bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An empirical semiparametric one‐sided confidence bound for lower quantiles of distributions with positive support
Authors: King Caleb , Parker Peter , Young Derek S.
Published: December 2023

In many industries, the reliability of a product is often determined by a quantile of a distribution of a product's characteristics meeting a specified requirement. A typical approach to address this is to assume a parametric model and compute a one‐sided confidence bound on the quantile. However, this can become difficult if the sample size is too small to reliably estimate such a parametric model. Linear interpolation between order statistics is a viable nonparametric alternative if the sample size is sufficiently large. In most cases, linear extrapolation from the extreme order statistics can be used, but can result in inconsistent coverage. In this work, we perform an empirical study to generate robust weights for linear extrapolation that greatly improves the accuracy of the coverage across a feasible range of distribution families with positive support. Our method is applied to two industrial datasets.
Finite‐time tracking control for time‐delayed pure‐feedback systems with guaranteed performance
Authors: Dai Yunfei , Wang Yujuan , Wang Chao
Published: December 2023

This article investigates the finite‐time tracking control problem with guaranteed performance for a class of nonlinear pure‐feedback systems subject to both time‐varying state delays and control input delays. Both the state delays and control input delays are assumed to be unknown yet bounded by some known constants. A new performance function is introduced that ensures the finite‐time convergence of tracking errors and guaranteed performance. The key to handling both the states and input delays lies in a novel construction of the Lyapunov–Krasovskii (LK) function, which also avoids the reconstruction of the LK function in stability analysis. In addition, a continuous package function is introduced, which allows the unknown nonlinear terms arising from the uncertain perturbation and the derivation of the LK function to be eliminated. Under the proposed method, the semi‐global uniform ultimate boundedness of all signals in the closed‐loop system can also be ensured. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in this article.
Secondary Teachers' Adolescent Literacy Efficacy and Professional Learning Considerations
Authors: Savitz Rachelle S. , Morrison Jennifer D. , Brown Christy , Aldrich Charlene , Kane Britnie D. , O'Byrne W. Ian
Published: December 2023

School requests for professional learning on adolescent literacy often stem from low or stagnant reading scores on state standardized assessments and legislative policies that require educators to complete literacy coursework. These decisions are often made without teachers' voices, requiring teachers to take coursework they may not need or learn in ways that may not align with their content. To address this issue, we used our researcher‐created and validated survey to ask middle and high school teachers about their self‐efficacy toward adolescent literacy based on various professional characteristics, such as years of experience, teaching grade levels, content area, and taking the state‐required literacy courses. Findings note that certain disciplines are more efficacious toward specific literacy practices, and taking state‐required literacy courses is insignificant. Our implications are written for literacy scholars and teacher educators to revisit the premise and promise of the 2017 ILA Standards for K‐12 literacy professionals, emphasizing the importance of being cognizant of our strengths and highlighting the need for collaborating and learning with and from teachers of all disciplines.
An ethical salience framework to achieve sustainable development goals
Authors: Gabriel Cle‐Anne , Shafique Kamran
Published: December 2023

The global sustainable development goals (SDGs) aspire to achieve fairer outcomes for all. A fundamental tenet of the sustainable development agenda is the pursuit and fulfilment of the needs of those most vulnerable and deprived. However, this has been difficult to achieve partly because it requires a mammoth effort to engage multiple stakeholders over complex timeframes and geographical scales. Thus, we propose a new framework – an Ethical Salience Framework – that we developed through amalgamation of the ethical need‐entitlement‐desert framework, and the managerial stakeholder salience framework. The new framework provides a better instrumental interpretation of stakeholder salience through incorporating ethical principles. The new framework also focuses on society's deontological obligations to deprived stakeholders. Instead of a single cluster of high‐salience stakeholders, we propose deontological and instrumental clusters. We propose stakeholders occupying both clusters are equally important for the successful achievement of the SDGs, but also institutional goals more broadly.
Multifunctional Liquid Metal‐Bridged Graphite Nanoplatelets/Aramid Nanofiber Film for Thermal Management
Authors: Xie Junwen , Zhou Gang , Sun Yuxuan , Zhang Fei , Kang Feiyu , Li Baohua , Zhao Yun , Zhang Yinhang , Feng Wei , Zheng Qingbin
Published: December 2023

Miniaturization of modern micro‐electronic devices urges the development of multi‐functional thermal management materials. Traditional polymer composite‐based thermal management materials are promising candidates, but they suffer from single functionality, high cost, and low fire‐resistance. Herein, a multifunctional liquid metal (LM)‐bridged graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs)/ aramid nanofibers (ANFs) film is fabricated via a facile vacuum‐assisted self‐assembly approach followed by compression. ANFs serve as interfacial binders to link LM and GNPs together via hydrogen bondings and π–π interactions, while LM bridges the adjacent layer of GNPs to endow a fast thermal transport by phonons and electrons. The resultant composite films exhibit a high bidirectional thermal conductivity (In‐plane: 29.5 W m−1K−1 and through‐plane: 5.3 W m−1K−1), offering a reliable and effective cooling. Moreover, the as‐fabricated composite films exhibit superior flame‐retardance (peak of heat release rate of 4000J g−1), outstanding Joule heating performance (200 °C at supplied voltage of 3.5 V), and excellent electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE of 62 dB). This work provides an efficient avenue to fabricate multifuntional thermal management materials for micro‐electronic devices, battery thermal management, and artificial intelligence.
GO‐CoNiP New Composite Material Modified Separator for Long Cycle Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Li Jiaqi , Wu Xinxiang , Jian Caifeng , Qiao Xianyan , Wan Fang , Wu Zhenguo , Zhong Benhe , Chen Yanxiao , Guo Xiaodong
Published: December 2023

Lithium–sulfur batteries with high capacity are considered the most promising candidates for next‐generation energy storage systems. Mitigating the shuttle reaction and promoting catalytic conversion within the battery are major challenges in the development of high‐performance lithium‐sulfur batteries. To solve these problems, a novel composite material GO‐CoNiP is synthesized in this study. The material has excellent conductivity and abundant active sites to adsorb polysulfides and improve reaction kinetics within the battery. The initial capacity of the GO‐CoNiP separator battery at 1 C is 889.4 mAh g−1, and the single‐cycle decay is 0.063% after 1000 cycles. In the 4 C high‐rate test, the single‐cycle decay is only 0.068% after 400 cycles. The initial capacity is as high as 828.2 mAh g−1 under high sulfur loading (7.3 mg cm−2). In addition, high and low‐temperature performance tests are performed on the GO‐CoNiP separator battery. The first cycle discharge reaches 810.9 mAh g−1 at a low temperature of 0 °C, and the first cycle discharge reaches 1064.8 mAh g−1 at a high temperature of 60 °C, and both can run stably for 120 cycles. In addition, in situ Raman tests are conducted to explain the adsorption of polysulfides by GO‐CoNiP from a deeper level.
Free‐Standing Electrode and Fixed Surface Tiny Electrode Implemented Triboelectric Nanogenerator with High Instantaneous Current
Authors: Wang Haitao , Kurokawa Yasuyoshi , Wang Jia , Cai Wentao , Zhang Jia‐Han , Kato Shinya , Usami Noritaka
Published: December 2023

Conventional triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) face challenges pertaining to low output current density at low working frequencies and high internal impedance. While strategies, such as surface modification to enhance surface charge density, permittivity regulation of materials, and circuit management, have partially mitigated these issues. However, they have also resulted in increased complexity in the fabrication process. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for a universal and simplified approach to address these challenges. To fulfill this need, this work presents a free‐standing electrode and fixed surface tiny electrode implemented triboelectric nanogenerator (FFI‐TENG). It is fabricated by a straightforward yet effective method: introducing a tiny electrode onto the surface of the tribo‐negative material. This approach yields substantial enhancements in performance, notably a more than tenfold increase in output current density, a reduction in effective working frequencies, and a decrease in matching resistance as compared to vertical contact‐separation TENGs (CS‐TENGs) or single‐electrode TENGs (SE‐TENGs). Simultaneously, a comprehensive examination and proposition regarding the operational mechanism of FFI‐TENG, highlighting its extensive applicability are also offered. Significantly, FFI‐TENG excels in mechanical energy harvesting even under ultra‐low working frequencies (0.1 Hz), outperforming similar contact‐separation models. This innovation positions it as a practical and efficient solution for the development of low‐entropy energy harvesters.
Self‐Monitoring Theranostic Nanomaterials: Emerging Visual Agents for Real‐Time Monitoring of Tumor Treatment Processes
Authors: Su Tuo , Zhao Fan , Ying Yao , Li Wangchang , Li Juan , Zheng Jingwu , Qiao Liang , Che Shenglei , Yu Jing
Published: December 2023

Self‐monitoring in tumor therapy is a concept that allows for real‐time monitoring of the location and state of applied nanomaterials. This monitoring relies on dynamic signals, such as wave or magnetic signals, which vary in response to changes in the location and state of nanomaterials. Dynamic changes in nanomaterials can be monitored using dynamic signals, making it possible to determine and control the treatment process. Theranostic nanomaterials, which possess unique physical and chemical properties, have recently been explored as a viable option for self‐monitoring. With the help of self‐monitoring, theranostic nanomaterials can guide themselves to achieve region‐selective treatment with higher controllability and safety. In this review, self‐monitoring theranostic nanomaterials will be introduced in three parts according to their roles during therapy: tumor accumulation, tumor therapy, and metabolism. The limitations and future challenges of current self‐monitoring theranostic nanomaterials will also be discussed.
Perovskite Photovoltaics: Navigating Stability Challenges for Enhanced Efficiency
Authors: Aftab Sikandar , Saeed Muhammad Ahsan , Hussain Sajjad , Kabir Fahmid , Aslam Muhammad , Rajpar Altaf Hussain , Al-Sehemi Abdullah G.
Published: December 2023

In the field of photovoltaics (PVs), perovskite‐based solar cells (PSCs) have become a game‐changing technology, boasting impressive improvements in cell efficiency and providing a promising substitute for conventional silicon, inorganic, and organic solar cells. Herein, the in‐depth analysis over the numerous stability problems that PSCs face, including both extrinsic problems like moisture, UV light, and temperature stability and intrinsic problems like hysteresis effects and metal–perovskite reactions, is examined. This article illuminates the cutting‐edge techniques used to improve PSC stability, thereby paving the way for their commercial viability. This review makes a significant contribution to the ongoing search for higher PV performance by offering a thorough analysis of the developments, challenges, and potential of perovskite‐based solar cells. It investigates printing methods, stability issues, uses, and the special qualities of perovskite materials, ultimately advancing comprehension and the creation of high‐efficiency PSCs.
Patient experience when self‐introducing gel into the vagina for assessment of deep endometriosis: A pilot study
Authors: Truong Tracy , Kennedy Narelle , Kaushik Vasundhara , Alphonse Jennifer , Quinton Ann
Published: December 2023

Introduction

When scanning for deep endometriosis a 20 mL syringe is used to insert gel into the vagina for a gel sonovaginography (SVG) examination. This is invasive and can cause discomfort. The aim of this study is to compare participant experience with the self‐administration of 20 mL of gel total using a 10 mL syringe versus 20 mL syringe for participants undergoing a gel SVG ultrasound to assess for any participant discomfort.

Methodology

This study was a quantitative pilot study with 31 participants. Consenting participants were instructed to insert a total of 20 mL of gel divided equally into one 20 mL and one 10 mL syringe, into their own vagina prior to SVG. After the SVG, a questionnaire was provided to determine the level of discomfort experienced.

Results

Overall participants found the instructions clear and the insertion of either syringe tolerable. The results demonstrated that 22/31 (71%) of participants had no discomfort inserting the 10 mL syringe. In comparison, 17/31 (55%) reported slight or mild discomfort inserting the 20 mL syringe. The majority of participants preferred inserting one 20 mL syringe rather than two 10 mL syringes.

Conclusion

Participants found the gel insertion using either syringe tolerable with most participants finding the 10 mL syringe more comfortable but would overall prefer inserting one 20 mL syringe instead of two 10 mL syringes. Future studies on larger numbers of multicultural participants using variable syringe sizes with varying amounts of gel should be considered.
Vertical Contact‐Separation Process of Liquid Crystal Micro‐Droplets for Chirality Sensing Mechanism
Authors: Bono Shinji , Konishi Satoshi
Published: December 2023

We propose a novel mechanism for visualizing the chirality of compounds in solution using a vertical contact‐separation process (VCSP) of liquid crystal micro‐droplets (LCμDs). By employing the VCSP between target micro‐droplets and sensor LCμDs, the chiral compounds initially introduced in the target micro‐droplets diffuse into coalescent micro‐droplets. After the VCSP, we observed a wavelength shift in the selective reflection from the sensor LCμDs, allowing us to visualize the chirality present in the target micro‐droplets. To quantitatively analyze the wavelength shift of the selective reflection, we utilized reflective spectroscopic techniques. Our findings demonstrate that the chirality sensing mechanism achieves a detection accuracy of 10 μg. Moreover, this chiral sensing mechanism can be effectively applied to two‐dimensional micro‐droplet array systems. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Children build their vocabularies in noisy environments: The necessity of a cross‐disciplinary approach to understand word learning
Authors: Gordon Katherine R. , Grieco‐Calub Tina M.
Published: December 2023

Research within the language sciences has informed our understanding of how children build vocabulary knowledge especially during early childhood and the early school years. However, to date, our understanding of word learning in children is based primarily on research in quiet laboratory settings. The everyday environments that children inhabit such as schools, homes, and day cares are typically noisy. To better understand vocabulary development, we need to understand the effects of background noise on word learning. To gain this understanding, a cross‐disciplinary approach between researchers in the language and hearing sciences in partnership with parents, educators, and clinicians is ideal. Through this approach we can identify characteristics of effective vocabulary instruction that take into account the background noise present in children's learning environments. Furthermore, we can identify characteristics of children who are likely to struggle with learning words in noisy environments. For example, differences in vocabulary knowledge, verbal working memory abilities, and attention skills will likely influence children's ability to learn words in the presence of background noise. These children require effective interventions to support their vocabulary development which subsequently should support their ability to process and learn language in noisy environments. Overall, this cross‐disciplinary approach will inform theories of language development and inform educational and intervention practices designed to support children's vocabulary development.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Language

Psychology > Learning

Psychology > Theory and Methods
Influence of soil plasticity models on offshore wind turbine response
Authors: Ryan Gerard V. , Adcock Thomas A. A. , McAdam Ross A.
Published: December 2023

While recent numerical modelling advances have enabled robust simulation of foundation hysteresis behaviour, uptake of these models has been limited in the offshore wind industry. This is partially due to modelling complexity and the unknown influence of including such soil constitutive models within a design philosophy. This paper addresses this issue by outlining a framework of an aero‐hydro‐servo‐elastic offshore wind turbine model that is fully coupled with a multisurface plasticity 1D Winkler foundation model. Comparisons between this model and industry standard aeroelastic tools, such as OpenFAST, are shown to be in good agreement. The hysteretic soil predictions are also shown to be in good agreement with CM6 Cowden PISA test piles, in terms of secant stiffness and loop shape. This tool has then been used to address the unknown influence of hysteretic soil reactions on the design of monopile supported offshore wind turbines against extreme conditions. This study demonstrates that a significant reduction in ultimate and service limit state utilization is observed when a multisurface plasticity foundation model is adopted, as opposed to industry standard pile–soil interaction models.
Urban Scenes as Community Practices
Authors: Klekotko Marta
Published: December 2023

In this chapter, a new praxeological, relational and cultural approach to the analysis of communal phenomena in contemporary cities is developed and discussed. The chapter begins with a presentation of theories which are two pillars of the approach: the theory of scenes developed by the new Chicago school (Silver and Clark, Scenescapes, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2016) and the social practice theory (in particular social ontology and model of practice developed by Theodor Schatzki [1996, 2002]). Then, a concept of urban community as a nexus of cultural and aesthetic practices embedded in the scene as well as a concept of socio-cultural opportunity structure is developed, providing an explanation of the scene mechanisms in community building processes. The chapter provides also a typology of communal practices.
Is the performance of acute appendectomy at different times of day equal, in terms of postoperative complications, readmission, death, and length of hospital stay? A Swedish retrospective cohort study of 4950 patients
Authors: Nyström Petter , Nordberg Martin , Boström Lennart
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Appendicitis is one of the most common acute surgical conditions globally, and hence appendectomy is a common procedure performed around the clock in many hospitals. The aim of the current study was to determine whether acute appendectomy due to acute appendicitis performed during day, evening, and night was equally safe, in terms of postoperative complications, readmission, death, and length of hospital stay.

Methods

A retrospective single-center cohort study, using a local quality register of all consecutive acute appendectomies performed at the Department of Surgery, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. During the study period from December 2015 to August 2022, 4950 patients were included. Risk of complications, readmission, and death were determined using multivariable logistic regression models. Association with length of hospital stay was determined using multiple linear regression.

Results

There was no significant difference in the associated risk of postoperative complications, readmission within 30 days, or death, regardless of when appendectomy was performed. Using daytime surgery as reference, hospital stay was shortened by 4.21 h (P = 0.008) for evening surgery and by 6.71 h (P < 0.001) for nightly surgery.

Conclusion

Risks of postoperative complications, readmission, and death were similar regardless of when acute appendectomy was performed. However, surgery during evening and night was associated with shortened hospital stay, as compared to daytime surgery.
Radiological evaluation before and after treatment with an osseointegrated bone-anchor following major limb amputation—a guide for radiologists
Authors: Kang Norbert , Al-Ajam Yazan , Keen Phyllis , Woollard Alexander , Steinitz Hannah , Farrant Joanna , Chow Geoffrey
Published: December 2023

Osseointegrated implants have been developed to allow direct skeletal fixation of a prosthesis as an alternative to traditional socket-fitted prostheses for patients who have suffered from a major limb amputation. The implants contribute to improvements in functional outcome and quality of life and radiological evaluation plays a crucial role in pre- and post-operative assessment. This article acts as a guide for radiologists who may be tasked with providing the radiological information required by surgeons and prosthetists. We also look at the radiological appearances of complications that may arise in patients treated with an osseointegrated implant. Plain X-rays are used to screen patients who wish to undergo treatment. Limb-length X-rays are then used to measure the length of any residual bone, and comparisons can be made with the normal side (if present). From this, decisions about the likely size of the implant and the need for further amputation can be made. CT scans enable accurate assessment of the medullary cavity and cortical thickness. Post-operatively, plain X-rays form the mainstay of the routine monitoring of the bone-implant interface. Potential complications include infection, aseptic loosening, mechanical fracture of the implant and periprosthetic fracture. Infection and aseptic loosening can be seen as a lucency at the bone-implant interface which (if left untreated) can lead to loss of the implant. Implant and periprosthetic fractures are radiographically obvious. Radiologists involved in the care of patients undergoing treatment with an osseointegrated implant should become familiar with the imaging requirements so they can contribute to optimal patient outcomes.
Retrospective analysis of decision-making in post-traumatic posterior shoulder instability
Authors: Bovenkerk Simon , Englert Carsten
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to assess the clinical outcomes in the management of post-traumatic posterior shoulder instability (PSI) with a focus on the decision-making process for operative and conservative treatments.

Introduction

PSI can result from traumatic events, impacting a patient’s quality of life. This study delves to better indicate decision-making for operative indication of post-traumatic PSI patients.

Methods

Patients who sustained posterior shoulder dislocations were selected from a single surgeon’s database within a five-year period. Cases of degenerative or genetically caused PSI were excluded, resulting in a cohort of 28. Patients were initially managed conservatively but indicated for surgery if they were unable to actively stabilize the shoulder or exhibited bony or cartilage defects confirmed through imaging. If conservative treatment did not yield significant improvements, it was classified as a failure, and operative intervention was recommended. The WOSI Score, ROM, and X-ray were employed to evaluate the success of treatment.

Results

Out of the 28 patients, 11 received conservative, seven immediate surgeries, and ten transitioned from conservative to operative treatment. The overall success rate showed 25 good to excellent results. In the persistent conservative treatment group, the initial WOSI score was significantly lower compared to the operative group.

Conclusion

This study suggests that post-traumatic PSI can be successfully managed conservatively with initial low clinical symptoms (low WOSI score) and in the absence of absolute indications for operative treatment. When surgery is necessary, arthroscopic procedures proved effective in achieving good to excellent results in 16 out of 17 cases.
Genetic-efficient fine-tuning with layer pruning on multimodal Covid-19 medical imaging
Authors: Ismail Walaa N. , Alsalamah Hessah A. , Mohamed Ebtsam A.
Published: December 2023

Medical image analysis using multiple modalities refers to the process of analyzing and extracting information from more than one type of image in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of a given subject. To maximize the potential of multimodal data in improving and enhancing our understanding of the disease, sophisticated classification techniques must be developed as part of the integration process to classify meaningful information from different types of data. A pre-trained model, such as those trained on large datasets such as ImageNet, has learned rich representations that can be used for various downstream tasks. Fine-tuning a pre-trained model refers to the process of further developing the model using the knowledge and representations gained from a pre-existing dataset. In comparison to training a model from scratch, fine-tuning allows knowledge to be transferred from the pre-trained model to the target task, thus improving performance and efficiency. In evolutionary search, the genetic algorithm (GA) is an algorithm that emulates the process of natural selection and genetics. In this context, a population of candidate solutions is generated, fitness is evaluated and new candidate solutions are generated by applying genetic operations such as mutation and crossover. Considering the above characteristics, the present study presents an efficient architecture called Selective-COVIDNet for analyzing COVID-19 cases using a novel selective layer-pruning algorithm. To detect COVID-19 from multimodal data, the current study will use a genetic algorithm to fine-tune the performance of pre-trained models by adjusting specific layers selectively. Furthermore, the proposed approach provides flexibility in the depth of two deep learning architectures, VGG-16 and MobileNet-V2. The impact of freezing specific layers on fine-tuning performance was assessed using five different strategies, namely Random, Odd, Even, Half, and Full Freezing. Therefore, existing pre-trained models can be enhanced for Covid-19 tasks while minimizing their computational burden. For evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed framework, two multi-modal standard datasets are used, including CT-scan images and electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings of individuals with COVID-19. From the conducted experiments, it is found that the proposed framework can detect Covid-19 effectively with accuracy of 98.48% for MobileNet-V2 and 99.65% for VGG-16.
Determination of New 4-Aryl-pyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine Derivatives, Potential Antidepressant Agents with a High Affinity to 5-Hydroxytryptamin 1A Receptor and Serotonin Transporter Protein Receptor, with Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Grodner Błażej , Król Marek , Ślifirski Grzegorz , Ślifirski Piotr , Herold Franciszek
Published: December 2023

A novel capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the determination of new 4-aryl-pyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine derivatives, potential antidepressant agents, in serum. The derivatives have conformationally restricted tryptamine moiety in pharmacophore portion and exhibit high affinity to molecular targets: 5-HT1A receptor and serotonin transporter protein. The separation process was conducted using an eCAP fused-silica capillary, detection wavelength 214 nm, 200 mM phosphate buffer adjusted to pH = 8.0, temperature 20 °C, voltage 5 kV. The proposed method was validated by determining its linearity in the concentration range of 200–1000 ng/mL. A satisfactory linearity was obtained for the method, with R2 from 0.9978 to 0.9999 for all five derivatives and a limit of quantification level from 287.1 to 310.1 ng/mL. The recoveries for all derivatives were in the range from 94.7 to 100%. The speed of obtaining the result of the analysis was only 3 min. The developed method allows to determine all five derivatives both in water solutions and serum.
Homotopy Sheaves on Generalised Spaces
Authors: Bunk Severin
Published: December 2023

We study the homotopy right Kan extension of homotopy sheaves on a category to its free cocompletion, i.e. to its category of presheaves. Any pretopology on the original category induces a canonical pretopology of generalised coverings on the free cocompletion. We show that with respect to these pretopologies the homotopy right Kan extension along the Yoneda embedding preserves homotopy sheaves valued in (sufficiently nice) simplicial model categories. Moreover, we show that this induces an equivalence between sheaves of spaces on the original category and colimit-preserving sheaves of spaces on its free cocompletion. We present three applications in geometry and topology: first, we prove that diffeological vector bundles descend along subductions of diffeological spaces. Second, we deduce that various flavours of bundle gerbes with connection satisfy $$(\infty ,2)$$

(
∞
,
2
)

-categorical descent. Finally, we investigate smooth diffeomorphism actions in smooth bordism-type field theories on a manifold. We show how these smooth actions allow us to extract the values of a field theory on any object coherently from its values on generating objects of the bordism category.
Rightsholder-Driven Remedy for Business-Related Human Rights Abuse: Case of the Fair Food Program
Authors: Shivji Alysha Kate
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates necessary conditions for developing a participatory, rightsholder-driven approach to remedy for business-related human rights abuses by analyzing findings from a case study with the Fair Food Program. With the inclusion of human rights into discussions of business ethics and CSR, scholars and practitioners have made calls for participatory approaches to remedy to address cases of human rights abuses. However, a gap remains in our understanding of how to operationalize participatory approaches in a manner that empowers rightsholders, particularly within contexts of severe power imbalances. The paper puts forth a rightsholder-driven theoretical framework for remedy, grounded on critical dialogic accountability principles and integrated with empirical analysis from the Fair Food Program case study. This framework defines remedy as a system comprising reinforcing aspects rather than standalone mechanisms. The critical dialogic accounting and accountability framework provides a theoretical framing of engagement that enables the inclusion of multiple, divergent voices and aims toward meaningful engagement with marginalized groups. The analysis of findings from the case study identifies enforcement and education as necessary conditions for effective and empowering rightsholder-driven approaches to remedy. The paper deconstructs these conditions to develop an understanding of the program’s unique approach to enforcement and education. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of rightsholder-driven remedy for Business and Human Rights and business accountability.
Changing preservice teacher students’ stereotypes and attitudes and reducing judgment biases concerning students of different family backgrounds: Effects of a short intervention
Authors: Lehmann-Grube Sabine K. , Tobisch Anita , Dresel Markus
Published: December 2023

Numerous empirical findings have shown biased judgments of (future) teachers depending on students’ ethnic and social background. Furthermore, research has indicated that (future) teachers’ stereotypes and attitudes differ depending on students’ backgrounds and appear to influence (future) teachers’ judgments. Based on theories of stereotype change, attitude change, and judgment formation, a short intervention was developed to change stereotypes and attitudes and to reduce judgment biases. In an experimental study (within- and between-subject design) with N = 215 preservice teacher students, the effectiveness of the intervention on stereotype change, attitude change, and reduction of judgment distortions was tested. The results showed hypothesized effects of the intervention on stereotypes and attitudes towards students with an immigration background and students with low social status. Furthermore, the intervention showed effects on preservice teacher students’ judgments, especially for low-status students.
GenX uptake by wheat and rice in flooded and non-flooded soils: a greenhouse experiment
Authors: Al Zbedy Amnah , Müller Viktoria , Kindness Andrew , Ebel Rainer , Norton Gareth J. , Feldmann Joerg
Published: December 2023

GenX (hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid) belongs to the group of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) compounds introduced to replace perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been phased out in industrial and consumer product formulations. While GenX has been investigated in lab animals, there is limited information available regarding its uptake and translocation in wheat and rice. This study reports on a greenhouse experiment in which wheat and rice grown under flooded and non-flooded conditions were exposed to two GenX concentrations in the soil (0.4 mg kg−1 and 2 mg kg−1). GenX was analysed in the soil, porewater and shoots using targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Extractable organic fluorine (EOF) was determined using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-GFMAS) instrument. Results showed that different species took up different amounts of GenX. The GenX concentration in rice shoots was found to be 2.34 (± 0.45) and 4.11 (± 0.87) μg g−1 under flooded and non-flooded conditions, respectively, at a low exposure level. At high exposure, the GenX concentrations in flooded and non-flooded rice shoots increased threefold to 10.4 (± 0.41) and 13.4 (± 0.72) μg g−1, respectively. Wheat shoots showed similar concentrations and increases between low- and high-level exposure. The translocation factor was significantly higher (P = 0.013) in non-flooded rice compared to flooded rice. The GenX bioaccumulation behaviours under the same culture conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, light, same GenX concentration in the soil) were significantly different in non-flooded and flooded rice (P < 0.001). Non-flooded rice plants displayed a higher level of GenX bioaccumulation than flooded ones. Following exposure to GenX, flooded rice plants showed a reduction in biomass (25%) compared to the control plants (P < 0.014). Our findings indicate that GenX is a bioaccumulative compound, the presence of which likely inhibits the growth of plants.
Toward sustainable waste management in small islands developing states: integrated waste-to-energy solutions in Maldives context
Authors: Wang Yao , Ruiz-Acevedo Alejandro , Rameez Eemaan , Raghavan Vijaya , Hussain Abid , Fei Xunchang
Published: December 2023

Effective waste management is a major challenge for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Maldives due to limited land availability. Maldives exemplifies these issues as one of the most geographically dispersed countries, with a population unevenly distributed across numerous islands varying greatly in size and population density. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the unique waste management practices across different regions of Maldives in relation to its natural and socioeconomic context. Data shows Maldives has one of the highest population density and per capita waste generation among SIDS, despite its small land area and medium GDP per capita. Large disparities exist between the densely populated capital Male’ with only 5.8 km2 area generating 63% of waste and the ∼194 scattered outer islands with ad hoc waste management practices. Given Male’s dense population and high calorific waste, incineration could generate up to ∼30 GW/a energy and even increase Maldives’ renewable energy supply by 200%. In contrast, decentralized anaerobic digestion presents an optimal solution for outer islands to reduce waste volume while providing over 40%–100% energy supply for daily cooking in local families. This timely study delivers valuable insights into designing context-specific waste-to-energy systems and integrated waste policies tailored to Maldives’ distinct regions. The framework presented can also guide other SIDS facing similar challenges as Maldives in establishing sustainable, ecologically sound waste management strategies.
Spectral Approximation of Generalized Schrödinger Operators via Approximation of Subwords
Authors: Gabel Fabian , Gallaun Dennis , Grossmann Julian , Lindner Marko , Ukena Riko
Published: December 2023

We prove criteria, purely based on finite subwords of the potential, for spectral inclusion as well as Hausdorff approximation of pseudospectra or even spectra of generalized Schrödinger operators on the discrete line or half-line. In fact, our results are neither limited to Schrödinger or self-adjoint operators, nor to Hilbert space or 1D: By employing localized lower norms, we strongly generalize known results from the self-adjoint case to much more general and non-normal situations, including various configurations of Hamiltonians and further non-self-adjoint models with aperiodic or pseudoergodic potentials, even models with multiple varying diagonals and entries in a Banach space.
Office islands: exploring the uncharted waters of workplace loneliness, social media addiction, and the fear of missing out
Authors: Tang Tseng-Chung , Chi Li-Chiu , Tang Eugene
Published: December 2023

With adults feeling more isolated and socially disconnected than ever, the association between loneliness and other pathological behaviors has garnered increased attention. Although significant progress has been made in elucidating how loneliness exacerbates maladaptive behaviors like social media addiction (SMA) and the fear of missing out (FoMO), the mechanisms underpinning these relationships, especially in the workplace context, remain elusive. To bridge this knowledge gap, our study incorporates a sample of 381 Taiwanese employees to explore two key areas. First, we investigate the mediating role of workplace ostracism in the relationship between workplace loneliness and both SMA and FoMO. Secondly, we examine the potential moderating role of resilience in the direct and indirect correlations between workplace loneliness and both SMA and FoMO. Our mediation analysis reveals that workplace ostracism operates as a partial mediator in the relationship between workplace loneliness and both SMA and FoMO. Contrary to our expectations given the risk-buffering model, we discovered a positive moderating effect of resilience between (1) workplace loneliness and ostracism, (2) workplace ostracism with both SMA and FoMO, and (3) workplace loneliness with SMA, but not with FoMO. Collectively, these insights can guide the development of more targeted interventions and strategies to mitigate loneliness and related challenges in professional settings.
Der Zusammenhang zwischen der Qualität von Experimentalpraktika und der Entwicklung der professionellen Kompetenz angehender Physiklehrkräfte
Authors: Sorge Stefan , Hansen Christian , Andersen Jasmin , Schiering Dustin , Neumann Knut
Published: December 2023

In dieser Studie analysieren wir den Beitrag von Experimentalpraktika zur Entwicklung der professionellen Kompetenz angehender Lehrkräfte des Faches Physik. Experimentalpraktika verfolgen verschiedene Ziele, die sowohl das fachliche Lernen als auch die Entwicklung positiver motivationaler Orientierungen adressieren. Beide Aspekte sind zentrale Facetten der professionellen Handlungskompetenz von Lehrkräften. Während in einzelnen Laborstudien die Wirksamkeit von lehramtsspezifischen Praktika gezeigt werden konnte, ist der Beitrag dieses Lehrveranstaltungsformat für die Entwicklung der angehenden Lehrkräfte im Feld noch weitgehend unklar. Zur Untersuchung der Qualität von Experimentalpraktika wurden daher N = 105 Qualitätseinschätzungen Physiklehramtsstudierenden analysiert und gleichsam deren Bedeutung für die Entwicklung im Fachwissen, Interesse und Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen im Laufe eines Studienjahres untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Lehramtsstudierende der Physik die Qualität von Experimentalpraktika als relativ hoch bewerten. Mit Hilfe von linearen Regressionsgleichungen konnte zudem gezeigt werden, dass ein Zuwachs im Bereich der Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen beim Planen und Durchführen von Experimenten für den Physikunterricht nach Besuch eines qualitativ hochwertigen Experimentalpraktikums erfolgt. Demgegenüber konnte kein signifikanter Einfluss auf den Fachwissenserwerb und die Interessensentwicklung gefunden werden.
Adjusting to Your Surroundings: An Inquiry-Based Learning Module to Teach Principles of Mechanobiology for Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Panebianco Christopher J. , Nijsure Madhura P. , Berlew Erin E. , Jeong Annie L. , Boerckel Joel D.
Published: December 2023

Mechanobiology is an interdisciplinary field that aims to understand how physical forces impact biological systems. Enhancing our knowledge of mechanobiology has become increasingly important for understanding human disease and developing novel therapeutics. There is a societal need to teach diverse students principles of mechanobiology so that we may collectively expand our knowledge of this subject and apply new principles to improving human health. Toward this goal, we designed, implemented, and evaluated a hands-on, inquiry-based learning (IBL) module to teach students principles of cell–biomaterial interactions. This module was designed to be hosted in two 3-h sessions, over two consecutive days. During this time, students learned how to synthesize and mechanically test biomaterials, culture bacteria cells, and assess effects of matrix stiffness on bacteria cell proliferation. Among the 73 students who registered to participate in our IBL mechanobiology module, 40 students completed both days and participated in this study. A vast majority of the participants were considered underrepresented minority (URM) students based on race/ethnicity. Using pre/post-tests, we found that students experienced significant learning gains of 33 percentage points from completing our IBL mechanobiology module. In addition to gaining knowledge of mechanobiology, validated pre/post-surveys showed that students also experienced significant improvements in scientific literacy. Instructors may use this module as described, increase the complexity for an undergraduate classroom assignment, or make the module less complex for K-12 outreach. As presented, this IBL mechanobiology module effectively teaches diverse students principles of mechanobiology and scientific inquiry. Deploying this module, and similar IBL modules, may help advance the next generation of mechanobiologists.
Positive impact of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim prophylaxis on prevention of severe infections in a patient with glycogen storage disease type Ib
Authors: Khalil Marina-Antoinette , Fata Anthony , Diab Ernest , Raad Elie , Wehbe Amine , Megarbane Andre
Published: December 2023

Objective

Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD-Ib) is a very rare disease complicated by neutropenia with consequent recurrent bacterial infections. Treatment with Filgrastim is not always effective.

The low CD4 count observed in our patient is likely the underlying cause of this treatment failure. This low value was previously examined in a small-scale study. Therefore, adding sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) might be a good strategy.

Methods

We present the case of a male patient with GSD-Ib. He has severe neutropenia (380/mm3) with recurrent infections. Despite neutrophil improvement with Filgrastim, he developed three severe infections requiring hospitalization. Lymphocyte phenotyping showed a deficit in T CD4 + cells (280/mm3) which led us to HIV testing returning negative. Based on this finding we initiated prophylaxis with SMX-TMP.

Results

Since the start of SMX-TMP along with Filgrastim, the patient was not admitted to the hospital for any bacterial infection.

Conclusion

To date, no study has examined the significance of incorporating antibiotic prophylaxis for neutropenic patients with GSD-Ib based on CD4 count, akin to the approach of adding SMX-TMP to antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients. Cotrimoxazole is empirically prescribed without assessing the CD4 count or conducting a comparative analysis of the advantages of its addition to Filgrastim. Such practices could potentially exert a significant influence on the disease’s presentation and severity.
Exploring the duality of disruptive innovation: a technology-utility model analysis of market encroachment
Authors: Zeng Yongchao , Shi Yingying , Wei Zixiang , Zafar Muhammad Wasif
Published: December 2023

This study explores and explains how duality enables disruptive innovation to encroach on the market and redefine its boundaries under constraints of consumer preferences, purchasing power, technological performance, and complementary technologies. The findings indicate (1) disruptive innovation introduces a new value dimension into the market and enhances the heterogeneity of consumers’ demand, which creates prerequisites for its market encroachment while avoiding competing directly with incumbent enterprises; (2) when considering purchasing power constraints, the disadvantage of disruptive innovation in the preexisting value dimension becomes a price advantage of encroaching on the low-end market; (3) under the constraint of complementary technologies, disruptive innovation can open up new markets that incumbent enterprises have not yet touched by virtue of its advantages in the new value dimension; (4) disruptive innovation does not rely on technological performance to encroach on the market, indicating technological performance is not a necessity for identifying disruptive innovations.