bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Seawater Impact on Crack Propagation and Fatigue Behavior of Welded Nickel Aluminum Bronze
Authors: Dobson T. H. E. , Wilson P. , Larrosa N. O. , Williams M. , Coules H. E.
Published: October 2024

Nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) is a complex alloy used extensively in the marine environment. Fatigue strength of NAB is reduced by welding and prior seawater corrosion. This study investigated the combined effect of corrosion and plasma welding on the fatigue behavior of NAB. Natural seawater corroded samples were used in tension‐tension cyclic loading tests to observe fatigue crack initiation, propagation, and failure. Fatigue cracks initiated from corrosion pits at the weld toe. Stress corrosion and fatigue cracks propagated along the path of β′ and κIII phases. A short crack growth model (SCGM) predicted fatigue strength using experimentally obtained material properties and corrosion pit dimensions. Model predictions were used to develop S‐N curves and were within 30% of experimental results. The SCGM produced accurate and reliable fatigue life results that could be applied by industry to aid in revalidation decision making and inspection scheduling.
Imagination, Reality, and Reproduction: Comparing Perceptions of Coastal Sea Trout Anglers, Real Catches, and Sea Trout Spawning Activity
Authors: Blyth Samuel , Stensland Stian , Rönnbäck Patrik
Published: October 2024

Sustainable management of recreational fisheries requires balancing angler attitudes and behaviour with fisheries' biological potential. Herein, we investigated the balance in the sea‐run brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery around the Swedish island of Gotland using data collected through a creel survey, test fishing, and spawning returns to selected streams. Anglers accurately anticipated catches of large fish but underestimated the role of natural reproduction in supporting the stock. Female sea trout entering spawning streams and post‐spawn sea trout caught on the coast were significantly larger than spawning males and non‐spawned fish, and were particularly important for the fishery. Larger sea trout also faced a higher level of harvest pressure than other sizes. Small changes to angler preferences, harvest rates, or regulations could significantly influence characteristics and sustainability of this fishery. The scale and direction of these changes merit further investigation.
Soil carbon and nitrogen cycling at the atmosphere–soil interface: Quantifying the responses of biocrust–soil interactions to global change
Authors: Witzgall K. , Hesse B. D. , Pacay‐Barrientos N. L. , Jansa J. , Seguel O. , Oses R. , Buegger F. , Guigue J. , Rojas C. , Rousk K. , Grams T. E. E. , Pietrasiak N. , Mueller C. W.
Published: October 2024

In drylands, where water scarcity limits vascular plant growth, much of the primary production occurs at the soil surface. This is where complex macro‐ and microbial communities, in an intricate bond with soil particles, form biological soil crusts (biocrusts). Despite their critical role in regulating C and N cycling in dryland ecosystems, there is limited understanding of the fate of biologically fixed C and N from biocrusts into the mineral soil, or how climate change will affect C and N fluxes between the atmosphere, biocrusts, and subsurface soils. To address these gaps, we subjected biocrust–soil systems to experimental warming and drought under controlled laboratory conditions, monitored CO2 fluxes, and applied dual isotopic labeling pulses (13CO2 and 15N2). This allowed detailed quantification of elemental pathways into specific organic matter (OM) pools and microbial biomass via density fractionation and phospholipid fatty acid analyses. While biocrusts modulated CO2 fluxes regardless of the temperature regime, drought severely limited their photosynthetic C uptake to the extent that the systems no longer sustained net C uptake. Furthermore, the effect of biocrusts extended into the underlying 1 cm of mineral soil, where C and N accumulated as mineral‐associated OM (MAOM<63μm). This was strongly associated with increased relative dominance of fungi, suggesting that fungal hyphae facilitate the downward C and N translocation and subsequent MAOM formation. Most strikingly, however, these pathways were disrupted in systems exposed to warming, where no effects of biocrusts on the elemental composition of the underlying soil nor on MAOM were determined. This was further associated with reduced net biological N fixation under combined warming and drought, highlighting how changing climatic conditions diminish some of the most fundamental ecosystem functions of biocrusts, with detrimental repercussions for C and N cycling and the persistence of soil organic matter pools in dryland ecosystems.
The good, the bad and the evil: A unified conceptualization of negative leadership behaviour
Authors: Modliba Robert , Treffers Theresa
Published: October 2024

The level of scholarly and practitioner interest in negative leadership behaviour has been increasing, but research in this field remains fragmented, and we lack a common understanding of what constitutes negative leadership behaviour and its antecedents, consequences and contexts. To address these research gaps, we systematically review 352 papers and identify 25 different negative leadership behaviours with large overlaps in their conceptualization and operationalization. Our analysis of conceptualizations reveals common attributes that constitute the behavioural intensity and the behavioural valence of negative leadership behaviour. Behavioural intensity attributes constitute negative leadership behaviour as active, reoccurring and intentional behaviour that targets subordinates’ psychological states. Behavioural valence attributes constitute negative leadership behaviour as being unethical, lack of empathy, leader self‐worthiness and self‐orientation, verbal hostility, use of power asymmetry and harming and belittling of others. The vast majority of operationalizations for negative leadership behaviour reflect the perceptions of subordinates or colleagues, whereas only a few operationalizations reflect supervisors’ self‐assessments. Our findings further reveal that the antecedents of negative leadership behaviour focus mainly on supervisors, whereas the consequences of negative leadership behaviour focus mainly on subordinates. We develop a unified conceptualization of negative leadership behaviour and discuss our findings in the light of an impactful future research agenda that revolves around the unified conceptualization and empirical representation of negative leadership behaviour on the basis of behavioural attributes, the role of subordinates and dyad‐related factors leading to negative leadership behaviour and the integration of the negative and positive psychological and economic consequences of negative leadership behaviour.
Effects of school closure on lifestyle behaviours and health outcomes in children during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Chile: A time‐matched analysis
Authors: Suárez‐Reyes Mónica , Fernández‐Verdejo Rodrigo , Quintiliano Daiana , Pinheiro Anna Cristina , Pizarro Tito
Published: October 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to school closures, potentially impairing children's behaviours and health. We aimed to explore the effects of school closure on lifestyle behaviours (dietary habits, physical activity) and health outcomes (adiposity, fitness, self‐esteem, self‐concept) in children.

Methods

We measured 247 children before school closure (October–November 2019) and after school reopening (October–November 2021) (COVID‐19 group). To distinguish the changes due to school closure from changes due to growth, we included 655 age‐matched children with cross‐sectional measurements in October–November 2019 (control group). The response of this group (i.e., differences between children with 2 years of difference) was considered the expected response to growth. Two‐way ANOVA was used to test age‐by‐group interactions, indicating an effect of school closure.

Results

In 7‐to‐9‐year‐old children, the COVID‐19 group had larger‐than‐expected decreases in physical activity (by 0.4 points), resulting in higher physical inactivity prevalence (by 19 percent points) at 9 years. This was accompanied by larger‐than‐expected increases in fat percentage (by 6.1 percent point). In 8‐to‐10‐year‐old children, the COVID‐19 group had higher physical inactivity prevalence at 10 years (by 20 percent points). This was accompanied by larger‐than‐expected increases in fat percentage (by 8.3 percent points), z‐score BMI (by 0.90 units), and waist circumference (by 6.1 cm). In 9‐to‐11‐year‐old children, the COVID‐19 group had larger‐than‐expected decreases in physical activity (by 0.3 points) and increases in self‐concept (by 0.2 points). The response in dietary habits, fitness, or self‐esteem was not different between groups.

Conclusion

Overall, school closure negatively impacted physical activity and adiposity, particularly in the youngest children.
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Therapeutic Relationship Assessment Scale–Patient (TRAS‐Patient)
Authors: Coelho Joana Catarina Ferreira , Ribeiro Joana Isabel Ferreira , Ribeiro Ana Rita Martins , Trindade Ana Carolina Gonçalves , da Sequeira Carlos Alberto , Roldán Merino Juan Francisco , Moreno Poyato Antonio Rafael , Sampaio Francisco Miguel Correia
Published: October 2024

The therapeutic relationship plays a crucial role in nursing care for people with mental illness. Adopting a systemic and person‐centred approach that considers the individual experiences and needs of the person is paramount. However, no instruments were found in the literature designed to evaluate the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship from the perspective of a person with mental illness. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an instrument for assessing the quality of the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship from the patient's perspective. An e‐Delphi study was conducted to develop the assessment tool, and a psychometric study was carried out to examine its psychometric properties. The sample comprised 240 adults with mental illness. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and the Omega coefficient. The final structure of the assessment instrument included 24 items distributed across two factors, explaining 64.2% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha was 0.94, and the Omega coefficient was 0.96. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.66–0.92). The therapeutic relationship assessment scale (TRAS‐Patient) shows good psychometric properties. This is a relevant tool for assessing the quality of the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship from the patient's perspective, thus promoting a patient‐centred approach and responding to the patient's needs. Mental health nurses can access a tool for evaluating the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship centred on disciplinary knowledge. This enables patient involvement in care, enhanced care and person‐centred practice.
Implementing Evidence‐Based Pain Management Interventions Into an Emergency Department: Outcomes Guided by Use of the Ottawa Model of Research Use
Authors: Burgess Luke , Theobald Karen , Kynoch Kathryn , Keogh Samantha
Published: October 2024

Aim

To implement strategies to improve the care of patients with acute pain in the emergency department (ED).

Design

Pre–post implementation study using a Type 2 hybrid effectiveness–implementation design.

Methods

Implementation strategies were introduced and monitored through the Ottawa Model of Research Uses' assessment, monitoring and evaluation cycles, supported by focused and sustained facilitation.

Results

Improvements in time‐to‐analgesia within 30 min (21%–27%), administration of nurse‐initiated analgesia (NIA) (17%–27%) and measurement of pain (65%–75%) were achieved post‐implementation. NIA was the strongest predictor of receiving analgesia within 30 min. Adoption of pain interventions into practice was not immediate yet responded to sustained facilitation of implementation strategies.

Conclusion

Collaboration with local clinicians to introduce simple interventions that did not disrupt workflow or substantially add to workload were effective in improving analgesia administration rates, and the proportion of patients receiving analgesia within 30 min. The assessment, monitoring and evaluation cycles enabled agile and responsive facilitation of implementation activities within the dynamic ED environment. Improvements took time to embed into practice, trending upward over the course of the implementation period, supporting the sustained facilitation approach throughout the study.

Implications

Sustained adoption of evidence‐based pain interventions into the care of people presenting to the ED with acute pain can be achieved through sustained facilitation of implementation. NIA should be at the centre of acute pain management in the ED.

Impact

This study addressed the lingering gap between evidence and practice for patients with acute pain in the ED. Implementation of locally relevant/informed implementation strategies supported by focused and sustained facilitation improved the care of patients with acute pain in the ED. This research will have an impact on people presenting to EDs with acute pain, and on clinicians treating people with acute pain in the ED. Relevant equator guidelines were followed and the StaRI reporting method used.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution in this study.
Understanding Career Adapt Abilities, Career Stress, Work Stress, Career Regret, Job Satisfaction Among Nursing Professionals
Authors: Akturan Abdülkadir , Arslan Aykut , Yener Serdar , Kilinç Sebahattin
Published: October 2024

Aim

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among career stress, work stress, career regret, job satisfaction and career adapt abilities within the nursing profession.

Design

The research involved a sample of 576 nurses from ten urban hospitals, distributed across five distinct cities in Turkiye, between December 2023 and January 2024. The study employed regression models to systematically test hypotheses, providing nuanced insights into the complex dynamics of the variables under investigation.

Methods

Regression models were utilized to test the hypotheses systematically, considering the moderating role of career adapt abilities. The study included a sample of 576 nurses from 10 urban hospitals in Turkey, distributed across five distinct cities. This approach allowed for a detailed examination of the intricate relationships between career stress, work stress, career regret, job satisfaction and career adapt abilities within the nursing profession.

Results

The findings underscore the delicate balance between the positive gains of job satisfaction and the challenges posed by career stress, work stress and career regret in the multifaceted landscape of nursing.

Conclusion

In nursing, the relationship between career stress, work stress, career regret and job satisfaction include progress, resilience and obstacles. Developing strategies requires a cooperative effort from health care organizations, nursing leaders and individual nurses.

Impact

The research provides valuable insights into the interplay of these factors and emphasizes the moderating role played by career adapt abilities. The implications of the study extend to healthcare organizations, nursing leaders and individual nurses. The research advocates for collaborative strategies aimed at enhancing job satisfaction, alleviating stressors and addressing career regret. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the retention of a resilient nursing workforce, emphasizing the importance of strategies that support the well‐being and satisfaction of nurses in their careers.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
A Programme of Hepatitis C Surveillance With Active Linkage to Care (HEAL) for Inpatients in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Jiangsu, China
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Zhang Xiujun , Yan Xiaomin , Wang Li , Ning Mingzhe , Jia Bei , Yao Renlin , Zhang Fan , Xia Juan , Zhang Zhaoping , Zhang Yongyang , Xiong Yali , Wu Weihua , Lu Sufang , Shen Han , Huang Rui , Liu Longgen , Wu Chao
Published: October 2024

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health burden in China, affecting more than 10 million individuals. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a hospital‐based intervention programme for HCV Surveillance with linkage to care (HEAL) in a prospective cohort. The HEAL programme was carried out targeting inpatients from non‐infectious departments of two tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu, China. It consisted of an educational campaign to raise awareness of physicians from non‐IDs to promote HCV surveillance, a patient‐navigator‐centred clinical algorithm responsible for the efficient follow‐up of patients with positive HCV antibody, including comprehensive testing, diagnosis and treatment. We characterised the rate of linkage to HCV diagnosis, care and treatment during the pre‐intervention period (from 1 July 2016 and June 30, 2018) and after the intervention (from March 2019 to May 2021). During the pre‐intervention period, 89,303 (45.3%) out of 196,780 non‐ID inpatients were screened for anti‐HCV, and 631 patients were tested positive. One hundred and fifty‐six (24.7%) patients was followed up for HCV RNA confirmatory testing, and 58 (37.1%) of patients further were diagnosed with chronic HCV infection (CHC). Only 18 (31.3%) of the diagnosed patients with CHC were linked to hepatitis C clinics for treatment, 10 (55.6%) patients received antiviral regimen. Among them, two (11.1%) received DAA treatment, while eight (44.4%) adopted peginterferon/ribavirin regimen. During the intervention period, 232,275 patients were hospitalised in non‐infectious department and 151,203 (65.1%) were screened for anti‐HCV. Of these, 960 patients tested positive for HCV antibodies, resulting in a prevalence of anti‐HCV positivity of 0.63%. Six hundred and seventy (69.8%) patients were enrolled, and 100% were followed up for HCV RNA confirmatory testing. Two hundred and ninety‐one (43.4%) individuals with active HCV were identified. Two hundred and thirty‐eight (81.8%) of HCV‐infected individuals were linked to HCV care, and 157 (65.9%) were linked to treatment. Compared to the pre‐intervention period, there was a 2.61‐fold increase in the percentage of patients linked to care and a 5.94‐fold increase in the proportion of patients who started DAAs therapy. This HEAL programme achieved enhanced HCV Surveillance with linkage to care, which has been demonstrated as an effective strategy in the hospital setting to improve the hepatitis C care continuum by identifying inpatients unaware of their HCV status and facilitating their access to HCV treatment.
Symbiodiniaceae‐Derived Fatty Acids Are Stored Differentially Across Giant Clam Species and Organs
Authors: Neves Júlia R. , Taniguchi Satie , Bícego Márcia C. , Sumida Paulo Y. G. , Mies Miguel
Published: October 2024

Giant clams are invertebrates that form mutualistic associations with Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates. Despite their ecological significance, gaps persist regarding our understanding of their trophic ecology. Specifically, it is unknown whether Symbiodiniaceae‐derived photosynthates are metabolized differently according to species and organ. Therefore, we maintained Tridacna derasa and T. noae for 3 months in a well‐lit recirculated system without food supply. Samples were taken from eight organs and underwent lipid extraction and fatty acid esterification before analysis of three symbiont‐derived fatty acids (stearidonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid—SDA, DPA, and DHA, respectively) using gas chromatography. Results show considerable variation in fatty acids concentration among species and organs. SDA was found in higher concentrations in T. noae, especially in the adductor muscle. DPA was detected in low concentrations across T. noae organs and absent for T. derasa. DHA did not vary significantly among species and organs. Our findings indicate that Symbiodiniaceae supply clams with fatty acids, which are stored differentially according to species and organs. This demonstrates that these compounds are translocated to multiple organs throughout the complex giant clam anatomical system, in contrast to simpler hosts like corals. These results advance our understanding of the physiological dynamics of the mollusk‐algae association.
Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding thirst management in surgical patients among intensive care unit nurses: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Zhu Ying , Lv Jianhong , Wang Xinqi , Yang Fei , Zhang Weiying
Published: October 2024

Background

The prevalence of thirst in intensive care unit (ICU) surgical patients is high, and its impact is significantly harmful. Nurses play a crucial role in managing thirst. It is essential to develop targeted training programmes for nurses, focusing on their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP).

Aims

To investigate KAP regarding thirst management in surgical patients among ICU nurses and the potential influencing factors related to demographic characteristics.

Study design

This is a cross‐sectional study. From August to September 2023, a self‐developed questionnaire was distributed online in the ICUs of 14 tertiary general hospitals in Shanghai, China. This questionnaire aimed to assess the KAP of ICU nurses concerning thirst management. Influencing factors were analysed using ANOVA and the rank‐sum test. Spearman correlation analysis and stratified regression analysis were employed to evaluate the relationship among KAP. The study was reported according to the STROBE checklist.

Results

A total of 530 valid questionnaires were obtained online with a response rate of 86.60%. While ICU nurses generally held a positive attitude towards thirst management, there was a noticeable deficiency in knowledge and a lack of standardization in practice. Nurses with higher educational levels, lower academic titles, who had received training and who were familiar with the consensus and guidelines on thirst management had better attitude towards managing thirst. Younger nurses, those with less ICU working experience, lower academic titles, who had received training and who were acquainted with the guidelines showed better practice. It was observed that knowledge and attitude both had a significant positive influence on practice.

Conclusions

KAP regarding thirst management of surgical patients among ICU nurses are interconnected and require enhancement. Targeted training, focused on the identified weakness and influencing factors, needs to be carried out.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

An innovative and stratified training system can improve the quality of practice, as well as contributing to the professional development of ICU nurses. Further, the findings of the study provide a foundational understanding of thirst management, promoting the advancement of related scientific research.
COVID‐19 Pandemic and Women's Age at Marriage: New Evidence From India
Authors: Batheja Deepshikha , Banerji Abhik , Summan Amit , Laxminarayan Ramanan , Nandi Arindam
Published: October 2024

A rich literature has documented the relationship between age at marriage and girls’ health and educational outcomes. The upheaval caused by the pandemic on household decision‐making has been hypothesized to have influenced the age of marriage, but the direction of impact is unclear. On the one hand, the pandemic may have increased the age at marriage if lockdown policies and negative income shocks to families placed a burden on household wealth and the ability to pay for weddings. On the other hand, the age of marriage could have decreased during the pandemic due to school closures that kept girls out of school, parental deaths that encouraged families to expedite weddings, and lower wedding costs because of government mandates to have smaller weddings. Using data from the National Family Health Survey of 2019–2021 of India, we explore how the pandemic impacted age at marriage for women using district and household fixed effects models. After accounting for secular trends in the age of marriage and contingent on the model and specification, we find a significant increase in age at marriage for women who got married during the pandemic by 1.1–1.2 years as compared with those married before the pandemic.
Genomic Analysis and Expression Dynamics of GH3 Genes Under Abiotic Stresses in Brassica rapa
Authors: Karamat Umer , Awan Muhammad Jawad Akbar , Ahmad Muhammad , Farooq Muhammad Awais
Published: October 2024

In silico characterization of the Gretchen Hagen3 (GH3) gene family is required for understanding phytohormone regulation and stress responses in Brassica rapa to develop the improved stress‐tolerant cultivars. The main objective of this research was to identify the key BrGH3 genes under different abiotic stresses. Using bioinformatics tools, a total of 27 BrGH3 genes were identified in B. rapa for which phylogenetic relationship, syntenic pairing, conserved motifs, miRNA regulation, and cis‐regulatory elements of BrGH3s were also studied. BrGH3 gene expression has been examined in numerous tissues and under various abiotic and phytohormone stressors. Phylogenetic studies separated BrGH3 genes into three major classes and nine subclasses based on gene functional evolution. Collinearity analysis demonstrated that all BrGH3 genes had syntenic linkage with AtGH3, BnaGH3, and BolGH3, indicating that genome duplication mechanisms were crucial to BrGH3 gene evolution. The expression dynamics of BrGH3 under diverse phytohormonal stresses methyl jasmonate (MeJA), auxin (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), and salicylic acid (SA) at different time intervals suggest that BrGH3‐5.1 has a consistently greater expression than other BrGH3 genes. Under salt, drought, and low temperature stress, BrGH3‐1 and BrGH3‐4 genes expressed comparatively higher. The findings suggest that five genes (BrGH3‐5.1, BrGH3‐5.2, BrGH3‐15, BrGH3‐17.2, and BrGH3‐19) have a key role in inducing broad stress resilience. These results can be beneficial in developing stress‐tolerant varieties of Chinese cabbage.
Neural correlates of trait anxiety in sensory processing and distractor filtering
Authors: Faerman Michelle V. , Ehgoetz Martens Kaylena A. , Meehan Sean K. , Staines W. Richard
Published: October 2024

Evidence suggests that trait anxiety relates to cognitive processing and behavior. However, the relationships between trait anxiety and sensory processing, goal‐directed performance and sensorimotor function are unclear, particularly in a multimodal context. This study used electroencephalography to evaluate whether trait anxiety influenced visual and tactile event‐related potentials (ERPs), as well as behavioral distractor cost, in a bimodal sensorimotor task. Twenty‐nine healthy young adults completed the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants were directed to focus on either tactile or visual stimuli while disregarding the other modality, responding to target stimulus amplitude with a proportional grip. Previous research suggests that somatosensory N70 and visual P2 ERPs serve as markers of attentional relevance, with attention also impacting the visual P3 ERP. It was hypothesized that trait anxiety would modulate the ERPs susceptible to attentional modulation (tactile N70, visual P2 and P3) and not affect behavioral performance. Trait anxiety showed a large, significant interaction with attention for visual P3 latency in response to unimodal visual stimuli, with a positive relationship between P3 latencies and trait anxiety when attending toward the stimulus and negative when attending away. A large, positive main effect of trait anxiety on visual N1 amplitude for bimodal stimuli was also detected. As predicted, trait anxiety related to ERPs but not behavioral distractor cost. These findings suggest that trait anxiety modulates visual but not somatosensory processing correlates based on attention. The absence of overt behavioral performance effects suggests compensatory mechanisms may offset underlying differences in sensory processing.
Downed woody debris microsite facilitation for planted black huckleberry seedling regeneration
Authors: Magee Margaret I. , Swanson Mark E. , Magee Lukas , Nelson Andrew S. , Adams Henry D. , Reinhardt Jason , Boothe Norris
Published: October 2024

Black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum)—an economically, ecologically, and culturally important shrub across the Pacific and Inland Northwest—is experiencing widespread declines in suitable habitat because of fire suppression and climate change. We tested the role of experimentally placed downed woody debris (DWD) in mitigating unsuitable habitat conditions through creating favorable abiotic microsites and promoting black huckleberry seedling survival. We planted 1‐year‐old black huckleberry seedlings at four distances (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.5 m) from DWD, on the north and south aspects of east‐to‐west‐oriented DWD, at three study sites in Northern Idaho, United States. Over one growing season (May to September), we measured seedling survival, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/fm), soil surface temperature (SST), and soil volumetric water content (VWC) monthly. Only 21% of seedlings survived the entire season, but survival on the north DWD aspect (28.3%) was twice that of the south (14.2%). Additionally, survival at the nearest distances (0 and 0.25 m; 29%) was double that of farther distances (0.5 and 1.5 m; 13.6%) for both DWD aspects. The north aspect and nearest distances were also associated with the highest Fv/fm, lowest SST, and highest VWC, confirming expected abiotic characteristics of the DWD‐associated microsite. The distinct spatial and directional effects highlight a facet of DWD microsites, which can improve best practices for microsites during restoration. We demonstrate that DWD‐facilitated microsites can be a pivotal restoration tool to ameliorate climate extremes and enhance shrub recruitment into more durable life stages.
The influence of partisan news on climate mitigation support: An investigation into the mediating role of perceived risk and efficacy
Authors: Choi Soobin , Hart P. Sol
Published: October 2024

Perceptions of efficacy play a central role in motivating people to engage in climate actions. However, there has been little investigation into how different climate efficacy beliefs are formed and how they may be associated with support for climate mitigation policies. This study, based on the motivated control framework, examines how risk perceptions may differentially be associated with four types of efficacy constructs (self‐efficacy, personal outcome expectancy, collective efficacy, and collective outcome efficacy). It also places the motivated control framework in the context of the partisan information sphere and examines how exposure to partisan news may influence mitigation policy support through the mediators of risk perceptions and the efficacy constructs. Results suggest that liberal‐ and conservative‐leaning news exposure, respectively, associate with higher and lower supports for policies. Overall, risk perception was a significant mediator, and the mediating function of efficacy varied depending on the specific construct being examined. For liberal news use, increased risk perceptions had a positive association with policy support through self‐efficacy and collective outcome expectancy but also had an unexpected negative association with policy support through personal outcome expectancy and collective efficacy. For conservative news use, decreased risk perceptions resulted in further decreased beliefs of self‐efficacy and collective outcome expectancy, resulting in lower levels of support for climate policies. We also find that political ideology is a significant moderator for the mediation model. Implications for climate change communication are discussed.
Assessing social equity of federal disaster aid distribution: A nationwide analysis
Authors: Miao Qing , Davlasheridze Meri , Reilly Allison C.
Published: October 2024

In this study, we conduct the first comprehensive, nationwide assessment of social equity performance of multiple federal post‐ and pre‐disaster assistance programs that differ in targeted recipients, project types, forms of aid, and funding requirements. We draw on the social equity and distributive justice theory to develop and test a set of hypotheses on the influence of program design and specificity on their aid distributional patterns and equity performance. The analysis uses panel data of about 3000 US counties to examine the relationship between a county's receipt of federal assistance and its recent disaster damage, socioeconomic, demographic, political, local government, and geographic characteristics in a two‐stage random effects Tobit model. Expectedly, we find that post‐disaster grants are largely driven by recent disaster damage, while damage is simultaneously influenced by local socioeconomic conditions. For all disaster programs, disproportionately more federal aid is allocated to populous counties. For programs geared toward state and local governments and targeting community recovery and mitigation, more aid is received by counties with better socioeconomic conditions. Conversely, for programs targeting individual relief and recovery, more aid is given to counties with lower incomes and greater social vulnerability. Results also indicate that counties located in high‐risk regions receive greater outlays. These findings shed light on the varying degrees of social equity of federal disaster assistance programs tied to their cost‐share requirement, funding caps, and inherent complexity of application procedures.
Multivariate Analysis and Prediction Model Construction for Dermatoscope Use by Chinese Dermatologists via an Online Survey
Authors: Liu Mengguo , Xu Feng
Published: October 2024

Background

The use of dermatoscopes is constantly increasing globally, but to date, there are no studies on the use of dermatoscopes by Chinese dermatologists.

Objective

To determine factors influencing the use of dermatoscopes in China.

Methods

A web‐based questionnaire was designed by the Department of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and was published online via the Shanghai Wheat Color Intelligent Technology Company, China. In 2019 and 2022, 1581 and 1507 dermatologists, respectively, were recruited and completed the questionnaire online.

Results

In China, the application rate of dermatoscopy is higher in eastern provinces than in western and remote areas. The proportion of doctors from public tertiary hospitals is the highest, with females being the majority. The age range of 30–40 years has the highest proportion, the proportion of doctors with professional titles of attending physician or above is the highest, and the proportion of doctors with a bachelor's degree or above is the highest.

Conclusions

By improving the education and professional standards of doctors, providing more training opportunities, simplifying access, and promoting dermatoscopy in grassroots hospitals, we can increase the confidence of dermatologists in the use of dermatoscopy.
Relevance in Three Dimensions: Teaching Religion With the Comparative Method
Authors: Freiberger Oliver
Published: October 2024

This article argues that three dimensions of relevance can be identified for the academic study of religion as it is taught at the university: (1) Foundations; (2) General Education; and (3) Application. The analytical distinction of these dimensions also reveals that they are inextricably linked and co‐dependent. This model may help to sort out the tasks and opportunities of a secular, comparative study of religion in academia and society. Importantly, for each dimension, the comparative method has a crucial role.
Witte’s conditions for uniqueness of solutions to a class of Fractal-Fractional ordinary differential equations
Authors: Atangana Abdon , Koca Ilknur
Published: October 2024

In this paper, Witte's conditions for the uniqueness solution of nonlinear differential equations with integer and non-integer order derivatives are investigated. We present a detailed analysis of the uniqueness solutions of four classes of nonlinear differential equations with nonlocal operators. These classes include classical and fractional ordinary differential equations in fractal calculus. For each case, theorems and lemmas and their proofs are presented in detail.
A Real-Time Associative Feature-Based Customer Relationship Management and Enterprise Resource Planning Integration Model for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Authors: Sun Yiding , Li Xinming , Ma Yongsheng
Published: October 2024

Customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) have been extensively discussed in the research literature respectively. However, existing studies do not reach a complete agreement on the CRM/ERP integration method, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Generally, this work proposed a novel method for CRM/ERP integration approach via associative feature technology. A new feature type, Real-time Data Link Board (RDLB), is developed and detailed as a generic information carrier solution for multisystem integration between CRM and ERP packages. Valuable data elements are mapped into such data boards dynamically and synchronized across different data sources, structures, and databases. The contribution of this work is to present a well-defined and generically reusable data carrier definition, alongside related methods for ensuring consistent data modeling during the system integration phase across various digitalization engineering implementation projects. With this approach, the consistent management of data integration across intricate systems is achievable throughout application lifecycles, supported by the object-oriented software engineering foundation.
Cooling Injection Effect on the Suction Side Near-Tip Region of Turbine Blade With High-Speed Relative Casing Motion
Authors: Peng Xu , Jiang Hongmei , Lu Shaopeng
Published: October 2024

The high-speed relative casing motion between the casing and the turbine blade tip introduces significant complexities to the flow field near the tip, resulting in alterations to the heat transfer distribution on the suction surface of the blade near the tip, and further influences the arrangement of film cooling arrangements. However, due to the challenges associated with measuring heat transfer, the influence of cooling injection on the near-tip region of the suction side under high-speed relative casing motion still remains uncertain. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by conducting experiments on a high-speed disk rotor experimental rig. The heat transfer coefficient and cooling effectiveness are investigated for different cooling hole arrangements. Additionally, based on the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method, the interaction mechanism of cooling injections under high-speed relative casing movement is comprehensively discussed. It is observed that the cooling effect, which would be effective under stationary conditions, is greatly diminished or even rendered ineffective when subjected to high-speed relative casing conditions. Furthermore, arranging the cooling holes at the location where the interaction between the over-tip-leakage flow and the passage flow occurs would be an effective approach to enhance the cooling performance on the blade near-tip suction side. The effect of different relative casing speeds on suction side near-tip region cooling injection performances is also numerically investigated. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the considerations involved in the film cooling design of turbine blades.
Performance of Rough-Ribbed Low-Pressure Turbine Blades Under Varying Loading and Operating Conditions
Authors: Ananth S. M. , Nardini Massimiliano , Kozul Melissa , Vadlamani Nagabhushana Rao , Sandberg Richard D.
Published: October 2024

Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of riblets (streamwise aligned grooves) in reducing the profile loss of low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades under high-lift (HL) loading. In this research, we pursue the efficacy of riblets in reducing the blade profile loss under various design and off-design conditions. We adopt a strategy in which surface roughness is employed in the transitional regime to minimize the separation bubble-related losses and flush-mounted riblets downstream to further mitigate the skin-friction drag and boundary layer losses due to an increase in the turbulent wetted area. Several high-fidelity scale-resolving simulations are carried out to test the efficacy of this ‘rough-ribbed’ LPT blade for loadings ranging from low-lift (LL), HL, and ultra high-lift (UHL) conditions. Furthermore, two exit Reynolds numbers—83,000 and 166,000—pertaining to engine relevant design and off-design conditions, respectively, are considered. The streamwise evolution of skin-friction coefficient and boundary layer integral parameters are compared and contrasted among different test cases. The instantaneous flow features and second-order statistics such as the Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy are analyzed to determine the design and off-design performance of riblets. It is found that the efficacy of scallop-shaped riblets in reducing the profile loss improves with loading. Specifically, the net skin-friction reduction increases from 3.4% under LL to 8% under UHL loading at cruise Re. There is a corresponding reduction in the trailing edge momentum thickness (θTE) from 10% to 15%. A further reduction in θTE is attained from design to off-design Re under UHL loading. Thus, the effect of riblets in reducing mixing losses improves with increasing Re. It is also found that the riblets reduce flow blockage due to boundary layers. Furthermore, the necessity to optimize riblet ramp to achieve skin-friction reduction under off-design conditions is highlighted.
Optimization of Low-Pressure Turbine Blade by Means of Fine Inspection of Loss Production Mechanisms
Authors: Russo Matteo , Carlucci Andrea , Dellacasagrande Matteo , Petronio Daniele , Lengani Davide , Simoni Daniele , Bellucci Juri , Giovannini Matteo , Granata Angelo A. , Gily Monica , Manca Carlotta
Published: October 2024

In this work, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) was applied to large eddy simulations (LES) of two high-loaded low-pressure turbine cascades under unsteady inflow to investigate entropy production in different parts of the blade passage. The turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production, diffusion, and dissipation terms from the stagnation pressure transport equation were integrated over the computational domain. The POD-based method splits the contribution of different coherent flow dynamics to TKE production and dissipation, including the migration, bowing, tilting, and reorientation of incoming wake filaments, as well as the breakup of streaky structures in the blade boundary layer and the formation of Von Karman vortices in the blade wake. This helps designers identify the dominant POD modes (turbulent flow structures) responsible for loss generation, their dynamics, and the spatial locations where they act, providing insights into the physical phenomena to be controlled. Following this optimization strategy, a new low-pressure turbine profile was designed. After performing LES on the optimized geometry, POD results indicated the possibility of designing a higher-loaded profile with a lower global loss coefficient. Thanks to the stronger acceleration imposed on the bulk flow in the former part of the blade passage, the new loading distribution is shown to be responsible for lower upstream wake migration losses, as well as for a smaller amount of TKE production in the trailing edge wake zone, as a result of the early suction side boundary layer transition.
Using Group Concept Mapping to Conceptualize Meaningfulness in Physical Education With Secondary Students
Authors: Harding-Kuriger Jodi , Gleddie Douglas , Ní Chróinín Déirdre , Lessard Sean
Published: October 2024

Purpose: As a contribution to the ongoing Meaningful Physical Education (PE) research, this study seeks to understand secondary students’ conceptualizations of meaningful PE experiences, using Group Concept Mapping. Methods: Participants were secondary students (n = 55) in an urban sports academy. Conceptualizations of meaningful PE experiences were derived through three main activities using Group Concept Mapping: (a) brainstorming, (b) sorting, and (c) rating for importance. Results: The meaningfulness in PE maps depict synthesized statements distributed across four clusters: kindness, physical activity, fun, and quality education. The most important ideas were: “being treated with respect,” “working hard,” “having fun,” “being active,” and “equality.” Conclusions: The most significant Meaningful PE statements demonstrated the importance of blending the Meaningful PE features based on school context while making pedagogical decisions following the principles of autonomy and inclusivity.
Impact of high-speed nanodroplets on various pathogenic bacterial cell walls
Authors: Tamura Yurina , Kawamura Masato , Sato Takehiko , Nakajima Tomoki , Liu Siwei , Sato Takumi , Fujimura Shigeru
Published: October 2024

Although the development of disinfection technologies with novel mechanisms has stagnated, we demonstrate the bactericidal effects and mechanisms of high-speed nanodroplet generation technology. The first development of this technology in 2017 gushes out a water droplet of 10 nm in size at 50 m/s; however, the target surface does not become completely wet. Nanodroplets were exposed to biofilm models of
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Escherichia coli
, and
Serratia marcescens
. This phenomenon was verified when the nanodroplets collide with the surface of the bacteria at an impact pressure of ~75 MPa.
S. aureus
was exposed to nanodroplets for 30 seconds at 75 MPa, which exploded the bacterial body and completely sterilized. Eighteen MPa damaged the bacterial surface, causing peptidoglycan leakage.
S. aureus
was repaired and survives in this state. In contrast, in Gram-negative bacteria, nanodroplets with 18 MPa penetrated some biofilm-forming bacteria but did not hit all of them, and the viable count was not significantly reduced. Although all three bacterial species were completely sterilized at 75 MPa, the disinfectant effect was affected by the biomass of the biofilm formed. In summary, our findings prove that nanodroplets at 18 MPa on the bacterial surface were ineffective in killing bacteria, whereas at 75 MPa, all four bacterial species were completely sterilized. The disinfection mechanism involved a high-velocity collision of nanodroplets with the bacteria, physically destroying them. Our results showed that disinfection using this technology could be an innovative method that is completely different from existing disinfection techniques.

IMPORTANCE

Although existing disinfection techniques demonstrate bactericidal effects through chemical reactions, concerns regarding human toxicity and environmental contamination have been raised. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in the world to reveal that the use of this technology, with nanodroplets of less than 100 nm, can destroy and sterilize bacterial cells by colliding with biofilm-forming bacteria at 75 MPa. Furthermore, because this technology uses only water, it can solve the problems of human toxicity and environmental contamination caused by existing disinfection techniques. Because of its minimal water usage, it can be employed for sanitation worldwide without being limited to specific regions. Our report proposes an unprecedented physical disinfection approach that utilizes a high-speed nanodroplet generation technology.