannot substitute humans. The development of autonomous chemical systems will allow the colonization of the molecular world with remarkable repercussions on human well‐being. As a beneficial side effect, this research line will help establish a deeper comprehension of the mesmerizing phenomenon of the origin of life on Earth and how cognitive capabilities emerge at a basic physico‐chemical level.
The strategic allocation theory of vigilance
Authors: Murray Samuel , Amaya Santiago
Published: September 2024

Despite its importance in different occupational and everyday contexts, vigilance, typically defined as the capacity to sustain attention over time, is remarkably limited. What explains these limits? Two theories have been proposed. The Overload Theory states that being vigilant consumes limited information‐processing resources; when depleted, task performance degrades. The Underload Theory states that motivation to perform vigilance tasks declines over time, thereby prompting attentional shifts and hindering performance. We highlight some conceptual and empirical problems for both theories and propose an alternative: the Strategic Allocation Theory. For the Strategic Allocation Theory, performance on vigilance tasks optimizes as a function of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, including metacognitive factors such as the expected value of effort and the expected value of planning. Limited capacities must be deployed across task sets to maximize expected reward. The observed limits of vigilance reflect changes in the perceived value of, among other things, sustaining attention to a task rather than attending to something else. Drawing from recent computational theories of cognitive control and meta‐reasoning, we argue that the Strategic Allocation Theory explains more phenomena related to vigilance behavior than other theories, including self‐report data. Finally, we outline some of the testable predictions the theory makes across several experimental paradigms.

This article is categorized under:

Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science

Psychology > Attention
Stakeholders-Based Management: A Company-Relevant Alternative
Authors: Nicolescu Ovidiu , Nicolescu Ciprian
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this paper is to present a new management system, company-relevant stakeholders-based management system or CRSBMS, that is able to valorize to a high level the potential of the most important internal and external stakeholders to generate many business, social, and ecological benefits. This system is conceived taking into consideration the opportunities and challenges generated by industrial revolution 4.0, digital transformation, and other megatrends.
Barriers to the Development of Integrated Risk Management Within Health Insurance Entities in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Stoica Bogdan-Stefan , Ciocoiu Carmen Nadia
Published: September 2024

More than a decade after the implementation of the first specific elements of ERM (Enterprise Risk Management), organizations in Central and Eastern Europe face barriers in the development of Integrated Risk Management systems. Since Health Insurance Entities (HIEs) fall into the above statement, the purpose of the study is to identify the main specific barriers and their importance in developing an ERM system. In order to achieve the goal, this study used a research methodology based on a questionnaire sent to over 200 targeted entities from the Central and Eastern European countries. The results reflect an order of importance of the eight selected barriers, starting from the lack of an IT program for risk analysis, which hinders the development of ERM the most, to poor collaboration between internal departments, that presents itself as a minor obstacle. The research allows the proposal of a conceptual, logical-theoretical model that can be a solution for improving ERM within the HIEs by acting on the identified barriers.
Stochastic Dynamic Analysis of CFRD Considering the Coupling Randomness of Ground Motion and Material Parameters
Authors: Xu Bin , Pang Rui
Published: September 2024

Currently, in probabilistic fragility analysis, the randomness of ground motion and material parameters is typically addressed by randomly combining several ground motions selected from seismic databases and sampled material parameters (Xu et al., Journal of Hydroelectric Engineering 37:31–38, 2018). However, this approach lacks coupling effects, suffers from insufficient sample sizes or involves extensive computational efforts, thereby limiting the acquisition of comprehensive probability information. There are few studies on the coupling randomness of ground motion and material parameters on the dynamic response of structures, and even less on the seismic response of high CFRDs.
Gerontologisches Gutachten zu fachlich begründeten Einzelleistungen nach § 71 SGB XII
Authors: Engler Stefanie , Bleck Christian , Kricheldorff Cornelia
Published: September 2024

Hintergrund

Die Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege des Landes Berlin hat im 2. Halbjahr 2023 ein explizit gerontologisches Gutachten beim Autor*innen-Team in Auftrag gegeben; dieses sollte Anregungen zu Modernisierung und Konkretisierung des § 71 SGB XII, der zentralen sozialrechtlichen Grundlage für die sog. Altenhilfe, liefern. Es wurde zum Jahresende 2023 fertiggestellt. Die Zielsetzung war, über die Identifizierung, Analyse und Beschreibung von Einzelleistungen fachlich fundierte Anregungen zu formulieren für ein Berliner Altenhilfestrukturgesetz, das der Differenziertheit und Diversität der Lebensphase Alter Rechnung trägt.

Ziel des Beitrags

Vorgehensweise und zentrale Ergebnisse des Gutachtens werden vorgestellt und diskutiert.

Material und Methoden

In einem mehrschrittigen Vorgehen, verbunden mit einem multimodalen Forschungsansatz, wurden verschiedene Methoden miteinander verknüpft, um ein umfassendes Verständnis der aktuellen Situation der sog. Altenhilfe und gerontologische Begründungen ihrer Leistungen zu generieren. Gearbeitet wurde mit kritischen und selektiven Literaturreviews, Dokumentenanalysen und qualitativ-leitfadengestützten Expert*innen-Interviews.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Das Gutachten enthält konkrete Empfehlungen zu altersphasen- und lebenslagenorientierten Entwicklung von Einzelleistungen nach § 71 SGB XII, die sich zum einen auf Zugänge, Formen und Themen der Beratung, die ein gelingendes Altern für alle alten Menschen ermöglichen und unterstützen, beziehen. Benannt werden zum anderen explizit notwendige und im methodischen Vorgehen identifizierte Geld- und Sachleistungen, die auch in prekären Lebenslagen im Alter Fähigkeiten zur Selbsthilfe stärken und Betroffenen ermöglichen sollen, selbstbestimmt am Leben in der Gemeinschaft teilzunehmen.
Sublating Kant through Marx: Li Zehou’s Transformation of the Empirical to the Transcendental
Authors: Rošker Jana S.
Published: September 2024

In this article, I aim to explore and demonstrate a specific mode of transcultural philosophical comparison by introducing an innovative theoretical model that I tentatively call the “method of sublation.” Through an illuminating case study centered around Li Zehou 李澤厚, a prominent figure credited with pioneering this method, its profound potential for generating creative innovation comes to light. Li Zehou skillfully combined Kant’s transcendental philosophy and Marx’s historical materialism, creating a unique synthesis that sublated traditional divides. This sublation elevates the empirical, seamlessly integrating it into the transcendental domain. The foundation of this paper lies in providing a concise yet comprehensive overview of the method’s theoretical underpinnings, closely followed by a meticulous dissection of its operational structure. A tangible application of the method is then vividly demonstrated through Li Zehou’s adept process of seamlessly sublating static Kantian a priori forms with the dynamic principles of Marxist social development theory, exemplifying the potency of this transformative approach in the realm of philosophy.
Tailored directional porosity in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) for hypersonic applications
Authors: Kessel F. , Friess M. , Rauh C. , Wagner A.
Published: September 2024

In the field of hypersonic systems and their missions, the occurring flows impose extreme mechanical and thermal loads on the materials used. At the German Aerospace Center (DLR), extensive research is conducted in this area, ranging from design and specification to the development of suitable materials concluding with the proof of concept under realistic conditions in wind tunnels. In recent years, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) have been investigated for specific aspects of hypersonics. These materials exhibit consistent mechanical behavior over a wide temperature range (up to 1600 °C), coupled with high damage tolerance and thermal shock resistance, distinguishing them from metals and superalloys. Particularly, special porous C/C–SiC ceramics (carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon with silicon carbide) enable innovative material applications for components in transpiration cooling, fuel injection, or boundary-layer transition control. The work presented focuses on the next generation of porous C/C–SiC ceramics currently in development. By deliberately modifying the textile preform, the resulting microstructure and pore morphology are influenced, allowing for control over both the total volume and the orientation of the pores. Relevant parameters influencing porosity have been determined based on the results, and an initial characterization has been conducted. It has been demonstrated that there is a preferred direction of porosity within the sample thickness (Z-axis), and in terms of hypersonic-relevant properties, an absorption coefficient of 0.58 for an acoustic wave at 500 kHz (static pressure of 15 kPa), as well as a length-specific flow resistance of 3.4 MPa s/m2 and an overall porosity of 12.25% were determined. Building upon these promising initial findings, the goal is to further expand the understanding of the parameters influencing porosity and to generate a tailored material for different application scenarios by correlating them with hypersonic properties.
Exploring mathematical wellbeing across cultures: insights from diverse students
Authors: Hunter Jodie , Hill Julia L.
Published: September 2024

Across many countries, including New Zealand, diverse groups including indigenous, migrant, and marginalised communities, are under-represented in mathematics, as evidenced by achievement disparities and disengagement from higher-level mathematics. Both research and policy have focused on developing equitable education outcomes for all students. A key aspect of this is wellbeing, including within mathematics classrooms, which includes identifying classroom environments that enable wellbeing. This study examines mathematical wellbeing (MWB) across different ethnicities and genders, with a case study focus on students from Pacific heritages. Analysing qualitative responses from over 12,000 diverse students revealed that positive relationships in the mathematics classroom were most commonly associated with students’ MWB. Accomplishment and cognitive factors, including mathematical accuracy, learning new things, and understanding, were also identified as important. Minor gender differences emerged, with female students emphasising mathematical understanding, accuracy, and relationships more than male students. The Pacific student case study highlighted the importance of both cognitive aspects (learning new things and understanding) and relationships (peer and teacher support), uncovering an alignment between cultural values and MWB. This study empirically confirms seven universal values supporting student MWB, previously identified in Australian and Chinese contexts, suggesting that teachers internationally may align pedagogical practices with these values to support most students’ MWB. However, the instrumental values serving these universal values appear culturally unique. This research contributes novel insights to the field by examining wellbeing with a subject-specific focus through student-generated responses, offering implications for developing more equitable and culturally inclusive mathematics classrooms.
Post-Traumatic Hypopituitarism
Authors: Blocher Nissa
Published: September 2024

Purpose of Review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently effects the integrity and function of the anterior and/or posterior pituitary gland. This review will cover the current understanding of post-trauma hypopituitarism (PTHP) including frequency, risk factors, screening, and treatment.

Recent Findings

There is continuingly increased data on frequency of hormone deficiencies over time. This has created a push for algorithms to guide screening. Oxytocin is emerging as a potential target for treatment, but data is mixed and no treatment has been tested. There is significantly increased data regarding the long-term effect of growth hormone (GH) deficiency on metabolism and on the liver, which is driving renewed recommendations for consideration of GH replacement.

Pituitary dysfunction after TBI is frequent and has significant impact on morbidity, mortality, and recovery. If recognized, basic treatment is straightforward, though many gaps remain in our knowledge. Future work should focus on ideal screening strategies and treatment optimization.
Effects of AI-based technologies on employees’ work engagement: Implications for the human-centered design of digital work
Authors: Rick Vera B. , Stebner Marie , Dräger Larissa , Franken Annika , Mertens Alexander , Nitsch Verena
Published: September 2024

An important goal of the Regional Competence Center AKzentE4.0 is to support companies in the Rhineland region in designing their digital transformation in a human-friendly way based on scientific findings. In order to derive evidence-based guidelines for the humane design of AI-supported work, further insights are needed into how the use of AI affects characteristics of humane work design and how this differs from the general use of digital technologies. To this end, a secondary analysis of a questionnaire study conducted in the context of AKzentE4.0 was carried out. The analyzed dataset included responses from N = 825 digital information workers. Two central research questions were analyzed: 1. Does the perception of work engagement differ between users and non-users of AI systems? 2. Which characteristics of human-centered work design predict work engagement when working with AI and are there differences compared to those who do not work with AI?

Practical Relevance: The results show that a human-centered and humane design of AI-supported work should focus on providing meaningful tasks for employees, support from supervisors and preserving employees’ autonomy. Particularly, the aspect of meaningful work can be threatened by technology. For AI systems to be effective in the workplace in terms of maintaining health and promoting learning, care should be taken to ensure that they can support work in a targeted way and do not replace, but rather promote meaningful work tasks. Employees, with the support of their managers, should also be able to control the use of AI systems to maintain greater autonomy and agency.
Interdisciplinarity in cultural gerontology and geriatric medical humanities – a bibliometric survey
Authors: Waldron Emily , Wakefield Katherine , O’Neill Desmond
Published: September 2024

Background

Cultural gerontology – understanding ageing through the lens of arts and humanities—has emerged as an important element of epistemology of ageing. As a boundary area between geriatric medicine/gerontology and arts/humanities disciplines, joint-working/interdisciplinarity is desirable. This project aims to assess the degree of joint-working manifested in cultural gerontology by authorship and acknowledgements in papers dedicated to cultural gerontology in five journals.

Methods

Observational survey of authorship in 5 journals from the founding of the specific sections on cultural gerontology or specific dedicated journals, assessing number of authors, disciplinary identities, and evidence of joint working within cultural gerontology.

Results

Of 591 papers, 481 (81%) were single authors. There was a spread of disciplinary affiliations, 247 (41.8%) gerontology/age studies, 169 arts/humanities/social sciences (28.6%) and 133 of uncertain affiliation (22.5%): only 38 papers had a clear indication of joint working across the disciplines (6.4%). In the two geriatric medicine journals, European Geriatric Medicine and Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, authorship was almost exclusively from geriatric medicine/gerontology. There was extremely limited use of acknowledgements.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that single authorship is the most frequent mode of peer-reviewed publishing in cultural gerontology, whilst acknowledging that some authors may have scholarly training in multiple fields but are listed as unidisciplinary. Leaders in the field and editors of relevant journals/section need to consider ways of encouraging and recognising joint working, through fuller descriptions of multiple affiliations, brief author biographies, fuller use of acknowledgements and consideration of brief accompanying discussant responses from complementary disciplines.
Potential use of bacteriophages as biocontrol agents against multidrug-resistant pathogens in wastewater treatment: a review
Authors: Ragab Samar , Mustafa Mohamed Kamal , Hassan Yara Y. , Nasr Alaa , Hady Bassant H. Abd El , El-Shibiny Ayman
Published: September 2024

The conventional methods of wastewater treatment are essentially used to remove contaminants and pathogens from wastewater before it is released into the environment or used for other purposes. With the increasing number of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) organisms in wastewater, the potential usefulness of conventional treatment methods has been re-evaluated. The conventional biological treatment and disinfection have been proven in many studies to increase the prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) in bacteria. More than 25 genes responsible for antibiotic resistance were found to be increased from influent to effluent in different Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Additionally, many studies have discussed the high abundance of several Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) after disinfection by chlorination and ozonation. Bacteriophage-based therapy has emerged as an innovative method for effectively managing microorganisms in wastewater treatment and in various other applications. Bacteriophages can be utilized to kill pathogenic bacteria and eradicate the biofilms formed by the bacteria in wastewater treatment plants with low intrinsic toxicity. However, the use of bacteriophages has been associated with some limitations, including the narrow host range spectrum. This review provides a critical overview of the recent knowledge on the effect of biological treatment and disinfection on spreading antibiotic resistance. In addition, we highlight the interactions among bacteria and phages to sustain the water treatment process. We also emphasize the proposed improvement in wastewater treatment using bacteriophage-based therapy. Our focus is identifying gaps, opportunities, and critical concerns that should be addressed in further research.
Environmental factors that regulate Vibrio spp. abundance and community structure in tropical waters
Authors: Wong Yi You , Lee Choon Weng , Bong Chui Wei , Lim Joon Hai , Ng Ching Ching , Narayanan Kumaran , Sim Edmund Ui Hang , Wang Ai-jun
Published: September 2024

Vibrio spp. is a group of heterotrophic bacteria that are ubiquitous in marine habitats, with various ecological and clinical importance. This study investigated the environmental factors that regulate Vibrio spp. dynamics in various tropical marine habitats, including nearshore (an estuary and a coastal beach) and offshore transects located northwest and southeast of Peninsular Malaysia, while focusing on the distribution of attached and free-living Vibrio spp., population growth, and community composition. The results showed that > 85% of the Vibrio spp. in nearshore waters occurred in attached form and correlated positively to total suspended solids (TSS) and Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations. On the other hand, Vibrio spp. growth rates were positively correlated to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, but negatively correlated to total bacterial counts, likely due to resource competition. In addition, high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 region showed that Vibrio spp. in these tropical waters contributed < 1 − 18% of the whole bacterioplankton community, and the six major Vibrio spp. taxa were V. alginolyticus group, V. brasiliensis, V. caribbeanicus, V. hepatarius group, V. splendidus group and V. thalassae. db-RDA (cumulative variance explicated = 93.53%) further revealed the influence of TSS, DOC, and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) to the Vibrio spp. community profiles. The study highlighted the importance of suspended solids (TSS and Chl a) and dissolved organic nutrients (DOC and DON) towards Vibrio spp. dynamics in tropical marine waters.
Optimal Beef Cow Culling Strategies in the U.S.: A Dynamic Linear Programing Framework
Authors: Erol Erdal , Dillon Carl R. , Burdine Kenneth H.
Published: September 2024

This study explores the economics of culling decisions in cow-calf operations in the Southern U.S. with a novel application of a dynamic mathematical programing model. The results provide an optimal culling strategy under the base model and a range of optimal strategies that vary with respect to different components such as fertility probabilities, prices, replacement costs, and pregnancy checking. The results suggest that producers should cull all cows that are older than age 10 and cows that fail to calve once they reach the age of 7. The sensitivity analysis underlines the impact of market conditions, replacement costs, and pregnancy check use on the optimal culling decisions.
“He who tills has the right to eat”: “Development” and the Politics of Agrarian Reform in late 1940s and early 1950s Sindh
Authors: Ansari Sarah
Published: September 2024

In post-Independence South Asia, the spotlight often fell on land reform, such as the zamindari abolition that took place in parts of India after 1947. In Pakistan, the issue of land redistribution also surfaced periodically in the decades following independence. But, as the case of Sindh in the late 1940 and early 1950s reveals, the focus was on how to ‘modernize’ tenancy arrangements rather than achieving more equitable land reallocation, since—for some contemporaries—left unchanged these represented a major impediment to increasing agricultural productivity, and hence Pakistan’s overall development. This article explores the context in which Sindh’s 1947-48 Hari Committee of Enquiry was set up and its various recommendations that proved controversial, together with responses to the legislation (1950 Sind Tenancy Act) that followed, highlighting the role of officials and peasant representatives, and shedding light on this important but largely overlooked episode of development-related policy-making in Pakistan’s early years.
Lifestyle intervention and support preferences to maximize health outcomes in adolescent bariatric surgery patients
Authors: Allicock Marlyn A. , King Rashon , Francis Jackson , Mathew M. Sunil , Polavarapu Dhatri , Wheelington Alicia , Misserian Maral , Cartwright Bethany R. , Adewunmi Adejumoke , Chandrasekhar Aparajita , Qureshi Faisal G. , Barlow Sarah E. , Messiah Sarah E.
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is safe and efficacious for adolescents with severe obesity. Pairing MBS with behavioral lifestyle interventions may be effective for optimizing treatment outcomes. However, no standardized program exists. Adolescent perspectives are critical to understanding how to design interventions to enhance engagement, sustain motivation, and meet informational needs for pre- and post-MBS self-management behaviors. The aim of this study was to develop an MBS lifestyle support intervention built on evidence-based content with input from adolescents and their families.

Methods:

A mixed-methods design identified adolescent preferences for MBS lifestyle support. Data were collected from a racially and ethnically diverse sample of adolescents (N = 17, 76% females, 24% males 41.2% non-Hispanic Black, 41.2% Hispanic/Latino, 11.8% non-Hispanic White, 5.8% Other) and their mothers (N = 13, 38.4% Hispanic) recruited from an MBS clinic. Quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews assessed preferred types of pre-post MBS content, modality, frequency, and delivery platforms to inform the design of the intervention. Mixed methods data were triangulated to provide a comprehensive understanding of adolescent/parent preferences.

Results:

Adolescents prioritized eating well, managing stress, and maintaining motivation as desired support strategies. Parents identified parental support groups and nutrition guidance as priorities. Peer support and social media platforms were identified as key approaches for boosting motivation and engagement.

Conclusions:

The patient voice is an important first step in understanding how, and whether behavioral lifestyle programs combined with MBS for weight management can be optimized. Adolescent preferences may enhance program fit and identify health behavior supports needed to sustain behavior change.
Deadly yet Preventable? Lessons From South Korea’s Halloween Crowd Crush
Authors: Su Zhaohui , Cheshmehzangi Ali , Bentley Barry L. , McDonnell Dean , Ahmad Junaid , Šegalo Sabina , da Veiga Claudimar P. , Xiang Yu-Tao
Published: September 2024

Avoidable disasters are both saddening and baffling. In 2022, 159 people, mostly in their 20s, and 30s were crushed to death in Itaewon’s narrow alleyway amid South Korea’s first pandemic-restrictions-free Halloween celebration. What is particularly sobering about this tragedy is that although many people called police hotlines as crowds became cramped and static, their calls went unheeded for hours. Rather than order independent investigations into the catastrophe (as of January 2024), the President of South Korea at the time focused on superficial issues such as asking the public to refer to the disaster as an “accident” (which it was not, it was an avoidable disaster) and the casualties as “the dead” (who are casualties indeed, instead of victims of a preventable tragedy). In this paper, we examine how officials’ complacency about public health and safety dangers, ineffective disaster prevention, and preparedness systems, as well as the government’s chronic lack of prioritization of public health and safety may have contributed to the disaster. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of creating integrated public health and safety protection systems to prevent similar tragedies from happening.
Standards for Including Scientific Evidence in Restrictions on Freedom of Movement: The Case of EU Covid Certificates Scheme
Authors: Quinn Paul , Fabcic Povse Danaja
Published: September 2024

Compared to previous secondary legislation, Article 11 of the Digital Covid Certificates regulations was remarkably explicit in its requirement for Member States to consider scientific evidence when restricting free movement for the certificate holders. However, we argue in this Article that the regulations achieved a partial codification of the existent case law of the CJEU rather than imposing any additional requirements. Namely, the case law had already required Member States to rely on scientific evidence that reflects the international consensus, that is relevant and up to date, and that the evidence had to demonstrate by means of a risk assessment a real risk to the public health. We also discuss these findings in the light of the proportionality and precautionary principles and suggest that understanding the evolution of the EU legal order’s evidentiary requirements is useful in the light of the legislator’s claim of objective and rational policy-making procedures in public health and other crises.
A Robust Governance for the AI Act: AI Office, AI Board, Scientific Panel, and National Authorities
Authors: Novelli Claudio , Hacker Philipp , Morley Jessica , Trondal Jarle , Floridi Luciano
Published: September 2024

Regulation is nothing without enforcement. This particularly holds for the dynamic field of emerging technologies. Hence, this article has two ambitions. First, it explains how the EU’s new Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) may be implemented and enforced by various institutional bodies, thus clarifying the governance framework of the AIA. Second, it proposes a normative governance model, providing recommendations to ensure uniform and coordinated execution of the AIA and the fulfillment of the legislation. The article explores how the AIA may be implemented by national and EU institutional bodies, encompassing longstanding bodies, such as the European Commission, and those newly established under the AIA, such as the AI Office. It investigates their roles across supranational and national levels, emphasising how EU regulations influence institutional structures and operations. These regulations may not only directly dictate the structural design of institutions but also indirectly request administrative capacities needed to enforce the AIA.
The dutch draw: constructing a universal baseline for binary classification problems
Authors: van de Bijl Etienne , Klein Jan , Pries Joris , Bhulai Sandjai , Hoogendoorn Mark , van der Mei Rob
Published: September 2024

Novel prediction methods should always be compared to a baseline to determine their performance. Without this frame of reference, the performance score of a model is basically meaningless. What does it mean when a model achieves an

$F_1$

of 0.8 on a test set? A proper baseline is, therefore, required to evaluate the ‘goodness’ of a performance score. Comparing results with the latest state-of-the-art model is usually insightful. However, being state-of-the-art is dynamic, as newer models are continuously developed. Contrary to an advanced model, it is also possible to use a simple dummy classifier. However, the latter model could be beaten too easily, making the comparison less valuable. Furthermore, most existing baselines are stochastic and need to be computed repeatedly to get a reliable expected performance, which could be computationally expensive. We present a universal baseline method for all binary classification models, named the Dutch Draw (DD). This approach weighs simple classifiers and determines the best classifier to use as a baseline. Theoretically, we derive the DD baseline for many commonly used evaluation measures and show that in most situations it reduces to (almost) always predicting either zero or one. Summarizing, the DD baseline is general, as it is applicable to any binary classification problem; simple, as it can be quickly determined without training or parameter tuning; and informative, as insightful conclusions can be drawn from the results. The DD baseline serves two purposes. First, it is a robust and universal baseline that enables comparisons across research papers. Second, it provides a sanity check during the prediction model’s development process. When a model does not outperform the DD baseline, it is a major warning sign.
Han Feizi on Reputation-Driven Disobedience: A Comparative Study
Authors: LIU ANTONG
Published: September 2024

Must absolutist states resort to intimidation and coercion to tackle subjects’ disobedience driven by their pursuit of reputation? Since canonical early modern Western thinkers broached but did not solve this question, I turn to the most renowned ancient Chinese Legalist Han Feizi’s understudied account of reputation for answers. Whether as a means or an end, individuals’ pursuit of reputation always challenges the authority of the absolute monarchy that endeavors to centralize state power. Forcefully confronting this pursuit is the barely but only acceptable way for the state to tackle this challenge, as non-confrontational strategies favored by many Western thinkers inevitably fail due to their incompatibility with the logic of political absolutism. Thus, Han Feizi unwittingly exposes the tension between political absolutism and reputation. This exposure adds nuances to his view of human nature and helps us understand how individuals’ morally ambiguous pursuit of reputation obstructs the centralization of state power.
I’m a Survivor: Political Dynamics in Bureaucratic Elites’ Partisan Identification
Authors: GEYS BENNY , LÆGREID PER , MURDOCH ZUZANA , YACKEE SUSAN WEBB
Published: September 2024

This article challenges the common assumption that the partisan identification of bureaucratic elites is fixed over time. Building on principal-agent and organization theory, we hypothesize that bureaucratic elites may respond to political turnover by adjusting their partisan identification toward that of their (new) elected principals. We test this prediction using data from the American State Administrators Project (ASAP) over the 1964–2008 period, which allows us to study the same US agency leaders (N=951 individuals) before and after partisan shifts in their agency’s elected principals. We find significant evidence that agency leaders remaining in office following a shift in the party in power on average reorient their partisan identity in response to such turnover events. These adjustments are stronger for agency leaders directly appointed by, or in more frequent contact with, their elected principals. Our results suggest a malleability of partisanship seldom attributed to bureaucratic elites in public and academic discourse.