bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meta-thematic synthesis of research on early childhood coding education: A comprehensive review
Authors: Başaran Mehmet , Metin Şermin , Vural Ömer Faruk
Published: April 2024

The growing significance of coding in 21st-century early childhood education extends beyond technical proficiency, encompassing cognitive development, problem-solving, and creativity. Coding is being integrated globally into educational curricula to prepare students for the digital era. This research examines coding’s potential impact on cognitive and socio-emotional development and emphasizes the need for evidence-based analysis. A meta-thematic analysis synthesizes qualitative data from various studies in a study on coding’s effects on preschool children’s cognitive and socio-emotional development. It focuses on two themes: cognitive contributions and socio-emotional contributions. Thirteen suitable studies were identified from 942 visualized using the PRISMA flow diagram. Coding education enhances cognitive and socio-emotional skills in preschoolers, with implications for curriculum integration. In summary, coding’s holistic benefits in early childhood education are explored, and a meta-thematic analysis investigates its influence on cognitive and socio-emotional domains in preschoolers, emphasizing the need for rigorous evidence-based research.
Next-generation learning experience: The effect of technology-assisted and printed context-based vocabulary activities on vocabulary knowledge and learning motivation
Authors: Çoban Sural Ülkü , Yaşar Sağlık Zehra
Published: April 2024

This study aims to compare and analyse the effects of context-based vocabulary activities with technology-assisted tools and printed materials on fourth-grade primary school students’ vocabulary knowledge and learning motivation. One of the quasi-experimental designs, the “pretest-posttest control group design”, was used in the study. There were two experimental groups and one control group. Technology-assisted context-based vocabulary activities were used in one of the experimental groups, and printed materials with context-based vocabulary activities were used in the other experimental group. The implementation was carried out in the control group according to the current Turkish curriculum. It was planned to teach vocabulary by utilising sentence and text context in context-based vocabulary activities. The research was conducted with students studying in three different fourth grade classes of a primary school, which were equivalent to each other according to the pre-tests. A total of 91 students from three groups (experimental-1: 30, experimental-2: 30, control: 31) participated in the study. The Vocabulary Knowledge Achievement Test (VKAT) developed by Yaşar-Sağlık (2022) and the Vocabulary Learning Motivation Scale (VLMS) developed by Genç-Ersoy and Belet-Boyacı (2018) were used in the study. After the pre-tests were applied, 14 lesson hours of interventions were carried out over 7 weeks. After the implementation, the process was finalised by applying post-tests. The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the difference in scores (post-test – pre-test). Also, the Tukey post hoc test was used to determine the source of the difference. In addition, partial eta squared (η2) values were calculated to determine effect sizes. As a result, it was found that context-based vocabulary activities conducted with technology-assisted tools and printed materials were significantly more effective in improving students’ vocabulary knowledge than the current Turkish curriculum. In addition, it was also revealed that technology-assisted activities were more effective in improving students’ vocabulary knowledge than the activities carried out using printed materials. In terms of vocabulary learning motivation, the results are slightly different. It was found that context-based vocabulary activities conducted with technology-assisted tools were significantly more effective in improving students’ vocabulary learning motivation than the current Turkish curriculum and the context-based vocabulary activities conducted with printed materials. In line with these results, it is recommended that technology-assisted context-based vocabulary activities be used to increase students’ vocabulary knowledge and learning motivation.
Eliminativism and the QCD $$\theta _{\text {YM}}$$-Term: What Gauge Transformations Cannot Do
Authors: Gomes Henrique , Riello Aldo
Published: April 2024

The eliminative view of gauge degrees of freedom—the view that they arise solely from descriptive redundancy and are therefore eliminable from the theory—is a lively topic of debate in the philosophy of physics. Recent work attempts to leverage properties of the QCD $$\theta _{\text {YM}}$$

θ
YM

-term to provide a novel argument against the eliminative view. The argument is based on the claim that the QCD $$\theta _{\text {YM}}$$

θ
YM

-term changes under “large” gauge transformations. Here we review geometrical propositions about fiber bundles that unequivocally falsify these claims: the $$\theta _{\text {YM}}$$

θ
YM

-term encodes topological features of the fiber bundle used to represent gauge degrees of freedom, but it is fully gauge-invariant. Nonetheless, within the essentially classical viewpoint pursued here, the physical role of the $$\theta _{\text {YM}}$$

θ
YM

-term shows the physical importance of bundle topology (or superpositions thereof) and thus counts against (a naive) eliminativism.
Decoding genetic diversity and population structure of Brassica species by inter primer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon markers
Authors: Sameeullah Muhammad , Kayaçetin Fatma , Khavar Khalid Mahmood , Perkasa Achmad Yozar , Maesaroh Siti , Waheed Mohammad Tahir , Çiftçi Vahdettin
Published: April 2024

Marker-assisted breeding serves as a potent tool for screening target germplasm, assessing genetic diversity, and determining breeding potential of a crop. Therefore, inter primer binding site (iPBS)-retrotransposons marker system was employed to evaluate a collection of 33 Brassica genotypes, including 10 Brassica juncea, 5 B. oleracea, 7 Sinapis alba, 5 B. nigra, and 6 B. rapa, were utilized to evaluate their genetic diversity and variations 10 polymorphic primers that generated a total of 144 bands. Various diversity indices were calculated in the studied germplasm, including polymorphism information content (0.13–0.30), effective number of alleles (1.217–1.689), Shannon’s information index (0.244–0.531), and gene diversity (0.148–0.370). These indices collectively affirmed substantial genetic variations within the germplasm. Molecular variance analysis revealed that the majority (62%) of genetic variations were present within populations. The Brassica accessions were categorized into three populations utilizing a model-based structure algorithm. Evaluation of diversity indices based on the structure indicated that populations III and II exhibited higher diversity. Principal coordinate analysis and neighbor-joining analysis further corroborated the three distinct populations, confirming the reliability of the STRUCTURE analysis. Notably, the genetic distance assessment identified BN1 and BN3 from B. nigra species and the genotypes BO1 and BO3 from B. oleracea as genetically diverse mustard accessions. The extensive genetic diversity observed within the Brassica germplasm underscores its significance as a valuable genetic resource for comprehensive Brassica breeding programs. Moreover, these accessions hold promise as suitable candidates for heterosis breeding initiatives aimed at improving mustard production.
Group Ownership, Group Interests, and the Ethics of Cultural Exchange
Authors: Ferracioli Luara , Shpall Sam
Published: April 2024

In this essay, we address an important problem in the ethics of cultural engagement: the problem of giving a systematic account of when and why outsider use of insider cultural material is permissible or impermissible. We argue that many scholars rely on a problematic notion of collective ownership even when they claim to be disavowing it. After making this case, we motivate an alternative framework for thinking about cultural exchange, which we call the core interests framework. We conclude with some reflections on how this framework helps to raise interesting questions about the most promising accounts of wrongful cultural appropriation.
New static apparatus STAT9 for vapor pressure measurements at temperatures up to 463 K
Authors: Štejfa Vojtěch , Fulem Michal , Růžička Květoslav
Published: April 2024

In this work, a state-of-the-art static apparatus for vapor pressure measurements in a temperature range of 363−463 K and a wide pressure range of 1−13,330 Pa is introduced and described. The performance of the apparatus was evaluated by a meticulous procedure of measuring the vapor pressure of five reference materials of different volatility, anthracene, benzophenone, ferrocene, naphthalene, and dibenzothiophene. The last two compounds were studied in the blind test regime, i.e., the results were compared to literature only after finishing the experiments. During benchmarking the performance of the apparatus, it was found appropriate to develop new vapor pressure equations for ferrocene and anthracene that included high-temperature data from the STAT9 apparatus. By combining the new data with previously selected vapor pressures, sublimation enthalpies, and ideal-gas and condensed phase heat capacities, we have obtained a consistent sublimation pressure equation for anthracene and ferrocene. For anthracene, the correlation procedure covered melting properties and liquid-phase vapor pressure data to support the description of the high-temperature region. The revised vapor pressure equations and sublimation enthalpies may serve as solid foundation for future research in this field.
Statistical learning to identify salient factors influencing FEMA public assistance outlays
Authors: Ghaedi Hamed , Best Kelsea , Reilly Allison , Niemeier Deb
Published: April 2024

Both the number of disasters in the U.S. and federal outlays following disasters are rising. FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) is a key program for rebuilding damaged public infrastructure and aiding local and state governments in recovery. It is the primary post-disaster source of recovery funds. Between 2000 and 2019, more than $125B (adjusted, 2020 dollars) was awarded through PA. While all who qualify for PA should have equal opportunity to receive aid, not all do, and the factors influencing how the program has been administered are complex and multifaceted. Lacking an understanding of the factors positively associated with historical receipt of aid, there is little way to objectively evaluate the efficacy of the PA program. In this work, we evaluate the salient features that contribute to the number of county-level PA applicants and projects following disasters. We use statistical learning theory applied to repetitive flooding events in the upper Midwest between 2003 and 2018 as a case study. The results suggest that many non-disaster related indicators are key predictors of PA outlays, including the state in which the disaster occurred, the county’s prior experience with disasters, the county’s median income, and the length of time between the end of the disaster and the date when a disaster is declared. Our work suggests that indicators of PA aid are tied to exposure, bureaucratic attributes, and human behavior. For equitable distribution of aid, policymakers should explore more disaster-relevant indicators for PA distribution.
Coupled circularly polarized electromagnetic soliton states in magnetized plasmas
Authors: Veldes G. P. , Lazarides N. , Frantzeskakis D. J. , Kourakis I.
Published: April 2024

The interaction between two co-propagating electromagnetic pulses in a magnetized plasma is considered, from first principles, relying on a fluid-Maxwell model. Two circularly polarized wavepackets by same group velocities are considered, characterized by opposite circular polarization, to be identified as left-hand- or right hand circularly polarized (i.e. LCP or RCP, respectively). A multiscale perturbative technique is adopted, leading to a pair of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger-type (NLS) equations for the modulated amplitudes of the respective vector potentials associated with the two pulses. Systematic analysis reveals the existence, in certain frequency bands, of three different types of vector soliton modes: an LCP-bright/RCP-bright coupled soliton pair state, an LCP-bright/RCP-dark soliton pair, and an LCP-dark/RCP-bright soliton pair. The value of the magnetic field plays a critical role since it determines the type of vector solitons that may occur in certain frequency bands and, on the other hand, it affects the width of those frequency bands that are characterized by a specific type of vector soliton (type). The magnetic field (strength) thus arises as an order parameter, affecting the existence conditions of each type of solution (in the form of an envelope soliton pair). An exhaustive parametric investigation is presented in terms of frequency bands and in a wide range of magnetic field (strength) values, leading to results that may be applicable in beam-plasma interaction scenarios as well as in space plasmas and in the ionosphere.
There, across the border – political scientists and their boundary-crossing work
Authors: Squevin Pierre , Pattyn Valérie , Jungblut Jens , Blum Sonja
Published: April 2024

Scholars may be diversely engaged in boundary-crossing work, either staying more confined in academic settings, or reaching out to the policy world. Despite growing theoretical attention, there is little empirical knowledge on the extent to which scholars indeed engage in boundary-crossing activities, and the conditions that foster or jeopardize this. We use original survey data from European political scientists to investigate how frequently they ‘travel’ to the policy world, what patterns of engagement are visible, and how these are determined. The article introduces a typology capturing different boundary-crossing profiles and shows that political scientists are rather frequent travelers across the border between academia and the policy world. Yet, individual characteristics matter. Having (had) a position outside of academia has an especially strong effect on the likelihood of boundary-crossing. Our results also reveal that not every scholar has the same chance to be involved, depending on gender or seniority.
Efficient three-dimensional indoor dark light visible light positioning with received signal strength technique
Authors: Saleh Sally S. , Kheirallah Hassan Nadir , Aly Moustafa H.
Published: April 2024

A unidirectional Visible Light Communication (VLC) system has the potential to serve as an Indoor Positioning System (IPS). However, it is important to note that many existing VLC IPS setups rely on keeping LED lights switched on, which can lead to energy wastage when indoor lighting is unnecessary during daylight hours. Additionally, most indoor Visible Light Positioning (VLP) research has focused on 2D localization, assuming a fixed receiver height. This approach tends to overlook the positional inaccuracies that can arise due to variations in height. In this paper, to address these concerns, a 3D IPS is proposed. This system employs multiple transmitters and a single receiver, utilizing a Dark Light Visible Light Communication (DL-VLC) system. This innovative approach ensures the functionality of IPSs even when LEDs are turned "OFF" resulting in more efficient energy usage. The results of the investigation indicate that the positioning error remains within approximately 3 cm when the receiver is positioned at a height of 2.4 m, assuming standard room dimensions, which is in a fair agreement with previously published work.
The effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy and mastectomy on psychopathology, body image, and quality of life in adults with gender dysphoria who were assigned female at birth
Authors: Turan Şenol , Özulucan Mahmut Taha , Karataş Uğur , Kavla Yasin , Koyuncu Oğuzhan , Durcan Emre , Durcan Gizem , Bağhaki Semih
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) may request hormone therapy and various surgical operations to change their physical characteristics. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of two treatments, mastectomy and gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), on adults with GD who were assigned female at birth (GD AFAB).

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we gathered data from a total of 269 individuals in three groups: (a) untreated group (n = 121), (b) GAHT group (n = 84) who had been receiving treatment for at least 6 months, and (c) GAHT-MAST group (n = 64) who had been using GAHT for at least 6 months and had undergone mastectomy at least 3 months prior. All participants were asked to complete the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life Questionnaire- Brief Form, Turkish Version (WHOQOL-BREF-Tr).

Results

We found that individuals in the untreated group had higher psychopathological symptoms and body uneasiness scores, and lower quality of life scores compared to both GAHT and GAHT-MAST groups. There was no difference in psychopathology between the GAHT-MAST group and the GAHT group, but body uneasiness scores were lower, and quality of life scores were higher in the GAHT-MAST group.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that individuals receiving GAHT improved mental health, body satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Combining mastectomy with GAHT may further enhance these benefits.
Investigating the Roles of Protein on the Cobalt Alloy Surface Degradation for Biomedical Implant Through Tribocorrosion Mechanisms
Authors: Taufiqurrakhman Mohamad , Khan Thawhid , Bryant Michael G.
Published: April 2024

Previous investigation has established the formation of tribofilm is influenced by tribochemical reactions between the electrolyte and the articulating surface of cobalt alloy through sliding tests in various simulated fluids. Although it has successfully characterized the film composition via spectroscopy analysis and indicated to have impact on material loss, a comprehensive understanding of the material degradation mechanism in tribocorrosion condition was still lacking. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of protein in the tribocorrosive degradation of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) alloy in different simulated physiological electrolytes. Using a similar testing protocol, tribocorrosion tests were conducted with reciprocating ceramic ball against CoCrMo samples immersed in saline and culture medium, compared to both electrolytes diluted with 25% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Synergistic and mechanistic approaches were employed to model the tribocorrosive degradation. Results reveal that protein plays a beneficial role in reducing corrosive (electrochemical) surface degradation under tribocorrosion condition, whilst increasing mechanical wear degradation in the process. Despite studies have shown that tribocorrosion behavior in metal alloys is highly influenced by the presence of organic matter, this study provides a more clarity of the roles played by protein in tribocorrosive degradation on CoCrMo surface as its novel finding.
WildCLIP: Scene and Animal Attribute Retrieval from Camera Trap Data with Domain-Adapted Vision-Language Models
Authors: Gabeff Valentin , Rußwurm Marc , Tuia Devis , Mathis Alexander
Published: April 2024

Wildlife observation with camera traps has great potential for ethology and ecology, as it gathers data non-invasively in an automated way. However, camera traps produce large amounts of uncurated data, which is time-consuming to annotate. Existing methods to label these data automatically commonly use a fixed pre-defined set of distinctive classes and require many labeled examples per class to be trained. Moreover, the attributes of interest are sometimes rare and difficult to find in large data collections. Large pretrained vision-language models, such as contrastive language image pretraining (CLIP), offer great promises to facilitate the annotation process of camera-trap data. Images can be described with greater detail, the set of classes is not fixed and can be extensible on demand and pretrained models can help to retrieve rare samples. In this work, we explore the potential of CLIP to retrieve images according to environmental and ecological attributes. We create WildCLIP by fine-tuning CLIP on wildlife camera-trap images and to further increase its flexibility, we add an adapter module to better expand to novel attributes in a few-shot manner. We quantify WildCLIP’s performance and show that it can retrieve novel attributes in the Snapshot Serengeti dataset. Our findings outline new opportunities to facilitate annotation processes with complex and multi-attribute captions. The code is available at https://github.com/amathislab/wildclip.
Environmental assessment of an innovative adhesive for the footwear industry: road map for product development
Authors: Simões Carla L. , Aguiar António , Marques Ana C. , Pinho Isabel , Simoes Ricardo
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This work presents an environmental assessment of two adhesives to evaluate the replacement of the traditional adhesive (PU) used in the footwear industry by a novel adhesive based on a microencapsulation approach (PUMC) which is more favorable from the safety and technical perspectives. The PU adhesive is polyurethane-based, while the PUMC adhesive is polyurethane-based but with its isocyanate compounds microencapsulated, increasing storage life and reducing risks related to the exposure of workers with the adhesives.

Methods

The potential environmental impact of the adhesives was evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. A detailed process model was developed (both for laboratory and for a pilot-scale implementation) to investigate the environmental impacts associated with these processes. The functional unit was one kilogram of adhesive (PU and PUMC adhesives) produced. A cradle-to-customers’ gate approach was defined. The system boundary starts from extraction of resources, through material production, until adhesive use. This includes microcapsule production in the case of the PUMC adhesive. This study investigates the important drivers behind the environmental impacts to help guide commercialization efforts. A scenarios study/sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the response of the PUMC adhesive system to the variability of the model, scenarios, and parameters.

Results

The results show that the PU adhesive environmental impact is due to acetone and polyol consumption in the production stage. In the PUMC adhesive system, acetone consumption and microcapsule production are the major factors responsible for the environmental impact. Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), dichloromethane (DCM), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) consumption are the major factors responsible for the environmental impact of the microcapsules’ production. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using three alternative scenarios focused on the reduction in material consumption and increase in material recuperation, as well as using an alternative renewable energy source. Although the traditional PU adhesive has a lower impact, it was found that the three alternative PUMC adhesive systems can become comparable to the traditional PU adhesive.

Conclusions

This study shows the advance and development of a new technology for microencapsulation of isocyanate in adhesives and its environmental advantages and disadvantages with respect to a traditional product that uses non-encapsulated isocyanate. Finally, it was shown that there is significant potential for minimizing some environmental impacts of the PUMC adhesive, such as optimizing the microcapsules’ production stage, increasing the production efficiency to decrease the required material consumption.
Partizipation im Unterricht: Entwicklung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung von lernerseitigen Partizipationsmöglichkeiten aus der Perspektive von Lernenden und Lehrenden
Authors: Kärner Tobias , Jüttler Michael
Published: April 2024

Im Beitrag wird die Entwicklung eines Fragebogens berichtet, mit welchem sich lernerseitige Partizipationsmöglichkeiten aus der Perspektive von Lernenden und Lehrenden erfassen lassen. Die faktoranalytische Prüfung basiert auf Daten von Schüler:innen (n1 = 314) sowie Lehrpersonen (n2 = 97) der Sekundarstufen I und II. Für die beiden Perspektiven sowie für unterschiedliche Felder lernerseitiger Einflussmöglichkeiten kann jeweils konsistent die folgende dreifaktorielle Skalenstruktur empirisch ermittelt werden: (1) Selbstbestimmte Teilhabe, (2) Bedingte Mitsprache und (3) Fremdbestimmung. Die Analysen weisen insgesamt auf angemessene Modellparameter und Skalenreliabilitäten hin. In deskriptiver Hinsicht zeigen sich in den Daten erwartungskonforme Muster: (a) die befragten Schüler:innen geben der lehrpersonenseitigen Fremdbestimmung durchgängig höhere Zustimmungswerte als den beiden Ausprägungen partizipativer Einflussnahme; (b) die lernerseitig wahrgenommenen Partizipationsmöglichkeiten variieren zwischen verschiedenen unterrichtlichen Gestaltungsfeldern in ihrer jeweiligen Höhe; (c) Lehrpersonen schätzen die lernerseitigen Einflussmöglichkeiten teils deutlich höher ein als dies die Lernenden selbst tun. Mit dem vorgestellten Instrument bietet sich die Möglichkeit, lernerseitige Partizipationsmöglichkeiten differenziert empirisch zu erfassen und zu untersuchen.
Dietary inflammatory pattern and risk of hip fracture in the Nurses’ Health Study
Authors: Dahl Jesper , Meyer Haakon E. , Tabung Fred K. , Willett Walter C. , Holvik Kristin , Fung Teresa T.
Published: April 2024

Summary

Our immune system activity is impacted by what we eat and can influence fracture risk under certain conditions. In this article, we show that postmenopausal women with a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern have an increased risk of hip fracture.

Purpose

The immune system influences bone homeostasis and can increase the risk of fracture under certain pro-inflammatory conditions. Immune system activity is impacted by dietary patterns. Using the empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP), we investigated whether postmenopausal women with a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern had an increased risk of hip fracture.

Methods

The study population consisted of postmenopausal women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study from 1980 to 2014, who reported information on lifestyle and health, including hip fractures, on biennial questionnaires, while semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were completed every fourth year. Hazard ratios (HR) for hip fracture were computed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

EDIP was calculated using intake information from the FFQ for 87,955 postmenopausal participants, of whom 2348 sustained a non-traumatic hip fracture during follow-up. After adjustment for confounders, there was a 7% increase in the risk of hip fracture per 1 SD increase in EDIP (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.12), and the uppermost quintile had a 22% greater risk compared to the lowest (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06–1.40). For the separate components of the EDIP, we found that higher intakes of low-energy beverages (diet sodas) were independently associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, while higher intakes of green leafy vegetables were associated with a reduced risk.

Conclusion

A pro-inflammatory dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture among postmenopausal women.
Developing kNN forest data imputation for Catalonia
Authors: Pukkala Timo , Aquilué Núria , Just Ariadna , Corbera Jordi , Trasobares Antoni
Published: April 2024

The combined use of LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) scanning and field inventories can provide spatially continuous wall-to-wall information on forest characteristics. This information can be used in many ways in forest mapping, scenario analyses, and forest management planning. This study aimed to find the optimal way to obtain continuous forest data for Catalonia when using kNN imputation (kNN stands for “k nearest neighbors”). In this method, data are imputed to a certain location from k field-measured sample plots, which are the most similar to the location in terms of LiDAR metrics and topographic variables. Weighted multidimensional Euclidean distance was used as the similarity measure. The study tested two different methods to optimize the distance measure. The first method optimized, in the first step, the set of LiDAR and topographic variables used in the measure, as well as the transformations of these variables. The weights of the selected variables were optimized in the second step. The other method optimized the variable set as well as their transformations and weights in one single step. The two-step method that first finds the variables and their transformations and subsequently optimizes their weights resulted in the best imputation results. In the study area, the use of three to five nearest neighbors was recommended. Altitude and latitude turned out to be the most important variables when assessing the similarity of two locations of Catalan forests in the context of kNN data imputation. The optimal distance measure always included both LiDAR metrics and topographic variables. The study showed that the optimal similarity measure may be different for different regions. Therefore, it was suggested that kNN data imputation should always be started with the optimization of the measure that is used to select the k nearest neighbors.
Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Wear Resistance of FeCrAl Alloys at ~ 300°C and Higher Temperatures
Authors: Dolley Evan J. , Zhang Wanming , Zorn Gilad , Sand Tommy , Rebak Raul B.
Published: April 2024

Worldwide, light water reactors (LWRs) have been using zirconium (Zr)-based alloys for the cladding of the uranium dioxide fuel for more than 6 decades. Zr alloys oxidize rapidly in the presence of water and steam at temperatures > 450°C; therefore, they do not respond well to scenarios of loss of coolant accidents. There is a global effort by nuclear materials technologists to find more robust or stronger cladding materials for LWRs. One option is to use an iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) alloy since they have excellent resistance to high temperature oxidation and superior mechanical properties at LWR operation temperatures. Results show that (1) FeCrAl alloys have better mechanical properties than Zr alloy and are orders of magnitude more resistant to creep at temperatures higher than LWR normal operation conditions. (2) FeCrAl alloys have better resistance to fretting wear than Zr alloys at the normal operation conditions of LWRs.
Atmospheric deposition studies of microplastics in Central Germany
Authors: Kernchen Sarmite , Schmalz Holger , Löder Martin G. J. , Georgi Christoph , Einhorn Andrej , Greiner Andreas , Nölscher Anke C. , Laforsch Christian , Held Andreas
Published: April 2024

Emission of microplastics (MP) to the atmosphere, airborne transport, and subsequent deposition are now recognized. However, the temporal and spatial resolution of data on MP pollution and knowledge of their atmospheric behaviour and fate is still very limited. Hence, we investigated MP wet and dry deposition in Central Germany and examined the role of weather conditions on MP contamination levels. Monthly samples of dry and wet deposition were taken over an eight-month period (05/2019-12/2019) and analysed by micro-Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR) down to 11 μm particle size and one dry deposition sample was subjected to Raman analysis to determine plastic particles down to a size of 0.5 μm. MP in a size range from 11 μm to 130 μm were detected in all wet deposition samples and in 4 out of 8 dry deposition samples by µFTIR. Polypropylene particles were found most frequently and accounted for 62% and 54% of all particles in wet and dry deposition samples, respectively. Over the eight-month period, wet deposition of MP slightly dominated at the study site and comprised 59% of the total MP deposition. The MP mean total (wet + dry) deposition flux (DF) was 17 ± 14 MP m− 2 day− 1. Extensive Raman analyses of an exemplary dry deposition sample revealed additional plastic particles in the extended size range from 1 to 10 μm resulting in a deposition flux of 207 MP m− 2 day− 1. Our results suggest that MP analysis by µFTIR down to 11 μm may underestimate DF at least by an order of magnitude. More comprehensive studies on submicron plastics and nanoplastics are needed to fully assess air pollution by plastic particles.
Social media: a digital social mirror for identity development during adolescence
Authors: Pérez-Torres Vanesa
Published: April 2024

According to recent studies, social media are settings where adolescents construct their identities while engaging in social interactions. In digital spaces, adolescents can interact with, display, and receive feedback about themselves, contributing to the development of a clear and integrated sense of self. This paper reviews the available empirical evidence and discusses four overarching themes related to identity construction in social media: self-presentation (attempting to control images of self to others), social comparison (compare themselves with others, especially evaluating the self), role model (media figures that are social references for behavior), and online audience (friends, peers, unknow/know referents with whom users may interact online). Moreover, it proposes a new contextual perspective on identity development on social media. Informed by research on these themes that social media features allow adolescents to perform self-presentations, offering the opportunity to express interests, ideas, and beliefs about themselves (identification and role exploration). The image presented on social media exposes them to feedback, online audiences, and social comparison with peers or social models. Audiences have an impact on how adolescents think about themselves (self-concept validation). Role models can facilitate the learning of behaviors through imitation and identification (exploration and commitment). Thus, the digital world provides a context for the development of adolescents’ personal identity. This proposal aims to contribute to the construction of future theories on identity in social media and advance this area of research.
Quiescent Adult Neural Stem Cells: Developmental Origin and Regulatory Mechanisms
Authors: Meng Han , Huan Yu , Zhang Kun , Yi Xuyang , Meng Xinyu , Kang Enming , Wu Shengxi , Deng Wenbing , Wang Yazhou
Published: April 2024

The existence of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mammalian nervous system, although small in number and restricted to the sub-ventricular zone of the lateral ventricles, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and the olfactory epithelium, is a gift of evolution for the adaptive brain function which requires persistent plastic changes of these regions. It is known that most adult NSCs are latent, showing long cell cycles. In the past decade, the concept of quiescent NSCs (qNSCs) has been widely accepted by researchers in the field, and great progress has been made in the biology of qNSCs. Although the spontaneous neuronal regeneration derived from adult NSCs is not significant, understanding how the behaviors of qNSCs are regulated sheds light on stimulating endogenous NSC-based neuronal regeneration. In this review, we mainly focus on the recent progress of the developmental origin and regulatory mechanisms that maintain qNSCs under normal conditions, and that mobilize qNSCs under pathological conditions, hoping to give some insights for future study.
Multi-informant Assessment of Organizational Skills: Psychometric Characteristics of the Children’s Organizational Skills Scale (COSS)
Authors: Ryan Shannon , Power Thomas J. , Pendergast Laura , Poznanski Bridget , Nissley-Tsiopinis Jenelle , Abikoff Howard , Gallagher Richard , Tremont Katie , Cacia Jaclyn , Mautone Jennifer A.
Published: April 2024

Organization, time management, and planning (OTMP) skills are behavioral manifestations of executive functioning linked to academic outcomes. Interventions to improve OTMP skills have shown favorable outcomes. The Children’s Organizational Skills Scale parent and teacher forms (COSS-P, COSS-T) are widely used for assessing OTMP skills, but there is limited research on this scale. This study examined the factor structure and construct validity of the COSS in a non-clinical and clinical sample of students in grades 2–8 (Study 1; n = 1138 COSS-T; 1155 COSS-P), and teacher-referred students with OTMP deficits in grades 3–5 (Study 2; n = 184). In Study 1, a bifactor model with a general factor and three subfactors demonstrated good fit for the COSS-P (RMSEA = .057) and COSS-T (RMSEA = .052). This model was replicated in Study 2. The general factor on both versions demonstrated an acceptable to high level of internal reliability. An acceptable degree of reliability was also identified for subfactor 1 (Task Planning). The COSS was shown to be effective in differentiating children with ADHD from a comparison group drawn primarily from the non-clinical sample (AUC = .84 COSS-P; .85 COSS-T). Sex differences of medium magnitude were identified on the total score of both COSS versions. Correlations between the COSS-P and COSS-T were variable across samples. The findings provide strong evidence for using the total score on the COSS-P and COSS-T as an index of overall OTMP skills deficits. Given variable cross-informant correlations on the COSS, multi-informant assessment of OTMP skills is strongly indicated.
Wie, wat, waar? De invloed van het Integraal ZorgAkkoord op bestaande regionale netwerken in de zorg
Authors: Peeters Robin , Westra Daan , Gifford Rachel , Ruwaard Dirk
Published: April 2024

Samenvatting

Zorg- en welzijnsorganisaties worden gestimuleerd om samen te werken in regionale, domeinoverstijgende netwerken. Hoewel literatuur laat zien dat beleidsveranderingen invloed hebben op de effectiviteit van bestaande netwerken, is de invloed van het Integraal ZorgAkkoord (IZA) nog niet bekend. We hebben deze onderzocht via een longitudinale, kwalitatieve casestudy van een netwerk dat al geruime tijd bestond. De resultaten laten zien dat in het kader van de invoering van het IZA op het niveau van de zorgkantoorregio een nieuw, overkoepelend netwerk is opgezet. Hierdoor werden het doel, de samenstelling en het voortbestaan van het bestaande netwerk onzeker. In het bestaande netwerk ontstond een tweedeling tussen leden die wel deelnamen aan het nieuwe netwerk en leden die dat niet deden. Organisaties die wel deelnamen aan het nieuwe netwerk stelden hun deelname in het bestaande netwerk ter discussie om de bestuurlijke druk te verlagen. Organisaties die alleen deelnamen aan het bestaande netwerk trokken hun deelname in twijfel omdat het doel niet meer duidelijk was voor deelnemers en ze een gebrek aan transparantie ervoeren over besluiten in het nieuwe netwerk. De nationale overheid en beleidsmakers zouden er goed aan doen om bij verdere uitwerking van het IZA nauwe aansluiting te zoeken bij de praktijk.
Who, what, where? The influence of the Integral Care Agreement (IZA) on established regional networks in Dutch healthcare
Authors: Peeters Robin , Westra Daan , Gifford Rachel , Ruwaard Dirk
Published: April 2024

Health and welfare organizations are encouraged to collaborate in regional, cross-domain networks. Although the literature has shown that policy changes can influence the effectiveness of existing networks, the impact of the Dutch Integral Care Agreement (Integraal ZorgAkkoord, IZA) is not yet known. We investigated this in a longitudinal qualitative case study of a network that has been in existence for a long time. The results show that after implementation of the IZA, a new overarching network at the healthcare administrative regional level was established. This led to uncertainty regarding the objective, composition, and sustainability of the existing network. A division emerged in the existing network between members who participated in the new network and those who did not. Organizations that participated in the new network questioned their participation in the existing network, to reduce administrative pressure. Organizations that only participated in the existing network doubted their participation because they lost sight of the network’s purpose and experienced a lack of transparency regarding decisions made in the new network. The Dutch national government and policymakers would do well to seek close alignment with practice when further developing the IZA.
Qualität in der Ganztagsschule – Qualität im Ganztag
Authors: Rother Pia , Sauerwein Markus , Fischer Natalie
Published: April 2024

In Ganztagsschulen sind mindestens zwei Systeme (Schule sowie Kinder- und Jugendhilfe) aufgefordert zusammenzuarbeiten. Entsprechend breit und diffus sind vorliegende Qualitätsverständnisse. Qualität ist eine Frage der Perspektive und dahinterliegenden Zielvorstellungen. Somit können auch unterschiedliche Qualitätsvorstellungen von Ganztag nebeneinanderstehen. Entsprechend wird im vorliegenden Beitrag für eine kontextgebundene Reflexion verschiedener Qualitäts- und Zielvorstellungen anstelle eines einheitlichen Qualitätsmodells argumentiert. Im Fokus stehen Qualitätsmerkmale und -begriffe mit Blick auf den Ganztag aus Sicht der Ebene der Organisation und der Adressat*innen (Eltern und Kinder).
Evolutionary Development of Born Globals Literature During the Period of 2002–2020
Authors: Baskici Cigdem , Ercil Yavuz , Gokmen Yunus
Published: April 2024

Although scholars have examined the born globals (BGs) literature, extant reviews have not yet provided a dynamic approach to trace the development of literature. In response, the study aims to define the development of BGs literature by a dynamic perspective. The study focused on the network analysis of 609 out of 1034 documents published in the period from 2002 to 2020 about BGs collected from the Web of Science™ (WoS) Core Collection (CC), owing to carrying out that some documents were irrelevant or did not contain the keywords while the manual reading of abstracts. We applied the DPRel method which uses meta-path-based semi-metric measures to examine the longitudinal relatedness between the concepts in the networks, following the relevance path of Keywords (K)-Documents (D)-Keywords (K). According to the findings, 13 concepts in 5 different periods constitute the backbone of the literature at the macro-level. There are 58 concepts feeding the mainstream at the meso-level. At the micro-level, 26 concepts enrich the literature by supporting the backbone.
Determinant on Economic Growth in Developing Country: A Special Case Regarding Turkey and Bangladesh
Authors: Bazaluk Oleg , Kader Sheikh Abdul , Zayed Nurul Mohammad , Chowdhury Rupok , Islam Md. Zahirul , Nitsenko Vitalii S. , Bratus Hanna
Published: April 2024

This study delves into the complex interplay between gross domestic product (GDP) and key macroeconomic indicators in the contexts of Turkey and Bangladesh. By examining panel data spanning from 1981 to 2020 sourced from the World Bank, we investigate the causal relationships between GDP growth and various factors including population growth, inflation, literacy rate, natural resource utilization, investment, and foreign direct investment (FDI). Our research aims to address critical questions regarding the economic trajectories of these two emerging economies. Specifically, we seek to understand how different macroeconomic variables influence GDP growth in Bangladesh and Turkey, while also exploring the unique socio-economic landscapes of these nations. Methodologically, we employ the Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel causality test to analyze the causal relationships between GDP growth and the aforementioned macroeconomic indicators. Our findings reveal direct, statistically significant associations between GDP growth and these variables, with population growth emerging as a particularly influential factor. The implications of our study extend beyond empirical observations, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to foster sustainable economic development in both Bangladesh and Turkey. By identifying the key drivers of GDP growth and their impact on economic performance, our research contributes to the existing body of literature on economic development in emerging economies. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of GDP growth in Turkey and Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of understanding and leveraging macroeconomic indicators to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in these nations.
The Law of Social Enterprises: Surveying a New Field of Research
Authors: Fleischer Holger , Pendl Matthias
Published: April 2024

Social enterprises are becoming increasingly popular across the globe. They are seen, particularly by younger generations, as an exceptionally promising organizational model. More recently, the idea to tackle social challenges with entrepreneurial means has also been met warmly by policymakers. However, the legal framework for social enterprises remains poorly developed and legal analysis of the subject matter in academia is only slowly gaining momentum. Against this background, this article outlines the multifaceted, real-world phenomenon of social enterprises in business practice and management research, whereby different patterns of thought in Europe on the one hand and in the United States on the other can be identified. It then introduces the (corporate) law of social enterprises, especially the development of new organizational forms, and takes stock of this gradually emerging field of research in Germany, Europe, and the United States. Furthermore, it addresses research perspectives and open questions in the new field of social enterprise law, highlighting,inter alia, that one should distinguish more strongly than before between different models of social enterprises and organizational forms when considering a new legislative creation.
The Effect of Thymoquinone on the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB Axis Against Cisplatin-İnduced Testicular Tissue Damage
Authors: Yalçın Tuba , Kaya Sercan , Yiğin Akın , Ağca Can Ali , Özdemir Deniz , Kuloğlu Tuncay , Boydak Murat
Published: April 2024

One of the adverse effects of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin (CS) is damage to testicular tissue. This study aimed to examine the potential therapeutic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a strong antioxidant, against testicular damage caused by CS. In the experiment, 28 rats were used, and the rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (n = 7), CS (n = 7), CS + TQ (n = 7), and TQ (n = 7). The experiment was called off after all treatments were finished on day 15. Blood serum and testicular tissues were utilized for biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, mRNA expression, and gene protein investigations. The testosterone level decreased and oxidative stress, histopathological damage, dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics, inflammation and apoptotic cells increased in testicular tissue due to CS administration. TQ supplementation showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects in response to CS-induced testicular damage. In addition, TQ contributed to the reduction of CS-induced toxic effects by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB pathway. TQ supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy against CS-induced testicular damage by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB axis, inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.