bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Twenty-First-Century Crises and the Social Turn of International Financial Institutions
Authors: Engström Viljam
Published: June 2023

The early twenty-first century will be remembered as a time of constant crisis. These crises have created repeated global states of emergency, revealing gaps, and inadequacies in social protection systems worldwide. Alongside these crises, and as a response to them, social protection has grown into a paradigm of global governance. This development is also noticeable in the practices of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. At the heart of all social protection policies is the protection of vulnerable groups. Crises create new vulnerabilities and deteriorate the situation of those already vulnerable. The article explores the social protection endorsement of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund through the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows how crises have fueled their social protection endorsement, making protection of vulnerable groups a central outspoken policy preference. The article asks whether the policies adopted in response to the pandemic confirm their social protection commitment and what challenges remain.
Comparison and predictors of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy for primary and secondary prevention
Authors: Evertz Reinder , van der Heijden Tessa , Beukema Rypko , Westra Sjoerd , Meindersma Esther , van Deursen Caroline , Vernooy Kevin
Published: June 2023

Background

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are effective in detecting and treating ventricular arrhythmias. Studies on ICD therapy for different indications (primary and secondary prevention) and possible predictors of ICD therapy are limited. In this study, the incidence and type of ICD therapy were related to the indication and the underlying cardiac pathology.

Methods

A single-centre, retrospective and observational study was performed of 482 patients who underwent ICD implantation for primary (53.3%) or secondary prevention (46.7%) between 2015 and 2020 at the Radboud University Medical Centre.

Results

During a median follow-up of 2.4 years (interquartile range 0.2–3.9), the occurrence of appropriate ICD therapy for primary versus secondary prevention was 9.7% and 27.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Time to appropriate ICD therapy was significantly shorter in the secondary prevention group (p < 0.001). No difference in ICD therapy was seen for different underlying aetiologies. In the majority of cases (70%) ICD therapy was given for ventricular tachycardia (VT). The occurrence of adverse events (16.3% vs 17.3%, p = 0.772), hospitalisation for cardiovascular reasons (29.2% vs 35.1%, p = 0.559) and all-cause mortality (12.5% vs 11.6%, p = 0.763) were similar in both groups. Male gender (3.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.003, 12.403), p = 0.049) and secondary prevention indication (4.90, 95% CI (1.495, 16.066), p = 0.009) were predictors of appropriate ICD therapy.

Conclusion

The risk associated with appropriate ICD therapy is higher in secondary prevention patients, who have their first therapy within a shorter time frame after device implantation. Rates of complications, hospitalisation and all-cause mortality are comparable. Future treatment options should target the prevention of ICD therapy, mainly by preventing the recurrence of VT.
The Interplay of Academic Hardiness, Passion for Studies and Affective Experiences in Undergraduates’ Happiness and GPA Scores: a Person-Oriented Approach
Authors: Kamtsios Spiridon
Published: June 2023

The purpose of the study was to investigate undergraduates’ profiles, taking into account personality traits (academic hardiness and test anxiety), motivational factors (passion for studies) and affective experiences (positive and negative affect). The study explored differences in outcomes such as happiness and grade point average (GPA) scores among student profiles. The sample comprised of 293 undergraduates, studying in a social science department. Participants completed the following scales: (a) Revised Academic Hardiness Scale (RAHS), (b) Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), (c) Passion scale, (d) Positive and Negative Affect scale (PANAS), (e) Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ). Academic achievement was measured using students’ GPA. Results from hierarchical cluster analysis (which was used for clustering undergraduates into homogenous groups) revealed three profiles: (a) hardy, passionate and non-anxious undergraduates, emotionally positive, (b) anxious-committed, mid-passionate undergraduates, experiencing low positive and mid-negative affect and (c) low hardy, unpassionate and mid-anxious undergraduates, experiencing both positive and negative affect. These profiles were differentially related to student happiness and GPA scores. Hardy, passionate and non-anxious with positive affect undergraduates reported the highest GPA and happiness scores. Results of the study are discussed, practical implications, limitations and future research directions are presented.
New techniques versus standard mapping for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rocco Nicola , Velotti Nunzio , Pontillo Martina , Vitiello Antonio , Berardi Giovanna , Accurso Antonello , Masone Stefania , Musella Mario
Published: June 2023

New tracers for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), as indocyanine green (ICG), superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and micro bubbles, have been recently introduced in clinical practice showing promising but variable results. We reviewed the available evidence comparing these new techniques with the standard tracers to evaluate their safety. To identify all available studies, a systematic search was performed in all electronic databases. Data regarding sample size, mean number of SLN harvested for patient, number of metastatic SLN and SLN identification rate of all studies were extracted. No significant differences were found in terms of SLNs identification rates between SPIO, RI and BD but with a higher identification rate with the use of ICG. No significant differences were also found for the number of metastatic lymph nodes identified between SPIO, RI and BD and the mean number of SLNs identified between SPIO and ICG versus conventional tracers. A statistically significant differences in favor of ICG was reported for the comparison between ICG and conventional tracers for the number of metastatic lymph nodes identified. Our meta-analysis demonstrates that the use of both ICG and SPIO for the pre-operative mapping of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer treatment is adequately effective.
Content Moderation in the Metaverse Could Be a New Frontier to Attack Freedom of Expression
Authors: Hine Emmie
Published: June 2023

This commentary examines the challenges faced by metaverse platforms in cross-border content moderation, focusing on the implications for freedom of expression and nondiscrimination. It highlights the difficulties in determining what to remove for which users as well as how to do so, which has serious implications for freedom of expression and our shared sense of reality. Proto-metaverse platforms such as Roblox and Minecraft face similar questions, but have not yet encountered major cross-jurisdictional issues because, as looking at traditional social media platforms reveals, content moderation is not merely a question of law and policy, but also of geopolitics and government priorities. To avoid a “lowest common denominator effect” where freedom of expression is infringed upon worldwide and discrimination is entrenched, this commentary argues that metaverse platforms must clarify their moderation policies, assess their entry into specific markets based on local laws and their own values, and be prepared to exit overly restrictive markets.
Community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacterial co-infections in patients hospitalized with Covid-19 or influenza: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jorda Anselm , Gabler Cornelia , Blaschke Amelie , Wölfl-Duchek Michael , Gelbenegger Georg , Nussbaumer-Pröll Alina , Radtke Christine , Zeitlinger Markus , Bergmann Felix
Published: June 2023

Background

Bacterial co-infections are believed to be less frequent in patients with Covid-19 than influenza, but frequencies varied between studies.

Methods

This single-center retrospective, propensity score-matched analysis included adult patients with Covid-19 or influenza admitted to normal-care wards between 02/2014 and 12/2021. Covid-19 cases were propensity score matched to influenza cases at a 2:1 ratio. Community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacterial co-infections were defined as positive blood or respiratory cultures ≤ 48 h or > 48 h after hospital admission, respectively. The primary outcome was comparison of community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacterial infections between patients with Covid-19 and influenza in the propensity score-matched cohort. Secondary outcomes included frequency of early and late microbiological testing.

Results

A total of 1337 patients were included in the overall analysis, of which 360 patients with Covid-19 were matched to 180 patients with influenza. Early (≤ 48 h) microbiological sampling was performed in 138 (38.3%) patients with Covid-19 and 75 (41.7%) patients with influenza. Community-acquired bacterial co-infections were found in 14 (3.9%) of 360 patients with Covid-19 and 7 (3.9%) of 180 patients with influenza (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.3–2.7). Late (> 48 h) microbiological sampling was performed in 129 (35.8%) patients with Covid-19 and 74 (41.1%) patients with influenza. Hospital-acquired bacterial co-infections were found in 40 (11.1%) of 360 patients with Covid-19 and 20 (11.1%) of 180 patients with influenza (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.5–1.8).

Conclusion

The rate of community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacterial co-infections was similar in hospitalized Covid-19 and influenza patients. These findings contrast previous literature reporting that bacterial co-infections are less common in Covid-19 than influenza.
Spectral narratives of microstructural restyling and their controls on hydrocarbon generation potential from coal
Authors: Adsul Tushar , Ghosh Santanu , Ojha Anwita , Bhattacharyya Sudip , Varma Atul Kumar
Published: June 2023

The low to medium-rank Tertiary coals from Meghalaya, India, are explored for the first time for their comprehensive microstructural characterization using the FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Further, results from these coals are compared with the Permian medium and high-rank coals to understand the microstructural restyling during coalification and its controls on hydrocarbon generation. The coal samples are grouped based on the mean random vitrinite reflectance values to record the transformations in spectral attributes with increasing coal rank. The aliphatic carbon and the apparent aromaticity respond sharply to the first coalification jump ($${\bar{\rm R}}$$

R

¯

r: 0.50%) during low to medium-rank transition and anchizonal metamorphism of the high-rank coals. Moreover, the Raman band intensity ratio changes during the first coalification jump but remains invariable in the medium-rank coals and turns subtle again during the onset of pregraphitization in high-rank coals, revealing a polynomial trend with the coal metamorphism. The Rock–Eval hydrogen index and genetic potential also decline sharply at the first coalification jump. Besides, an attempt to comprehend the coal microstructural controls on the hydrocarbon potential reveals that the Tertiary coals comprise highly reactive aliphatic functionalities in the type II-S kerogen, along with the low paleotemperature (74.59–112.28 °C) may signify their potential to generate early-mature hydrocarbons. However, the presence of type II-III admixed kerogen, a lesser abundance of reactive moieties, and overall moderate paleotemperature (91.93–142.52 °C) of the Permian medium-rank coals may imply their mixed hydrocarbon potential. Meanwhile, anchizonal metamorphism, polycondensed aromatic microstructure, and high values of paleotemperature (~ 334.25 to  ~ 366.79 °C) of the high-rank coals indicate a negligible potential of producing any hydrocarbons.
The Amit–Ashurst conjecture for finite metacyclic p-groups
Authors: Camina Rachel D. , Cocke William L. , Thillaisundaram Anitha
Published: June 2023

The Amit conjecture about word maps on finite nilpotent groups has been shown to hold for certain classes of groups. The generalised Amit conjecture says that the probability of an element occurring in the image of a word map on a finite nilpotent group G is either 0, or at least 1/|G|. Noting the work of Ashurst, we name the generalised Amit conjecture the Amit–Ashurst conjecture and show that the Amit–Ashurst conjecture holds for finite p-groups with a cyclic maximal subgroup.
Reshaping the structure of the World Trade Network: a pivotal role for China?
Authors: Hoang Vu Phuong , Piccardi Carlo , Tajoli Lucia
Published: June 2023

In recent years, the global trade landscape has undergone significant changes, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and more recently as a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic. To understand the structure of international trade and the impact of these changes, this study applies a combination of network analysis and causal inference techniques to the most extensive coverage of available data in terms of time span and spatial extension. The study is conducted in two phases. The first one explores the structure of international trade by providing a comprehensive analysis of the World Trade Network (WTN) from various perspectives, including the identification of key players and clusters of strongly interacting countries. The second phase investigates the impact of the rising role of China on the global structure of the WTN. Overall, the results highlight a structural change in the WTN, evidenced by a variety of network metrics, around China’s rapid growth years. Additionally, the reshaping of the WTN is not only accompanied by a significant increase in trade flows between China and its partners, but also by a corresponding decline in trade among non-China-partner countries. These results suggest that China played a pivotal role in the restructuring of the WTN in the first decades of this century. The findings of this study shed light on the interpretation of the rapidly changing landscape of global trade.
Attitude maneuvers avoiding forbidden directions
Authors: Ailabouni David , Meister Andreas , Spindler Karlheinz
Published: June 2023

Many space missions require the execution of large-angle attitude slews during which stringent pointing constraints must be satisfied. For example, the pointing direction of a space telescope must be kept away from directions to bright objects, maintaining a prescribed safety margin. In this paper we propose an open-loop attitude control algorithm which determines a rest-to-rest maneuver between prescribed attitudes while ensuring that any of an arbitrary number of body-fixed directions of light-sensitive instruments stays clear of any of an arbitrary number of space-fixed directions. The approach is based on an application of a version of Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle tailor-made for optimal control problems on Lie groups, and the pointing constraints are ensured by a judicious choice of the cost functional. The existence of up to three first integrals of the resulting system equations is established, depending on the number of light-sensitive and forbidden directions. These first integrals can be exploited in the numerical implementation of the attitude control algorithm, as is shown in the case of one light-sensitive and several forbidden directions. The results of the test cases presented confirm the applicability of the proposed algorithm.
Space-time video super-resolution using long-term temporal feature aggregation
Authors: Chen Kuanhao , Yue Zijie , Shi Miaojing
Published: June 2023

Space-time video super-resolution (STVSR) serves the purpose to reconstruct high-resolution high-frame-rate videos from their low-resolution low-frame-rate counterparts. Recent approaches utilize end-to-end deep learning models to achieve STVSR. They first interpolate intermediate frame features between given frames, then perform local and global refinement among the feature sequence, and finally increase the spatial resolutions of these features. However, in the most important feature interpolation phase, they only capture spatial-temporal information from the most adjacent frame features, ignoring modelling long-term spatial-temporal correlations between multiple neighbouring frames to restore variable-speed object movements and maintain long-term motion continuity. In this paper, we propose a novel long-term temporal feature aggregation network (LTFA-Net) for STVSR. Specifically, we design a long-term mixture of experts (LTMoE) module for feature interpolation. LTMoE contains multiple experts to extract mutual and complementary spatial-temporal information from multiple consecutive adjacent frame features, which are then combined with different weights to obtain interpolation results using several gating nets. Next, we perform local and global feature refinement using the Locally-temporal Feature Comparison (LFC) module and bidirectional deformable ConvLSTM layer, respectively. Experimental results on two standard benchmarks, Adobe240 and GoPro, indicate the effectiveness and superiority of our approach over state of the art.
Influence of hydrodynamic parameters in plate heat exchangers in ice slurry transport
Authors: Jiménez Pacheco Hugo Guillermo , Milon Guzmán Juan José , Miranda Ramos Lilia Mary , Delgado Sarmiento Pavel Kewin , Linares Flores Castro Antonio Erick , Leal Braga Sergio
Published: June 2023

Ice slurry is applied in different refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and among its main advantages is the ability to store latent heat and be pumpable as cold water. This fluid can be used for thermal storage instead of cold water or solid ice, since, at certain concentrations, it can be pumped through heat exchangers. For this technology to be widely used, the equipment must be designed considering the heat exchange characteristics. This study developed an experimental system to study the parameters that influence heat exchange, using ice slurry in a plate heat exchanger and water as a thermal load. Several situations with different flows and initial fractions of ice in ice slurry were analyzed. The input conditions of the thermal load were kept constant, the temperature, the pressure drop and the flow of the ice slurry in the heat exchanger were controlled, according to the Nusselt, Prandtl, and Reynolds coefficients. Results show that the global heat exchange coefficient increases with the increase of the initial ice fraction; the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger increases when ice slurry is used as a fluid. For flow rates greater than 0.16 kg/s and ice fractions above 11%, ice crystals are generated at the heat exchanger outlet, due to the ice slurry’s higher viscosity, at approximately 0.003 Pa at the outlet, since the pressure drop increases as the initial ice fraction increases. Results show ice slurry thermohydraulic behavior. Its use shows favorable characteristics in heat exchange.
Artificial Ecosystem-Based Optimization with Dwarf Mongoose Optimization for Feature Selection and Global Optimization Problems
Authors: Al-Shourbaji Ibrahim , Kachare Pramod , Fadlelseed Sajid , Jabbari Abdoh , Hussien Abdelazim G. , Al-Saqqar Faisal , Abualigah Laith , Alameen Abdalla
Published: June 2023

Meta-Heuristic (MH) algorithms have recently proven successful in a broad range of applications because of their strong capabilities in picking the optimal features and removing redundant and irrelevant features. Artificial Ecosystem-based Optimization (AEO) shows extraordinary ability in the exploration stage and poor exploitation because of its stochastic nature. Dwarf Mongoose Optimization Algorithm (DMOA) is a recent MH algorithm showing a high exploitation capability. This paper proposes AEO-DMOA Feature Selection (FS) by integrating AEO and DMOA to develop an efficient FS algorithm with a better equilibrium between exploration and exploitation. The performance of the AEO-DMOA is investigated on seven datasets from different domains and a collection of twenty-eight global optimization functions, eighteen CEC2017, and ten CEC2019 benchmark functions. Comparative study and statistical analysis demonstrate that AEO-DMOA gives competitive results and is statistically significant compared to other popular MH approaches. The benchmark function results also indicate enhanced performance in high-dimensional search space.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is Not Circulating Among Hajj Pilgrims
Authors: Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A. , Memish Ziad A.
Published: June 2023

Since the emergence of the middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) 2012, the virus had caused multiple healthcare-associated outbreaks. The initial 2012 Hajj season started few weeks after the first case of MERS-CoV, but there were no reported cases among pilgrims in 2012. Since then, there had been multiple studies examining the prevalence of MERS-CoV among Hajj pilgrims. Subsequently, multiple studies utilized screening of pilgrims for MERS-CoV and > 10,000 pilgrims were screened with no identifiable cases of MERS.
Avoidable Pitfalls: Another Encounter of Bilateral Ureter Complete Duplication with Impacted Calculus At Al Habib Hospital/Dubai
Authors: Shawish Fahmi Mohamed Abu , Kapsas Georgios
Published: June 2023

The ureter is commonly the subject of congenital anatomical variations involving either complete or incomplete duplication. Complete ureter duplication may not produce symptoms and therefore does not become apparent until later in life. This condition is most encountered incidentally during the extraction of impacted ureteric stones. This type of anomaly is more common in females. However, this condition is not the extremely rare incident as previously thought. Herein, we present our second case of bilateral complete ureter duplication. This aberration was encountered during the extraction of an impacted calculus which was found close to the vesico-ureteric junction of the medial limb of the right complete duplicated ureter. We also present a review of the related English literature. It is essential to emphasize the importance of our basic knowledge relating to most possible renal and ureteric surgical aberrations. A particular consideration prior to any procedure is the meticulous analysis of related radiological images. This clinical practice is a key priority if we are to avoid unpleasant surgical pitfalls. The in-depth diagnosis of an aberration basically remains a radiological entity. This case study provides learning points to complement our daily practice in the management of impacted ureteric calculi.
Famine and Feast in Ancient Egypt
Authors: Morris Ellen
Published: June 2023

This Element is about the creation and curation of social memory in pharaonic and Greco-Roman Egypt. Ancient, Classical, Medieval, and Ottoman sources attest to the horror that characterized catastrophic famines. Occurring infrequently and rarely reaching the canonical seven-years' length, famines appeared and disappeared like nightmares. Communities that remain aware of potentially recurring tragedies are often advantaged in their efforts to avert or ameliorate worst-case scenarios. For this and other reasons, pharaonic and Greco-Roman Egyptians preserved intergenerational memories of hunger and suffering. This Element begins with a consideration of the trajectories typical of severe Nilotic famines and the concept of social memory. It then argues that personal reflection and literature, prophecy, and an annual festival of remembrance functioned-at different times, and with varying degrees of success-to convince the well-fed that famines had the power to unseat established order and to render a comfortably familiar world unrecognizable.
Investor States
Authors: Hunter Benjamin M.
Published: June 2023

This Cambridge Elements on Global Development Studies volume applies the lens of 'investor state' to a pattern of cross-border activities emerging at the end of aid. Using a series of case studies, the volume examines the growth of a trend where states operate as, with and for investors in the healthcare provision sectors of other nations. It sheds light on an evolving institutional landscape for global health in which state-owned development finance institutions, national development banks and sovereign wealth funds are becoming key financial stakeholders in healthcare systems. The trend has been gathering pace in the past 10-15 years in contexts of growing diversity for development financing and is driving the expansion of corporate-oriented models for healthcare provision that are liable to undermine already-strained progress towards achieving equitable access in healthcare globally.
People Centric Innovation Ecosystem
Authors: Zhang-Zhang Yingying , Kikkawa Takeo
Published: June 2023

How can knowledge management function well in a highly dynamic VUCA context? This Element focuses on the context of Japanese management and practices to present the concept of people-centric innovation ecosystem. An overview of Japanese management is provided, from publications in English to the insiders' view of Japanese scholars, combining these sources with interviews and dynamic groups with local managers and case studies to illustrate the state and evolution of Japanese management and practices. Highlighting the people-centricity in Japanese management, its networked innovative capability sustains enterprise development in a highly dynamic VUCA context. The interconnectedness and mutual influence of Japanese and Western management have the potential to generate more general management advancements. This Element aims to contribute to the debate on generalization and contextualization, culture and metaculture, and the coexistence of convergence and divergence. Japanese womenomics and its implications for Asian emerging economic powers are also discussed.
Weighted Hodge ideals of reduced divisors
Authors: Olano Sebastián
Published: June 2023

We study the Hodge and weight filtrations on the localization along a hypersurface, using methods from birational geometry and theV-filtration induced by a local defining equation. These filtrations give rise to ideal sheaves called weighted Hodge ideals, which include the adjoint ideal and a multiplier ideal. We analyze their local and global properties, from which we deduce applications related to singularities of hypersurfaces of smooth varieties.
Not as simple as it seems: extensive facility and training gaps in nursing home bathing
Authors: Nguyen Kristine P. , Singh Raveena D. , Saavedra Raheeb , Billimek John T. , Tam Steven P. , Steinberg Karl E. , Porter Lori , Mitchell John , Huang Susan S.
Published: June 2023

Standardized observation of bed baths and showers for 100 residents in 8 nursing homes revealed inadequate cleansing of body sites (88%–100% failure) and >90% process failure involving lather, firm massage, changing dirty wipes or cloths, and following clean-to-dirty sequence. Insufficient water warmth affected 86% of bathing opportunities. Bathing training and adequate resources are needed.
The Downstream Impact of Upstream Tariffs: Evidence from Investment Decisions in Supply Chains
Authors: Martin Thorsten , Otto Clemens A.
Published: June 2023

We study how U.S. manufacturing firms’ investment responds to tariff reductions in supplier industries. Our estimates, based on tariff reductions following multinational trade agreements, suggest that a hypothetical 10% reduction of all upstream tariffs would increase downstream investment by 4% to 6%. This estimate is not explained by decreasing uncertainty and stems from tariff reductions for homogeneous and low-R&D inputs, consistent with the investment response resulting from cost reductions rather than superior foreign technology embodied in imported inputs. Evidence from an instrumental variable estimation using the sudden increase in Chinese import penetration suggests that import competition also increases downstream investment.
The Problems of Creeping Minimalism
Authors: Akhlaghi Farbod
Published: June 2023

The problem of creeping minimalism threatens the distinction between moral realism and meta-ethical expressivism, and between cognitivism and non-cognitivism more generally. The problem is commonly taken to be serious and in need of response. I argue that there are two problems of creeping minimalism, that one of these problems is more serious than the other, and that this more serious problem cannot be solved in a way that all parties can accept. I close by highlighting some important questions this raises for how to distinguish between theories, and noting some of the troubling consequences it may entail for realism and its rivals, in meta-ethics and beyond.
Aspirational identities and desire through discourses of productivity in marginal individuals: A case study of three women
Authors: Piazza Roberta
Published: June 2023

This article investigates how marginal individuals construct a productive self in an interview. It reports on a case study of three women—a squatter, a rough sleeper, and an Irish Traveller—who inhabit uncertain and threatened homes. In response to dominant discourses of productivity, in the interviews the speakers’ talk reflects the desire to be perceived as able and knowledgeable individuals. Thus, rejecting their marginal subjectivities, the three women propose profitable solutions to society's issues along the very same principles of productivity heralded by dominant society. Framed within a performative notion of identity, the study elaborates on the notion of a non-sexual desire as the trigger of most human actions. The results suggest that marginality is not a fixed and segregated state of being and the stereotype of individuals like those discussed in the study as passive and out of touch must be challenged. (Marginality, space, squatter, Irish Traveller, rough sleeper, desire/aspiration, epistemic and agentive self, neo-liberalism)*
Uncoupling in the third age – the importance of the existential context for late-life divorce
Authors: Bildtgård Torbjörn , Öberg Peter
Published: June 2023

Late-life divorce is increasingly common in many Western countries, however, studies on this transition remain scarce. The purpose of this article is to study attributed reasons for late-life divorce, and if any life phase-typical aspects can be identified in these attributions. Qualitative interviews were carried out with Swedish men and women aged 62–82, who after the age of 60 had divorced from a cross-gender marital or non-marital co-habiting union (N = 37). The results, analysed using principles from Grounded Theory, revealed four different types of narratives: (a) incompatible goals for the third age, (b) personality change caused by age-related disease, (c) a last chance for romance, and (d) enough of inequality and abuse. A central insight and an original contribution generated by the study was the importance grey divorcees attributed to the existential conditions of later life in their divorce decisions. The results are discussed in relation to theories of late modern intimacy and the third age.
A longitudinal assessment of racial and ethnic inequities in food environment exposure and retail market concentration
Authors: Jiang Qianxia , Ghosh Debarchana , Steinbach Sandro , Cooksey Stowers Kristen
Published: June 2023

Objective:

This paper assesses trends in food environment and market concentration and racial and ethnic inequities in food environment exposure and food retail market concentration at the US census tract level from 2000 to 2019.

Design:

Establishment-level data from the National Establishment Time Series were used to measure food environment exposure and food retail market concentration. We linked that dataset to race, ethnicity and social vulnerability information from the American Community Survey and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. A geospatial hot-spot analysis was conducted to identify relatively low and high healthy food access clusters based on the modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI). The associations were assessed using two-way fixed effects regression models.

Setting:

Census tracts spanning all US states.

Participants:

69 904 US census tracts.

Results:

The geospatial analysis revealed clear patterns of areas with high and low mRFEI values. Our empirical findings point to disparities in food environment exposure and market concentration by race. The analysis shows that Asian Americans are likelier to live in neighbourhoods with a low food environment exposure and low retail market concentration. These adverse effects are more pronounced in metro areas. The robustness analysis for the social vulnerability index confirms these results.

Conclusion:

US food policies must address disparities in neighbourhood food environments and foster a healthy, profitable, equitable and sustainable food system. Our findings may inform equity-oriented neighbourhood, land use and food systems planning. Identifying priority areas for investment and policy interventions is essential for equity-oriented neighbourhood planning.
Argument-stretching: (slightly) invalid political arguments and their effects on public opinion
Authors: Vössing Konstantin
Published: June 2023

To stretch an argument means to make a political argument that is slightly (but not glaringly) invalid. I add to existing research, which focuses on the analysis of facts and stark binary views of validity by introducing the concept of argument-stretching, which identifies subtle violations of the validity of arguments. Using this conceptual foundation, I outline an impression-formation theory to explain the impact of argument-stretching on public opinion. I suggest that people spontaneously form negative impressions of stretched arguments, and that they add these impressions to a cumulative tally of satisfaction with the argument. Finally, people translate the negative effect of argument-stretching on their account satisfaction into reduced support for the politician who stretched the argument and the policy justified by it. I confirm the hypothesized direct effects of argument-stretching on policy support and politician support in three experimental studies, and I also find evidence for the mediating effect of account satisfaction.
The Geoeconomics of Belt and Road Disputes: A Case Study on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
Authors: MCLAUGHLIN Mark
Published: June 2023

This article argues that the dovetailing economic, geopolitical, and security interests that underpin the Belt and Road Initiative demands a dispute resolution mechanism that focuses on broader interests and legal rights. Using the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a case study, it identifies the conditions in which Chinese investors could have initiated an investment arbitration but did not. This can be explained by the rights-based orientation of investment treaties failing to reflect the interests of multi-project initiatives. Instead, alternative methods of home state intervention, such as state-funded political risk insurance, are used to protect investors. In other words, the political economy of CPEC investments refuses to utilize hard law mechanisms. Given this context, mediation may be a viable alternative. These circumstances accelerate the trend towards “de-legalization”, which is often cited as an inevitable consequence of the emerging “geoeconomic order” but suggests that reasons other than national security are the cause.
Shows How!
Authors: Nelles Carolyn , Langenbeck Sylke , Lubbe Dirk , Doering Bettina , Flach Elisa , Götz Christian , Hinding Barbara , Lindenmeyer Johannes
Published: June 2023

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Die neue psychotherapeutische Approbationsordnung sieht erstmals eine anwendungsorientierte Parcoursprüfung vor, in der die therapeutische Handlungskompetenz im Umgang mit Simulationspersonen in fünf Stationen jeweils à 20 Minuten geprüft wird. Fragestellung: Die Pilotstudie, die in Kooperation mit dem IMPP durchgeführt wurde, diente der explorativen Untersuchung des Aufwands, des Schwierigkeitsgrades sowie der Durchführbarkeit und Reliabilität der neuartigen Prüfungsform innerhalb der psychotherapeutischen Ausbildung. Methode: Es wurden zwei Parcours mit jeweils fünf Stationen online mit 39 Studierenden am Ende des dritten Semesters des Masterstudiengangs „Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie“ entsprechend der Vorgaben der neuen Approbationsordnung durchgeführt. In jeder Station wurde die therapeutische Handlungskompetenz durch zwei Prüfende anhand vorgegebener Bewertungsbögen bepunktet. Als Bestehensgrenze wurde eine Prüfungsleistung von mindesten 60 % der maximalen Punktzahl in jeder einzelnen Station festgelegt. Die Beurteilungsübereinstimmung innerhalb der einzelnen Stationen wurde mittels Intraklassen-Korrelation (ICC) ermittelt. Für den Gesamtwert der Prüfungsleistung wurden die interne Konsistenz mittels Cronbach’s Alpha sowie der Generalizability-Koeffizient ( G) bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Die 39 geprüften Studierenden erreichten im Mittel 346.29 Punkte ( SD = ± 46.77) von maximal 500 Punkten. Die Durchfallquote betrug damit 59 %. Die Interrater-Reliabilität in den einzelnen Stationen variierte zwischen .091 und .733. In den meisten Stationen war sie befriedigend. Die interne Konsistenz des Gesamturteils betrug α = .85. Der Generalizability-Koeffizient lag für die gesamte Prüfung bei G = .81. Der Gesamtaufwand der Prüfungsdurchführung innerhalb der Hochschule wurde anhand von benötigten Arbeitsstunden bemessen und lag bei ca. 680 Stunden. Diskussion: Es zeigten sich erste Hinweise auf die Qualität der neuen Prüfungsform. Insbesondere war die vorhandene Varianz in den Bewertungen im Wesentlichen auf die Leistung der Studierenden zurückzuführen. Gemeinsam mit den Werten zur internen Konsistenz und zur Prüfenden-Übereinstimmung kann dies als Anzeichen für eine vorhandene Objektivität / Reliabilität der beiden Parcours – im Rahmen der Pilotierung an diesem Standort – gedeutet werden. Die hohe Durchfallquote erfordert weitergehende Untersuchungen. Des Weiteren wäre eine Reduzierung des hohen Aufwandes der Prüfung in dieser Form wünschenswert. Limitationen der Untersuchung sind insbesondere in der geringen, nicht repräsentativen Stichprobengröße zu sehen.
Diurnal Variability of Ocean Temperature Off Pt. Sal, Central California
Authors: Gough Matt K. , Chu Peter C. , MacMahan Jamie H. , Freismuth Thomas M. , Kovatch Michael , Kumar Nirnimesh
Published: June 2023

Diurnal‐band temperature (DU‐T) variability is investigated over 30 days from measures of temperature over the vertical obtained by 78 moorings deployed in the Santa Monica Basin near Pt. Sal (PS), California. DU‐T variability accounts for 3.6%–23% of the total variability. Vertical empirical orthogonal function mode‐1 DU‐T variability accounts for an average of 86% of the total vertical DU‐T variability at each mooring, is greatest north of PS where its vertical structure is baroclinic, and weakest south of PS where its vertical structure is surface intensified. Spatial complex empirical orthogonal function mode‐1 DU‐T accounts for 73% of the total DU‐T over the region, reveals an onshore baroclinic DU‐T propagation of ∼0.5 m/s, and a previously observed equatorward baroclinic DU‐T propagation of ∼1.9 m/s along the coast north of PS. Dominant vertical mode‐1 diurnal‐band baroclinic velocity (DU‐w) variability at each mooring exhibits a two‐layer structure that is 180° out of phase with maxima near the surface and the bottom, and resembles the DU‐T propagation. DU‐T variability mechanisms include wind‐forced deepening of the surface mixed layer, inertial motions, upwelling, and barotropic and baroclinic tides. Among these concomitant diurnal mechanisms, wind‐driven inertial motions are likely the primary mechanism influencing DU‐T variability during upwelling‐favorable conditions owing to coherence between observed DU‐w and the predicted inertial response to wind‐forcing. Further, spatial mode‐1 DU‐T is correlated and coherent with spatial mode‐1 DU‐w and diurnal wind‐forcing. In addition to describing predominant DU‐T variability patterns, these findings have important implications regarding spatial patterns in biological recruitment, transport, and settlement.
Observationally Constrained Modeling of Peroxy Radical During an Ozone Episode in the Pearl River Delta Region, China
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhang Yanli , Zhao Weixiong , Wu Zhenfeng , Luo Shilu , Zhang Huina , Zhou Huaishan , Song Wei , Zhang Weijun , Wang Xinming
Published: June 2023

Peroxy radicals (RO2* = HO2 + RO2) play key roles in forming secondary air pollutants such as ozone, yet model underprediction of RO2* is a challenging radical closure problem. In this study, RO2* were measured by a dual‐channel peroxy radical chemical amplification system during an ozone episode in October 2018 at an urban site in the Pearl River Delta region, China. The box model based on the Master Chemical Mechanism severely underpredicted RO2* levels, particularly at night and under high nitric oxide (NO) conditions. The observed‐to‐modeled ratio of RO2* increased from ∼3 under 1 ppbv NO to ∼46 under >10 ppbv NO with a missing RO2* source up to 5.8 ppbv hr−1. Observation data were used to constrain model predictions, and the results reveal that constraining nitrous acid (HONO) or glyoxal/methylglyoxal could not improve predictions, while constraining nitrate radicals (NO3) or other oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs), particularly phenolic compounds and improvements in their gas‐phase mechanisms, could more effectively increase model‐simulated RO2* concentrations. When OVOCs, NO3, and HONO were constrained, the simulated RO2* concentrations increased to the greatest extent with an observed‐to‐modeled RO2* ratio of 1.9 during the day and 1.3 at night, mainly due to the interaction between OVOCs and NO3 radicals. As the underestimated NO3 levels and the unmeasured reactive organic gases, as well as their unknown oxidation mechanisms, are among the major reasons for the underestimation of RO2*, upgraded atmospheric chemistry involving more OVOC species and more accurate NO3 would improve model‐simulated RO2* concentrations, especially during nighttime.
Disentangling the Role of Forest Structure and Functional Traits in the Thermal Balance of the Mediterranean–Temperate Ecotone
Authors: Barbeta A. , Miralles D. G. , Mendiola L. , Gimeno T. E. , Sabaté S. , Carnicer J.
Published: June 2023

The thermal balance of forests is the result of complex land–atmosphere interactions. Different climate regimes and plant functional types can have contrasting energy budgets, but little is known about the influence of forest structure and functional traits. Here, we combined spaceborne measurements of surface temperature from ECOSTRESS with ground‐based meteorological data to estimate the thermal balance at the surface (∆Tcan−air) during four summers (2018–2021), at the Mediterranean–temperate ecotone in the NE Iberian Peninsula. We analyzed the spatiotemporal drivers of ∆Tcan−airby quantifying the effects of meteorology, forest structure (stand density, tree height) and ecophysiology (hydraulic traits), during normal days and hot spells. Canopy temperatures (Tcan) fluctuated according to changes in air temperature (Tair) but were on average 4.2 K warmer. During hot spells, ∆Tcan−airwas smaller than during normal periods. We attribute this decrease to the advection of hot and dry air masses from the Saharan region resulting in a sudden increase inTairrelative toTcan. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was negatively correlated with ∆Tcan−air, since the highest VPD values coincided with peaks in heat advection. Nonetheless,Tcanincreased with VPD due to decreased transpiration (following stomatal closure), even though sufficient soil water availability enabled some degree of evaporative cooling. Our findings demonstrate that plot‐scale forest structural and hydraulic traits are key determinants for the forest thermal balance. The integration of functional traits and forest structure over relevant spatial scales would improve our ability to understand and model land–atmosphere feedbacks in forested regions.
Structure and Variability of the Barrow Canyon Outflow From Two High‐Resolution Shipboard Surveys in 2018
Authors: Huang Jie , Pickart Robert S. , Foukal Nicholas , Spall Michael A. , Lin Peigen
Published: June 2023

Barrow Canyon in the northeast Chukchi Sea is a critical choke point where Pacific‐origin water, heat, and nutrients enter the interior Arctic. While the flow through the canyon has been monitored for more than 20 years, questions remain regarding the dynamics by which the Pacific‐origin water is fluxed offshore, as well as what drives the variability. In 2018, two high‐resolution shipboard surveys of the canyon were carried out—one in summer and one in fall—to investigate the water mass distribution and velocity structure of the outflow. During the summer survey, high percentages of Pacific water (summer water + winter water) were present seaward of the canyon, associated with strong northward outflow from the canyon and a well‐developed westward‐flowing Chukchi Slope Current (CSC). By contrast, high percentages of Pacific water were confined to the canyon proper and outer Chukchi shelf during the late‐fall survey, at which time the canyon outflow and CSC were considerably weaker. These differences can be attributed to differences in wind forcing during the time period of two surveys. A cyclone‐like circulation was present in the canyon during both surveys, which was also evident in the satellite‐derived sea surface height anomaly field. We argue that this feature corresponds to an arrested topographic Rossby wave, generated as the outflow responds to the deepening bathymetry of the canyon. By applying a self‐organizing map analysis using the satellite altimeter data from 2001 to 2020, we demonstrate that such a cyclone‐like structure is a prevailing aspect of the canyon outflow.
Existence of Crystalline Ammonium Sulfate Nuclei Affects Chemical Reactivity of Oleic Acid Particles Through Heterogeneous Nucleation
Authors: Liu Wenli , Liao Keren , Chen Qi , He Longkun , Liu Yingjun , Kuwata Mikinori
Published: June 2023

Organic aerosol particles are oxidized by atmospheric oxidants. These particles are occasionally internally mixed with solid materials such as soot and inorganic crystals. However, potential impacts of the particles' mixing states on chemical reactivity have rarely been investigated. This study investigated the influence of the existence of crystalline ammonium sulfate on chemical reactivity of oleic acid particles with ozone for the temperature range of −20°C to +35°C using an aerosol flow tube reactor. The chemical compositions of the resulting particles were monitored using online instruments for deriving the reactive uptake coefficients (γ) of ozone by oleic acid. The values of γ were not significantly influenced by the existence of ammonium sulfate when the temperature of the reactor was higher than the melting point of oleic acid (∼13°C). The values of γ were unmeasurably small for the lower temperature range when oleic acid particles were internally mixed with crystalline ammonium sulfate. No significant change in γ was observed for the temperature range down to −13°C when the inorganic salt was absent, likely due to the formation of supercooled liquid. The difference in chemical reactivity can be explained by the occurrence of heterogeneous nucleation induced by inorganic seed.