bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How sensitive are the evaluations of a school’s effectiveness to the selection of covariates in the applied value-added model?
Authors: Levy Jessica , Brunner Martin , Keller Ulrich , Fischbach Antoine
Published: May 2022

There is no final consensus regarding which covariates should be used (in addition to prior achievement) when estimating value-added (VA) scores to evaluate a school’s effectiveness. Therefore, we examined the sensitivity of evaluations of schools’ effectiveness in math and language achievement to covariate selection in the applied VA model. Four covariate sets were systematically combined, including prior achievement from the same or different domain, sociodemographic and sociocultural background characteristics, and domain-specific achievement motivation. School VA scores were estimated using longitudinal data from the Luxembourg School Monitoring Programme with some 3600 students attending 153 primary schools in Grades 1 and 3. VA scores varied considerably, despite high correlations between VA scores based on the different sets of covariates (.66 < r < 1.00). The explained variance and consistency of school VA scores substantially improved when including prior math and prior language achievement in VA models for math and prior language achievement with sociodemographic and sociocultural background characteristics in VA models for language. These findings suggest that prior achievement in the same subject, the most commonly used covariate to date, may be insufficient to control for between-school differences in student intake when estimating school VA scores. We thus recommend using VA models with caution and applying VA scores for informative purposes rather than as a mean to base accountability decisions upon.
MetaPhenomics: quantifying the many ways plants respond to their abiotic environment, using light intensity as an example
Authors: Poorter Hendrik , Yin Xinyou , Alyami Nouf , Gibon Yves , Pons Thijs L.
Published: May 2022

Thousands of scientific papers have described how plants responded to different levels of a given environmental factor, for a wide variety of physiological processes and morphological, anatomical or chemical characteristics. There is a clear need to summarize this information in a structured and comparable way through meta-analysis. This paper describes how to use relative trait responses from many independent experiments to create generalized dose-response curves. By applying the same methodology to a wide range of plant traits, varying from the molecular to the whole plant level, we can achieve an unprecedented view on the many ways that plants are affected by and acclimate to their environment. We illustrate this approach, which we refer to as ‘MetaPhenomics’, with a variety of previously published and unpublished dose-response curves of the effect of light intensity on 25 plant traits. Furthermore, we discuss the need and difficulties to expand this approach to the transcriptomics and metabolomics level, and show how the generalized dose-response curves can be used to improve simulation models as well as the communication between modelers and experimental plant biologists.
Exploring the relation between the structure strategy and source attention in single expository text comprehension: a cross-sectional study in secondary education
Authors: García J. Ricardo , García-Serrano María , Rosales Javier
Published: May 2022

Organisational signals and sources can be considered metatextual cues that guide the processing of the discourse. Organisational signals encourage readers to use the structure strategy, while source information reveals the epistemic and formal properties of texts. This study addressed three gaps in prior research about these topics: (1) whether organisational signals were useful for 12–14/14–16-year-old students reading causal and sequential texts, (2) the role of sources in single-text understanding, and (3) the relationship between sensitivity to organisational signals (rhetorical competence) and attention to sources. Participants read causal and sequential texts with or without these metatextual cues and wrote a summary. Summary quality was considered an indicator of understanding and using the structure strategy. The number of sources translated into the summaries was considered an indicator of source attention. The results indicated that (1) organisational signals had an effect on summary quality in both age groups and texts; (2) sources did not affect summary quality, but when participants read signalled texts, the number of sources mentioned made a unique contribution to summary quality beyond decoding, general reading comprehension and rhetorical competence; and (3) the number of sources mentioned correlated with rhetorical competence among participants who read the signalled texts. These results suggest that 12–16-year-old students need the aid of organisational signals to launch the structure strategy with causal and sequential texts and that sources may be more useful in combination with organisational signals, but only for students with some level of rhetorical competence, illustrating the intricacy of literacy development.
Efficient Reconfigurable Mixed Precision $$\ell _1$$ Solver for Compressive Depth Reconstruction
Authors: Wu Yun , Wallace Andrew M. , Mota João F.C. , Aßmann Andreas , Stewart Brian
Published: May 2022

Rapid reconstruction of depth images from sparsely sampled data is important for many applications in machine perception, including robot or vehicle assistance or autonomy. Approximate computing techniques have been widely adopted to reduce resource consumption and increase efficiency in energy and resource constrained systems, especially targeted at FPGA and solid state implementation. Whereas previous work has focused on approximate, but static, representation of data in LiDAR systems, in this paper we show how the flexibility of an arbitrary precision accelerator with fine-grain tuning allows a better trade-off between algorithmic performance and implementation efficiency. A mixed precision framework of $$\ell _1$$

ℓ
1

solvers is presented, with compact ADMM and PGD, for the lasso problem, enabling compressive depth reconstruction by varying the precision scaling in single bit granularity during the iterative optimization process. Implementing mixed precision $$\ell _1$$

ℓ
1

solvers on an FPGA with a pipelined architecture for depth image reconstruction across various sensing scenarios, over 74% savings in hardware resources and 60% in power are achieved with only minor reductions in reconstructed depth image quality when compared to single float precision, while over 10% saving in hardware resources and power is achieved compared to relative consistently reduced precision solutions.
Improved distinct bone segmentation from upper-body CT using binary-prediction-enhanced multi-class inference.
Authors: Schnider Eva , Huck Antal , Toranelli Mireille , Rauter Georg , Müller-Gerbl Magdalena , Cattin Philippe C.
Published: May 2022

Purpose:

Automated distinct bone segmentation has many applications in planning and navigation tasks. 3D U-Nets have previously been used to segment distinct bones in the upper body, but their performance is not yet optimal. Their most substantial source of error lies not in confusing one bone for another, but in confusing background with bone-tissue.

Methods:

In this work, we propose binary-prediction-enhanced multi-class (BEM) inference, which takes into account an additional binary background/bone-tissue prediction, to improve the multi-class distinct bone segmentation. We evaluate the method using different ways of obtaining the binary prediction, contrasting a two-stage approach to four networks with two segmentation heads. We perform our experiments on two datasets: An in-house dataset comprising 16 upper-body CT scans with voxelwise labelling into 126 distinct classes, and a public dataset containing 50 synthetic CT scans, with 41 different classes.

Results:

The most successful network with two segmentation heads achieves a class-median Dice coefficient of 0.85 on cross-validation with the upper-body CT dataset. These results outperform both our previously published 3D U-Net baseline with standard inference, and previously reported results from other groups. On the synthetic dataset, we also obtain improved results when using BEM-inference.

Conclusion:

Using a binary bone-tissue/background prediction as guidance during inference improves distinct bone segmentation from upper-body CT scans and from the synthetic dataset. The results are robust to multiple ways of obtaining the bone-tissue segmentation and hold for the two-stage approach as well as for networks with two segmentation heads.
Deep learning-based classification of DSA image sequences of patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Mittmann Benjamin J. , Braun Michael , Runck Frank , Schmitz Bernd , Tran Thuy N. , Yamlahi Amine , Maier-Hein Lena , Franz Alfred M.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Recently, a large number of patients with acute ischemic stroke benefited from the use of thrombectomy, a minimally invasive intervention technique for mechanically removing thrombi from the cerebrovasculature. During thrombectomy, 2D digital subtraction angiography (DSA) image sequences are acquired simultaneously from the posterior-anterior and the lateral view to control whether thrombus removal was successful, and to possibly detect newly occluded areas caused by thrombus fragments split from the main thrombus. However, such new occlusions, which would be treatable by thrombectomy, may be overlooked during the intervention. To prevent this, we developed a deep learning-based approach to automatic classification of DSA sequences into thrombus-free and non-thrombus-free sequences.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study based on the single-center DSA data of thrombectomy patients. For classifying the DSA sequences, we applied Long Short-Term Memory or Gated Recurrent Unit networks and combined them with different Convolutional Neural Networks used as feature extractor. These network variants were trained on the DSA data by using five-fold cross-validation. The classification performance was determined on a test data set with respect to the Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) and the area under the curve (AUC). Finally, we evaluated our models on patient cases, in which overlooking thrombi during thrombectomy had happened.

Results

Depending on the specific model configuration used, we obtained a performance of up to 0.77$$\mid $$
∣
0.94 for the MCC$$\mid $$
∣
AUC, respectively. Additionally, overlooking thrombi could have been prevented in the reported patient cases, as our models would have classified the corresponding DSA sequences correctly.

Conclusion

Our deep learning-based approach to thrombus identification in DSA sequences yielded high accuracy on our single-center test data set. External validation is now required to investigate the generalizability of our method. As demonstrated, using this new approach may help reduce the incident risk of overlooking thrombi during thrombectomy in the future.
AI-based optimization for US-guided radiation therapy of the prostate
Authors: Gerlach Stefan , Hofmann Theresa , Fürweger Christoph , Schlaefer Alexander
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Fast volumetric ultrasound presents an interesting modality for continuous and real-time intra-fractional target tracking in radiation therapy of lesions in the abdomen. However, the placement of the ultrasound probe close to the target structures leads to blocking some beam directions.

Methods

To handle the combinatorial complexity of searching for the ultrasound-robot pose and the subset of optimal treatment beams, we combine CNN-based candidate beam selection with simulated annealing for setup optimization of the ultrasound robot, and linear optimization for treatment plan optimization into an AI-based approach. For 50 prostate cases previously treated with the CyberKnife, we study setup and treatment plan optimization when including robotic ultrasound guidance.

Results

The CNN-based search substantially outperforms previous randomized heuristics, increasing coverage from 93.66 to 97.20% on average. Moreover, in some cases the total MU was also reduced, particularly for smaller target volumes. Results after AI-based optimization are similar for treatment plans with and without beam blocking due to ultrasound guidance.

Conclusions

AI-based optimization allows for fast and effective search for configurations for robotic ultrasound-guided radiation therapy. The negative impact of the ultrasound robot on the plan quality can successfully be mitigated resulting only in minor differences.
Two-stage deep learning framework for sRGB image white balance
Authors: Farghaly Marwa , Mansour Romany F. , Sewisy Adel A.
Published: May 2022

This work aims to correct white-balance errors in sRGB images. These white-balance errors are hard to fix due to the nonlinear color-processing procedures applied by camera image signal processors (ISP) to produce the final sRGB colors. Camera ISPs apply these nonlinear procedures after the essential white-balance step to render sensor raw images to the sRGB space through a camera-specific set of tone curves and look-up tables. To correct improperly white-balanced images, projecting non-linear sRGB colors back to their original raw space is required. Recent work formulates the problem as an image translation problem, where input sRGB colors are mapped using nonlinear polynomial correction functions to fix such white-balance errors. In this work, we show that correcting white-balance errors in sRGB images through a global color mapping followed by spatially local adjustments, learned in an end-to-end training, introduces perceptual improvements in the final results. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons with recently published methods for camera-rendered image white balancing validate our method’s efficacy and show that our method achieves competitive results with state-of-the-art methods.
A qualitative study of the experiences of participants in X-Fittt 2.0, a combined lifestyle intervention for citizens with a low socioeconomic status
Authors: Mulderij Lisanne Sofie , Wagemakers Annemarie , Verkooijen Kirsten Thecla
Published: May 2022

X‑Fittt 2.0 is a two-year combined lifestyle intervention (CLI) for people with a low socioeconomic status (SES), which starts with 12 weeks of intensive guidance, followed by a follow-up trajectory. In the first 12 weeks, participants receive three weekly sports sessions (two in a group with a sports coach, one individually), dietary advice and monitoring by a dietician, and four hours of coaching by a lifestyle coach to work on personal goals. The follow-up trajectory consists of a total of six hours of lifestyle coaching to encourage behavioural maintenance. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of participants with X‑Fittt 2.0. Therefore, 17 group discussions after 12 weeks (n = 71) and individual interviews after 1–2 years (n = 68) were held and thematically analysed. This resulted in five themes: ‘goals of the participant’, ‘programme content’, ‘accessibility of the programme’, ‘group dynamics’ and ‘guidance’. Most participants participated because of their health. They considered the programme accessible because the atmosphere in the sports centre was pleasant and X‑Fittt 2.0 was offered free of charge. The majority of participants liked the fact that the programme was offered in a group ‘with people like them’, referring to people who are overweight, because they did not have to be ashamed of themselves, which motivated them. The participants were especially satisfied with the guidance from the lifestyle coach and sports coach. However, they would have expected more guidance from the dietician. Overall, most participants were satisfied with the programme, but many also indicated that the first 12 weeks were too short to achieve sustainable behavioural change. Furthermore, quite a few participants indicated to have stopped sports after the first 12 weeks, because they could not afford to continue. The insights obtained can be used to better adapt (existing) CLIs to people with low SES.
Een kwalitatief onderzoek naar de ervaringen van deelnemers aan X-Fittt 2.0 – een GLI voor mensen met een lage sociaaleconomische status
Authors: Mulderij Lisanne Sofie , Wagemakers Annemarie , Verkooijen Kirsten Thecla
Published: May 2022

Samenvatting

X‑Fittt 2.0 is een tweejarige gecombineerde leefstijlinterventie (GLI) voor mensen met een lage sociaaleconomische status (SES), die start met 12 weken intensieve begeleiding, gevolgd door een laagintensief natraject. Het doel van dit onderzoek was inzicht krijgen in de ervaringen van de deelnemers. Hiervoor zijn 17 groepsgesprekken (n = 71) na 12 weken en 68 individuele interviews na 1 en 2 jaar gehouden. Een thematisch analyse resulteerde in 5 thema’s: ‘doelen van de deelnemer’, ‘programma-inhoud’, ‘toegankelijkheid’, ‘groepsdynamiek’ en ‘begeleiding’. De meeste deelnemers gaven aan mee te doen vanwege hun gezondheid. Deelnemers vonden het programma toegankelijk door de prettige sfeer in het sportcentrum en het gratis (sport)aanbod. Het merendeel vond het fijn dat het programma werd aangeboden in een groep met ‘mensen zoals zij’, namelijk mensen met overgewicht. De deelnemers waren tevreden over de begeleiding door de leefstijlcoach en sportcoach. Van de diëtist hadden ze meer begeleiding verwacht. Hoewel deelnemers over het algemeen tevreden waren over het programma, gaf een groot deel aan dat de intensieve periode van 12 weken te kort was voor duurzame gedragsverandering. De opgedane inzichten kunnen bijdragen aan het aanpassen van (bestaande) GLI’s, zodat deze beter aansluiten bij mensen met een lage SES.
Mindfulness-Based School Interventions: a Systematic Review of Outcome Evidence Quality by Study Design
Authors: Phan Mary L. , Renshaw Tyler L. , Caramanico Julie , Greeson Jeffrey M. , MacKenzie Elizabeth , Atkinson-Diaz Zabryna , Doppelt Natalie , Tai Hungtzu , Mandell David S. , Nuske Heather J.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the current literature on mindfulness-based school interventions (MBSIs) by evaluating evidence across specific outcomes for youth.

Methods

We evaluated 77 studies with a total sample of 12,358 students across five continents, assessing the quality of each study through a robust coding system for evidence-based guidelines. Coders rated each study numerically per study design as 1 +  + (RCT with a very low risk of bias) to 4 (expert opinion) and across studies for the corresponding evidence letter grade, from highest quality (“A Grade”) to lowest quality (“D Grade”) evidence.

Results

The highest quality evidence (“A Grade”) across outcomes indicated that MBSIs increased prosocial behavior, resilience, executive function, attention, and mindfulness, and decreased anxiety, attention problems/ADHD behaviors, and conduct behaviors. The highest quality evidence for well-being was split, with some studies showing increased well-being and some showing no improvements. The highest quality evidence suggests MBSIs have a null effect on depression symptoms.

Conclusions

This review demonstrates the promise of incorporating mindfulness interventions in school settings for improving certain youth outcomes. We urge researchers interested in MBSIs to study their effectiveness using more rigorous designs (e.g., RCTs with active control groups, multi-method outcome assessment, and follow-up evaluation), to minimize bias and promote higher quality—not just increased quantity—evidence that can be relied upon to guide school-based practice.
Soluplus® polymeric nanomicelles improve solubility of BCS-class II drugs
Authors: Pignatello Rosario , Corsaro Roberta , Bonaccorso Angela , Zingale Elide , Carbone Claudia , Musumeci Teresa
Published: May 2022

The issue of poor aqueous solubility is often a great hitch in the development of liquid dosage forms for those drugs that the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) includes in classes II and IV. Among the possible technological solutions, inclusion of the drug molecule within polymeric micelles, and particularly nanomicelles, has been proposed in the last years as a valid strategy. Our attention has been recently attracted by Soluplus®, an amphiphilic polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer able to form small and stable nanomicelles. The aim of this study was to characterize Soluplus® nanomicelles to enhance the apparent solubility of three model APIs, categorized in BCS class II: ibuprofen (IBU), idebenone (IDE), and miconazole (MIC). Drug-loaded Soluplus® micelles with a mean size around 60–70 nm were prepared by two methods (direct dissolution or film hydration method). The prepared nanosystems were characterized in terms of mean particle size and Zeta potential, physical stability, drug solubility, and in vitro drug release. The solubility of the tested APIs was shown to increase linearly with the concentration of graft copolymer. Soluplus® can be easily submitted to membrane filtration (0.2 µm PES or PTFE membranes), showing the potential to be sterilized by this method. Freeze-drying enabled to obtain powder materials that, upon reconstitution with water, maintained the initial micelle size. Finally, viscosity studies indicated that these nanomicelles have potential applications where a bioadhesive material is advantageous, such as in topical ocular administration.

Graphical abstract
A novel kinematics and statics correction algorithm of semi-cylindrical foot end structure for 3-DOF LHDS of legged robots
Authors: Ba Kai-xian , Song Yan-he , Wang Chun-yu , Shi Ya-peng , Yu Bin , Chen Xin , Ma Guo-liang , Kong Xiang-dong
Published: May 2022

In this paper, aiming at the problem that the ideal modeling point of the foot end deviates from the actual contact point due to the rolling effect of the semi-cylindrical foot end in leg hydraulics drive system (LHDS), a novel and relatively simple kinematics and statics correction algorithm is proposed. This algorithm can effectively improve the accuracy of LHDS kinematics and statics, and it is still applicable when the body and the contact surface are at different angles. Firstly, this paper deduces the kinematics and statics when the foot end of LHDS is regarded as the point foot, analyzes and calculates the deviation under common working conditions. Secondly, in view of this phenomenon, a kinematics correction algorithm based on virtual DOF and a statics correction algorithm based on translation theorem of forces are proposed respectively. Finally, the proposed algorithm is verified by LHDS performance test platform under various working conditions. The results show that after applying the kinematics correction algorithm, the trajectory deviation reduction rate of the hip joint is over 65%; after applying the statics correction algorithm, the deviation reduction rate of foot end contact force is over 43%. The related research results can be applied to any similar foot end, which has engineering application value.
Alternative Method for Treating Electric Arc Furnace Dust: Simulation and Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Rinne Marja , Halli Petteri , Aromaa Jari , Lundström Mari
Published: May 2022

The technical and environmental aspects of treating electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) using a novel process including alkaline roasting and organic acid leaching were evaluated and compared to the globally applied conventional Waelz process. The global warming potentials of the roasting–organic acid leaching process (with co-product credits) and the Waelz processes were 7.48 and 4.71 kg CO2-eq with 33% Zn dust as the feed material. However, with decreasing Zn content, the novel process become environmentally more competitive, and with 12% Zn, the corresponding GWP values were 6.31 and 9.26 kg CO2-eq. Co-product recovery decreased the net environmental impacts from the processing of the dust, which gave some benefits to the novel process. The Waelz process was observed to be energy intensive; however, the high consumption of leaching and roasting chemicals was the issue in the novel process. The excess caustic soda in the roasting step was observed to be a significant factor in the overconsumption of the organic acid in the leaching stage, and therefore, optimization of the roasting step is crucial. Other ways to decrease leaching chemical consumption include investigating the possibility to reuse the raffinate in leaching, or scrubbing the leach calcine from acid-consuming alkali. Evaluating the impacts of novel processes early enables iterative and agile process development and the directing the focus on the problem areas.

Graphical Abstract
A note on the maximal rank
Authors: Bernardi Alessandra , Staffolani Reynaldo
Published: May 2022

We give an upper-bound for the X-rank of points with respect to a non-degenerate irreducible variety X in the case that sub-generic X-rank points generate a hypersurface.
Expanding the gene pool for soybean improvement with its wild relatives
Authors: Zhuang Yongbin , Li Xiaoming , Hu Junmei , Xu Ran , Zhang Dajian
Published: May 2022

Genetic diversity is a cornerstone of crop improvement, However, cultivated soybean (Glycine max) has undergone several genetic bottlenecks, including domestication in China, the introduction of landraces to other areas of the world and, latterly, selective breeding, leading to low genetic diversity the poses a major obstacle to soybean improvement. By contrast, there remains a relatively high level of genetic diversity in soybean’s wild relatives, especially the perennial soybeans (Glycine subgenus Glycine), which could serve as potential gene pools for improving soybean cultivars. Wild soybeans are phylogenetically diversified and adapted to various habitats, harboring resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Advances in genome and transcriptome sequencing enable alleles associated with desirable traits that were lost during domestication of soybean to be discovered in wild soybean. The collection and conservation of soybean wild relatives and the dissection of their genomic features will accelerate soybean breeding and facilitate sustainable agriculture and food production.
Assessing the risk of foreign investment within the petroleum sector of South America
Authors: Tafur Yeltsin , Lilford Eric , Aguilera Roberto F.
Published: May 2022

There is presently a shortage of international oil companies investing in South America, due primarily to political instability associated with high levels of corruption, poor quality of institutions, and demanding fiscal regimes that strip significant amounts of revenue from investors. The purpose of this research is to obtain a comprehensive country ranking for South America in terms of investment risk in the upstream oil sector. The study identifies six risk categories (political risk, macroeconomic risk, technical risk, investment climate, non-renewable energy resources potential, and environmental constraint) and ten sub-indicators associated with these risks. The data are gathered to perform an ‘analytic hierarchy process (AHP)’ to obtain the weight index of the ten sub-indicators. These are then used in a ‘technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)’ to obtain the country-ranking risk arrangement. Results indicate that countries with low-risk investment include Brazil, Colombia and Peru, while high-risk countries include Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia. Finally, this study suggests that countries whose proportions of government take exceed 75% should modify their fiscal regimes to optimize benefits for all parties or design fiscal systems where the host government and contractor share the risk and reward associated with exploiting oil resources.
Ukrainians in Flight: Politics, Race, and Regional Solutions
Authors: Ramji-Nogales Jaya
Published: May 2022

The situation of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion exemplifies, as the organizers of this symposium note, both a shock to the international order and a powerful international response. Europeans, and Global North states more broadly, have welcomed Ukrainians with a generosity that sits in stark contrast to their treatment of the vast majority of contemporary refugees. This exceptional response demonstrates a key gap in the legal architecture, namely the absence of an international agreement on shared responsibility for hosting refugees. It also highlights a substantive shortcoming in international refugee law: its failure to protect most people fleeing armed conflict. In contrast, regional law from Africa and Latin America has for some time extended refugee protection to individuals escaping generalized violence. Beyond the substantive law, in many cases, regional protection is a preferable option for individuals fleeing violent conflict. In addition to these structural and substantive concerns, the exceptionally rapid and generous response to the Ukrainians demonstrates the deep politicization of international refugee policy and highlights the invidious role of race in the international legal order.
An Unlawful War
Authors: Haque Adil Ahmad
Published: May 2022

Russia's invasion of Ukraine violated the prohibition of force contained in the United Nations Charter and the peremptory norm of general international law prohibiting aggression. The invasion was not an exercise of individual or collective self-defense, or a humanitarian intervention, as Russia variously claimed. The United Nations General Assembly rejected all such claims when 141 member states voted to deplore “in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter” as well as “the involvement of Belarus in this unlawful use of force against Ukraine.” This essay traces the legal implications of Russia's act of aggression, and its violations of international humanitarian law, through international criminal law, international human rights law, and the law of state responsibility. It argues that Russia violates the human rights of every person it kills, and that states are permitted and may be required to provide military assistance to Ukraine and impose economic sanctions on Russia. As Ukraine fights for its survival as an independent state, international law remains both a moral guide and a strategic asset.
Online Propaganda, Censorship and Human Rights in Russia's War Against Reality
Authors: Kaye David
Published: May 2022

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has exposed the capriciousness of state and corporate power over human rights online. Events since the invasion have demonstrated the coercive power of the state over online expression, privacy, and public protest. Russia's longtime “war against reality” has deepened in its repression and is dependent on the raw power of criminal law enforcement, surveillance by security forces, censorship by its media regulator, and legal and extralegal demands against internet platforms. Without drawing an equivalence, the European Union has imposed a comprehensive ban on Russian state-controlled media outlets, encouraged in part by the Ukrainian government, whose moral authority under the circumstances has been particularly strong. Notwithstanding state power over them, technology companies continue to be capable of causing or mitigating, if not preventing, human rights harms. Foreign companies and local partners have heroically maintained internet access in Ukraine and resisted Russian censorship and propaganda, the latter resulting in the blocking of key internet platforms by Russia. It is the latest chapter in the struggle among governments, companies, and individuals to control online space. But it is also an opportunity for reflection, for while the Kremlin has flouted its international obligations, governments and companies committed to human rights law cannot so behave. They should exercise their power over public space according to transparent rule of law standards of non-discrimination, legality, necessity, and legitimacy. A headlong rush to Russia-specific rules and enforcement, unmoored from public articulation of human rights standards, risks corroding the global normative framework for fundamental rights online.
Environmental severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contamination in hospital rooms during the first and third coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) waves
Authors: Le Neindre Killian , Couturier Jeanne , Schnuriger Aurélie , Jolivet Sarah , Gouot Cyril , Majerholc Mickaël , Supplisson Pierre , Tan Céline , Perrier Marine , Lazare Christelle , Morand-Joubert Laurence , Barbut Frédéric
Published: May 2022

We investigated the frequency, distribution, and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) environmental contamination around infected patients during the first and third wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in rooms of infected patients was limited in our hospital setting.
Spatiotemporal characterization of turbulent channel flow with a hyperelastic compliant wall
Authors: Esteghamatian Amir , Katz Joseph , Zaki Tamer A.
Published: May 2022

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent flow in a channel with one rigid and one viscoelastic wall are performed. An Eulerian–Eulerian model is adopted with a level-set approach to identify the fluid–compliant material interface. Focus is placed on the propagation of Rayleigh waves in the compliant material, whose speed depends on the shear modulus of elasticity and whose dominant wavelength depends on the thickness of the viscoelastic layer. These parameters are selected to ensure coupling between the compliant surface and turbulence. When the phase speed of Rayleigh waves is commensurate with the advection velocity of near-wall pressure fluctuations, sheets of vorticity are lifted up and detached near the critical layer and lead to a local pressure minimum. These events are caused by the inflectional velocity profile near the troughs, and are controlled by the net vorticity flux at the elastic surface. This phenomenon is central to understanding the statistical characteristics of the flow, including the surface deformation–pressure correlation and enhanced stochastic Reynolds shear stresses. Finally, we discuss the influence of three-dimensionality of the surface topography on the generation of streamwise vorticity, secondary motions and lateral turbulent transport.
The fluid dynamics of propagating fronts with solutal and thermal coupling
Authors: Mukherjee S. , Paul M.R.
Published: May 2022

We numerically explore the propagation of reacting fronts in a shallow and horizontal layer of fluid. We focus on fronts that couple with the fluid due to density differences between the products and reactants and also due to heat release from the reaction. We explore fronts where this solutal and thermal coupling is cooperative or antagonistic. We quantify the fluid motion induced by the front and investigate the interactions of the front with the fluid as it propagates through quiescent, cellular and chaotic flow fields. The solutal coupling induces an extended convection roll that travels with the front, the thermal coupling due to heat release from the reaction generates a pair of convection rolls that travels with the front, and when both couplings are present there is a complex signature of these contributions. The details of the front dynamics depend significantly upon the interactions of the front-induced flow field with the fluid ahead of the front.
Activity-induced propulsion of a vesicle
Authors: Peng Zhiwei , Zhou Tingtao , Brady John F.
Published: May 2022

Modern biomedical applications such as targeted drug delivery require a delivery system capable of enhanced transport beyond that of passive Brownian diffusion. In this work, an osmotic mechanism for the propulsion of a vesicle immersed in a viscous fluid is proposed. By maintaining a steady-state solute gradient inside the vesicle, a seepage flow of the solvent (e.g. water) across the semipermeable membrane is generated, which in turn propels the vesicle. We develop a theoretical model for this vesicle–solute system in which the seepage flow is described by a Darcy flow. Using the reciprocal theorem for Stokes flow, it is shown that the seepage velocity at the exterior surface of the vesicle generates a thrust force that is balanced by the hydrodynamic drag such that there is no net force on the vesicle. We characterize the motility of the vesicle in relation to the concentration distribution of the solute confined inside the vesicle. Any osmotic solute is able to propel the vesicle so long as a concentration gradient is present. In the present work, we propose active Brownian particles (ABPs) as a solute. To maintain a symmetry-breaking concentration gradient, we consider ABPs with spatially varying swim speed, and ABPs with constant properties but under the influence of an orienting field. In particular, it is shown that at high activity, the vesicle velocity is

$\boldsymbol {U}\sim [K_\perp /(\eta _e\ell _m) ]\int \varPi _0^{swim} \boldsymbol {n}\,{\rm d}\varOmega$

, where

$\varPi _0^{swim}$

is the swim pressure just outside the thin accumulation boundary layer on the vesicle interior surface,

$\boldsymbol {n}$

is the unit normal vector of the vesicle boundary,

$K_\perp$

is the membrane permeability,

$\eta _e$

is the viscosity of the solvent, and

$\ell _m$

is the membrane thickness.
Scale-dependent inclination angle of turbulent structures in stratified atmospheric surface layers
Authors: Li Xuebo , Hutchins Nicholas , Zheng Xiaojing , Marusic Ivan , Baars Woutijn J.
Published: May 2022

A large-scale spanwise and wall-normal array of sonic anemometers in the atmospheric surface layer is used to acquire all three components of instantaneous fluctuating velocity as well as temperature in a range of stability conditions. These data permit investigation of the three-dimensional statistical structure of turbulence structures. Based on a similar dataset, Krug et al. (Boundary-Layer Meteorol., vol. 172, 2019, pp. 199–214) reported a self-similar range of wall-attached turbulence structures under both unstable and near-neutral stability conditions. They considered only a wall-normal array and thus assessed statistical structure in the wall-normal direction, in relation to the streamwise wavelength. The present work extends the view of a self-similar range of turbulence structures, by including the statistical structure in the spanwise direction. Moreover, by analysing the phase shift between synchronized measurements in the spectral domain, it is inferred how a scale-dependent inclination angle in the streamwise/wall-normal plane varies with stability. Results suggest that the self-similar wall-attached structures have similar aspect ratios between streamwise/wall-normal scales and streamwise/spanwise scales such that

$\lambda _x/\Delta z : \lambda _x/\Delta y \approx 1$

for both near-neutral and unstable conditions. Under the most unstable conditions, coherent structures with

$\lambda _x/\delta = 1$

are inclined at angles as high as

$65^{\circ }$

relative to the solid boundary, while larger scales

$\lambda _x/\delta = 6$

exhibit inclination angles of approximately

$35^{\circ }$

. For near-neutral stability conditions, the angle tends towards

$12^{\circ }$

for all scales. It is noted that in the near-neutral condition, the structure inclination angle and the aspect ratio – and thus the statistical modelling of coherent structures in the atmospheric surface layer – are highly sensitive to the value of the stability parameter.
Finger millet-based muffin decreases insulin response in individuals with prediabetes in a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Almaski Ameerah , Coe Shelly , Lightowler Helen , Clegg Miriam E , Thondre Pariyarath Sangeetha
Published: May 2022

Millet is a grain high in polyphenols and antioxidants, which are bioactive compounds known to influence blood glucose response. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of finger millet muffin and wheat muffin on glycaemic response (GR), insulin response (IR), gastric emptying (GE) and satiety in healthy individuals and people with prediabetes. In a single-blind randomised controlled crossover trial at Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health, fifteen healthy individuals and fourteen individuals with prediabetes were recruited between May and December 2017. The participants’ GR (3 h), IR (3 h), GE (4 h) and satiety (4 h) were measured before and after the consumption of muffins. A mixed method ANOVA was used to compare GE and the incremental AUC (iAUC) for GR and IR between the participant groups and muffins. There was a significant interaction between participants and muffins on IR iAUC at 180 min (P = 0·042). A significant effect of muffins was found on the GR peak (P = 0·013). The millet muffin decreased the GR peak and IR iAUC compared with the wheat muffin in participants with prediabetes. A significant interaction between participants and muffins for GE ascension time Tasc (P = 0·017) was observed, with no effect of muffins on satiety AUC in the participant groups. This study suggested that polyphenol and fibre-rich finger millet may have the potential to influence the management of prediabetes.
On the terminology designating the Zoroastrians of Iran and their language
Authors: Gholami Saloumeh
Published: May 2022

This paper* examines how Zoroastrians designate themselves (internal/self-designations), and how they are designated by others (external designations). Focusing on the termGabr/Gavras the external denotation for Zoroastrians and the termGabrī/Gavrūnīas the designation for their language, it argues that these terms, once common in Western scholarship as well as among non-Zoroastrian Iranians, have become obsolete due to their pejorative undertones. However, they have recently been revived by some scholars, who justify such use with reference to the alleged etymology ofGabras meaning “man” and by the fact that even some Zoroastrians useGavr/GavrūnandGavrī/Gavrūnīas an internal designation for themselves and their language. This paper critically examines these views and argues that neither the etymology nor the internal self-designation justifies the use of these terms and proposes the termZoroastrian Darīas the more appropriate designation of the language of the Zoroastrians of Iran.
Can We Algorithmize Politics? The Promise and Perils of Computerized Text Analysis in Political Research
Authors: Mitrani Mor , Adams Tracy , Noy Inbar
Published: May 2022

In recent years, political scientists increasingly have used data-science tools to research political processes, positions, and behaviors. Because both domestic and international politics are grounded in oral and written texts, computerized text analysis (CTA)—typically based on natural-language processing—has become one of the most notable applications of data-science tools in political research. This article explores the promises and perils of using CTA methods in political research and, specifically, the study of international relations. We highlight fundamental analytical and methodological gaps that hinder application and review processes. Whereas we acknowledge the significant contribution of CTA to political research, we identify a dual “engagement deficit” that may distance those without prior background in data science: (1) the tendency to prioritize methodological innovation over analytical and theoretical insights; and (2) the scholarly and political costs of requiring high proficiency levels and training to comprehend, assess, and use advanced research models.
Association between health care access and food insecurity among lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions in Washington State, USA
Authors: Hill Courtney M , Tseng Ashley S , Holzhauer Katherine , Littman Alyson J , Jones-Smith Jessica C
Published: May 2022

Objective:

Lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) are highly vulnerable to food insecurity. However, few studies have considered how health care access is related to food insecurity among older adults with MCC. The aims of this study were to examine associations between MCC and food insecurity, and, among older adults with MCC, between health care access and food insecurity.

Design:

Cross-sectional study data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey.

Setting:

Washington State, USA.

Participants:

Lower-income adults, aged 50 years or older (n 2118). MCC was defined as having ≥ 2 of 11 possible conditions. Health care access comprised three variables (unable to afford seeing the doctor, no health care coverage and not having a primary care provider (PCP)). Food insecurity was defined as buying food that did not last and not having money to get more.

Results:

The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 26·0 % and was 1·50 times greater (95 % CI 1·16, 1·95) among participants with MCC compared to those without MCC. Among those with MCC (n 1580), inability to afford seeing a doctor was associated with food insecurity (prevalence ratio (PR) 1·83; 95 % CI 1·46, 2·28), but not having health insurance (PR 1·49; 95 % CI 0·98, 2·24) and not having a PCP (PR 1·10; 95 % CI 0·77, 1·57) were not.

Conclusions:

Inability to afford healthcare is related to food insecurity among older adults with MCC. Future work should focus on collecting longitudinal data that can clarify the temporal relationship between MCC and food insecurity.
Dementia-related continuing education for rural interprofessional primary health care in Saskatchewan, Canada: perceptions and needs of webinar participants
Authors: Kosteniuk Julie , Morgan Debra , O’Connell Megan E. , Seitz Dallas , Elliot Valerie , Bayly Melanie , Cameron Chelsie , Froehlich Chow Amanda
Published: May 2022

Dementia-related continuing education opportunities are important for rural primary health care (PHC) professionals given scarce specialized resources. This report explores the initial perceptions and continuing education needs of rural interprofessional memory clinic team members and other PHC professionals related to a short series of dementia-related education webinars. Three webinars on separate topics were delivered over an 8-month period in 2020 in Saskatchewan, Canada. The research design involved analysis of webinar comments and post-webinar survey data. Sixty-eight individuals participated in at least one webinar, and 46 surveys were completed. Rural memory clinic team members accounted for a minority of webinar participants and a majority of survey respondents. Initial perceptions were positive, with webinar topics and interactivity identified as the most effective aspects. Continuing education needs were mainly aligned with professional roles; however, some overlap of interests occurred. Future webinars will further explore learning needs within an interprofessional environment.
Personen mit Demenz – eine besondere Zielgruppe in der Sportwissenschaft
Authors: Trautwein Sandra
Published: May 2022

Zusammenfassung. In sportwissenschaftlichen Studien mit Personen mit Demenz ist es wichtig, die Besonderheiten der Zielgruppe zu berücksichtigen. Bisherige Studien weisen diesbezüglich Limitationen auf. Im Projekt Bewegung gegen Demenz wurde aufbauend auf einer Analyse des Forschungsstandes ein entsprechendes Studiendesign erarbeitet und in einer randomisierten kontrollierten Studie mit 319 Personen mit Demenz eingesetzt. Eine umfassende Betrachtung motorischer Tests unterstreicht die Bedeutung von angepassten Verfahren und gibt erste Empfehlungen. Die Überprüfung eines multimodalen Bewegungsprogrammes zeigt keine statistisch signifikanten Zeit*Gruppen-Effekte auf die motorische Leistung und den Gang. Explorative Analysen decken Unterschiede in der motorischen und kognitiven Ausgangsleistung zwischen Positiv-‍, Neutral- und Negativ-Respondern auf. Zudem erklären motorische und kognitive Leistungsänderungen bis zu 39.4 % der Varianz der Gangänderung. Die Ergebnisse und das erarbeitete Studiendesign bieten eine Grundlage für zukünftige Studien, verweisen aber gleichzeitig auf weiteren Forschungsbedarf. Außerdem unterstreichen die begrenzte Eignung eines standardisierten Bewegungsprogrammes sowie Hinweise auf zugrundeliegende Mechanismen die Bedeutung der Berücksichtigung des Individuums.