bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Additions and changes to the species list of Estonian bryophytes
Authors: Ingerpuu Nele , Ehrlich Loore , Leis Mare , Kupper Tiiu , Kannukene Leiti , Vellak Kai
Published: November 2022

Since the last additions (Vellak et al., 2021), four new species should be added to the list. Two of these (Calypogeia fissa and Timmia austriaca) are new finds, two (Hedwigia emodica and Syntrichia ruraliformis) were earlier known as varieties in Estonia. One species (Seligeria patula) should be excluded from the list since the voucher specimen was re-identified as S. calcarea and no other specimens were found among all collected specimens of genus Seligeria in Estonian herbaria and during inventories of genus Seligeria at all known localities in Estonia in 2020-2021. The number of species in Estonian bryoflora is now 615. The distribution and threats on the new species in Estonia are not known yet and need further inventories, thus all are evaluated here as data deficient (DD). Estonian names for all new species are presented in parenthesis and the distribution and ecology is briefly discussed.
Hornfels rocks as a habitat for saxicolous lichen biota. A case study from the Sudety Mountains (SW Poland)
Authors: Kossowska Maria
Published: November 2022

The results of lichenological studies on hornfels outcrops in the Izerskie Mountains (Sudetes, SW Poland) are presented. This substrate is connected with the igneous intrusion into the country rocks and is characterized by a richer chemical and mineral composition than the surrounding rock bodies. In the six analyzed sites, a total of 48 saxicolous lichen species were found. Hornfels as a substrate for lichen vegetation is distinguished by the presence of lichens typical for rocks rich in metal compounds, in the study area represented by Rhizocarpon oederi, Lecidea silacea and Porpidia melinodes, and lichens that prefer mineral-enriched rocks, like Lecanora campestris, L. rupicola, Lecidea fuscoatra, Porpidia cinereoatra and Rimularia gibbosa. The three mentioned metallophilous species are some of the rarest components of the lichen biota in Poland, known from single localities. Other rare and locally endangered lichens recorded on hornfels include Lambiella furvella, Stereocaulon dactylophyllum and Umbilicaria pustulata.
The use of the GLP-1 analog - dulaglutide in the treatment of morbid obesity - case report
Authors: Juda Agata , Rojek Kornelia , Kamińska Magdalena , Strzoda Adam , Polak Agnieszka
Published: November 2022

Obesity is a disease that is diagnosed in an increasing number of people around the world. Its development is influenced by many factors, both environmental and genetic. It leads to the development of further diseases, thus contributing to a reduction in life expectancy. There are many methods used to treat overweight and obesity. The most important element of the therapeutic process is a reduced diet and physical activity. However, it is often not sufficient, therefore it is becoming more and more common to introduce pharmacotherapy into treatment. One drug is dulaglutide (Trulicity), a GLP-1 analog with promising results. It was included in the treatment of a 49-year-old patient who was diagnosed with morbid obesity. The patient had been struggling with obesity since childhood, and the previously used methods of weight reduction did not bring satisfactory results. After switching to Trulicity (1.5 mg / 0.5 mL s.c.) taken once a week, it was possible to achieve a significant decrease in body weight and the well-being of the patient. If it is officially registered in the treatment of this disease in the future, there is a chance that the results of therapy will improve in many patients.
Strój rozbarski jako atrybut świętowania Bożego Ciała
Authors: Toboła-Feliks Magdalena
Published: November 2022

Paradny strój ludowy, bogaty pod względem formy, stanowił dawniej odzienie adekwatne dla czasu niezwykłego (święta). Wizualnie artykułował podniosłość dnia świątecznego, przesiąkniętego zwykle sacrum (świętowanie w niewielkich społecznościach lokalnych odzwierciedlało ściśle porządek roku liturgicznego). Współcześnie strój ten (w typie rozbarskim) nadal wykorzystywany jest przez mieszkańców Górnego Śląska w trakcie obchodów wybranych świąt kościelnych. Nieustanna obecność w przestrzeni społeczno-kulturowej różnych form tegoż stroju skłoniła mnie do podjęcia próby przedstawienia konotowanych przez niego wartości w kontekście celebracji Bożego Ciała (jednego z ważniejszych świąt w kościele katolickim), a także skonfrontowania z sobą istoty owych znaczeń w tradycyjnym (historycznym) oraz teraźniejszym wymiarze.
Pasiones sangrientas. Microhistorias emocionales de América Latina, siglos XVII-XX
Authors: Rodríguez Jiménez Pablo
Published: November 2022

El estudio de las pasiones suele ser más propio de la literatura que de la historia. Aunque pueda reconocerse que son las pasiones las que mueven a los hombres y las mujeres, la disciplina de Clío tradicionalmente ha privilegiado la razón y las estructuras. Sólo muy recientemente se ha cambiado la mala imagen de las pasiones y, al menos, en la disciplina histórica, se las considera una clave para comprender los valores sociales y culturales de toda sociedad. Las pasiones, las emociones y los sentimientos son construcciones culturales, reguladas y controladas por las leyes y las costumbres. Pero también conviene decir que otra gran novedad historiográfica es el interés por el estudio de las emociones como experiencias, como vivencias. El título del libro Pasiones Sangrientas obedece, principalmente, a los crímenes pasionales que se estudian en su primera parte. Los casos de María Teresa de Landa en México, Euclides da Cunha en Brasil y Jorge Zawadzky en Colombia, no sólo escandalizaron y conmovieron las sociedades de inicios del siglo xx, sino que fueron oportunidad para cuestionar valores tradicionales. En Pasiones sangrientas se privilegia el método microhistórico, que recorta el espacio y el tiempo, como en un juego de escalas, para analizar con mayor detenimiento y profundidad los aspectos visibles e invisibles de los sucesos y los acontecimientos. El libro aborda una variedad de emociones, por supuesto está el amor pasional, pero también, el odio, la rabia, la humillación, la codicia, los miedos, las vivencias emocionales desatadas en los conventos y los anhelos de libertad.
A Closed-Form EVSI Expression for a Multinomial Data-Generating Process
Authors: Fleischhacker Adam , Fok Pak-Wing , Madiman Mokshay , Wu Nan
Published: November 2022

This paper derives analytic expressions for the expected value of sample information (EVSI), the expected value of distribution information, and the optimal sample size when data consists of independent draws from a bounded sequence of integers. Because of the challenges of creating tractable EVSI expressions, most existing work valuing data does so in one of three ways: (1) analytically through closed-form expressions on the upper bound of the value of data, (2) calculating the expected value of data using numerical comparisons of decisions made using simulated data to optimal decisions for which the underlying data distribution is known, or (3) using variance reduction as proxy for the uncertainty reduction that accompanies more data. For the very flexible case of modeling integer-valued observations using a multinomial data-generating process with Dirichlet prior, this paper develops expressions that (1) generalize existing beta-binomial computations, (2) do not require prior knowledge of some underlying “true” distribution, and (3) can be computed prior to the collection of any sample data.
Robust Sourcing Under Multilevel Supply Risks: Analysis of Random Yield and Capacity
Authors: Zhao Ming , Freeman Nickolas , Pan Kai
Published: November 2022

We consider the optimal sourcing problem when the available suppliers are subject to ambiguously correlated supply risks. This problem is motivated by the increasing severity of supply risks and difficulty evaluating common sources of vulnerability in upstream supply chains, which are problems reported by many surveys of goods-producing firms. We propose a distributionally robust model that accommodates (i) multiple levels of supply disruption, not just full delivery or no delivery, and (ii) can use data-driven estimates of the underlying correlation to develop sourcing strategies in situations where the true correlation structure is ambiguous. Using this framework, we provide analytical results regarding the form of a worst-case supply distribution and show that taking such a worst-case perspective is appealing due to severe consequences associated with supply chain risks. Moreover, we show how our distributionally robust model may be used to offer guidance to firms considering whether to exert additional effort in attempt to better understanding the prevailing correlation structure. Extensive computational experiments further demonstrate the performance of our distributionally robust approach and show how supplier characteristics and the type of supply uncertainty affect the optimal sourcing decision.

History: Accepted by Pascal Van Hentenryck, Area Editor for Computational Modeling: Methods and Analysis.

Funding: K. Pan was supported in part by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong [Grant 15501920] and in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72001185].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.1254 ) or is available from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC ) at http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7129356 .
Buyers’ Strategic Behavior in B2B Multichannel Auction Markets: When an Online Posted Price Channel Is Incorporated into a Dutch Auction System
Authors: Truong May , Gupta Alok , Ketter Wolfgang , van Heck Eric
Published: November 2022

Firms are increasingly adopting different sales channels to reach new potential buyers. Yet, extant research has mainly focused on B2C online and offline posted price channels. B2B multichannel and, especially, systems with multiple pricing mechanisms are largely underexplored. This paper investigates the strategic behaviors of B2B buyers in a unique system where an online posted price channel is incorporated into a Dutch auction market. We follow buyers’ purchasing paths and examine conditions under which B2B buyers will use one or both channels. We incorporate learning and experience and demonstrate how buyers’ behaviors evolve. Our results, using an extensive data set from the world’s largest flower market, reveal that different from B2C buyers who purchase in small quantities with fewer strategic decisions involved, B2B buyers strategically choose and combine different price mechanisms based on not only their demand but also product portfolio diversity and experiences. Moreover, different from preoccupied concerns, the integration of an online posted price channel into a Dutch auction system can bring benefits to sellers without market disruptions.
The Inventory Routing Problem Under Uncertainty
Authors: Cui Zheng , Long Daniel Zhuoyu , Qi Jin , Zhang Lianmin
Published: November 2022

In the inventory routing problem, the supplier acts as a central decision maker who determines the replenishment quantities and also, the delivery times and routes to all retailers. In “Inventory Routing Problem Under Uncertainty”, Cui et al. develop a novel framework for the uncertain inventory routing problem and allow ambiguity in the probability distribution of each retailer's uncertain demand. Adopting a service-level viewpoint, they minimize the risk of uncertain inventory levels violating a prespecified acceptable range. They quantify that risk using a new decision criterion, the service violation index, that accounts for how often and how severely the inventory requirement is violated. The solutions proposed here are adaptive in the sense that they vary with the realization of uncertain demand. They provide algorithms to solve the problem exactly and then, demonstrate the superiority of their solutions by comparing them with several benchmarks.
The Join-the-Shortest-Queue System in the Halfin-Whitt Regime: Rates of Convergence to the Diffusion Limit
Authors: Braverman Anton
Published: November 2022

We bound the rate at which the steady-state distribution of the join-the-shortest-queue (JSQ) system converges, in the Halfin-Whitt regime, to its diffusion limit. Our proof uses Stein’s method and, specifically, the recently proposed prelimit generator comparison approach. The JSQ system is nontrivial and high-dimensional and has a state-space collapse component; our analysis may serve as a helpful example to readers wishing to apply the approach to their own setting.
Water diffusion and solubility in sodium aluminosilicate melts
Authors:   Alfred University, Rapp Douglas B. , Shelby James E.
Published: November 2022

The diffusivity and solubility of water at 1200°C has been measured in a series of sodium aluminosilicate melts. Both the diffusivity and solubility of water in these melts decrease as Na2O is replaced by Al2O3. The partial molar solubilities of SiO2, Na2O and Al2O3 have been determined. The diffusivity of water in these melts exhibits an inverse relationship with the viscosity of the melt, which can be extended to include sodium silicate melts at the same temperature. The glass transformation temperature of these glasses decreases with increasing water concentration. The magnitude of this effect is shown to be similar to that for many other compositional systems.
Ruptured school trajectories: understanding the impact of COVID-19 on school dropout, socio-emotional and academic learning using a longitudinal design
Authors: Bayley Stephen , Wole Meshesha Darge , Rose Pauline , Woldehanna Tassew , Yorke Louise , Ramchandani Paul
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the findings of longitudinal research conducted in Ethiopia exploring the effects of COVID-19 school closures on children’s holistic learning, including their socio-emotional and academic learning. It draws on data from over 2,000 pupils captured in 2019 and 2021 to compare primary school children’s dropout and learning before and after school closures. The study adapts self-reporting scales used in similar contexts to measure grade 4–6 pupils’ social skills and numeracy. Findings highlight the risk of widening inequality regarding educational access and outcomes, related to pupils’ gender, age, wealth and location. They also highlight a decline in social skills following school closures and identify a positive and significant relationship between pupils’ social skills and numeracy over time. In conclusion, we recommend a need for education systems to promote children’s holistic learning, which is even more vital in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Gender and sustainability in our home: a collaborative autoethnography linking experience, scholarship and progressive politics
Authors: Parry Sarah , Murphy Joseph
Published: November 2022

Households are sites where a progressive politics of change towards sustainability can be nourished. Efforts to do so, however, must attend to gender dynamics. Our aim is to improve our understanding of how gender and sustainability intersect at the household level and engage with progressive politics in this context. To do so, we present a collaborative autoethnography focused on gender and sustainability in our household covering five years during which we experienced multiple lifecourse transitions. Building on this we answer two questions. First, how does the encounter between personal experiences and scholarship shape conceptual refinement? Second, how do personal experiences and scholarship combine to shape what we understand as progressive politics? This article not only advances the understanding of gender and sustainability in households and progressive politics in this context but also shows that collaborative autoethnography offers a valuable methodological toolkit for advancing research towards progressive politics.
Analog stabilization of an electro-optic I/Q modulator with an auxiliary modulation tone
Authors: Wald Sebastian , Diorico Fritz , Hosten Onur
Published: November 2022

Proper operation of electro-optic I/Q modulators relies on precise
adjustment and control of the relative phase biases between the
modulator’s internal interferometer arms. We present an all-analog
phase bias locking scheme where error signals are obtained from the
beat between the optical carrier and optical tones generated by an
auxiliary 2 MHz

R
F

tone to lock the phases of all three
involved interferometers for operation up to 10 GHz. With the
developed method, we demonstrate an I/Q modulator in
carrier-suppressed single-sideband mode, where the suppressed carrier
and sideband are locked at optical power levels

<

−
27

d
B

relative to the transmitted sideband.
We describe a simple analytical model for calculating the error
signals and detail the implementation of the electronic circuitry for
the implementation of the method.
Understanding the tool influence function during sub-aperture belt-on-wheel glass polishing
Authors: Suratwala T. , Ross J. , Steele R. , Tham G. , Wong L. , Wolfs F. , Defisher S. , Bechtold R. , Rinkus M. , Mah C.
Published: November 2022

The tool influence function (TIF) during sub-aperture belt-on-wheel polishing has
been evaluated as a function of various process conditions (belt
use/wear, dwell time, displacement, belt velocity, and wheel modulus
and diameter) on fused silica glass workpieces using

C
e
O

2

polishing media. TIF spots are
circular or elliptical in shape with a largely flat bottom character.
The volumetric removal rate varies significantly with belt use (or
wear), stabilizing after

∼

15

m
i
n

of use. A modified Preston model,
where the pressure dependence is adjusted using a different scaling of
the wheel modulus (

E
w

0.5

), largely predicts the volumetric
removal rate over the range of process conditions evaluated. The
relatively high volumetric removal rate of

30
−
60

m
m

3

/

h

using a fixed

C
e
O

2

-in-resin-host belt offers a rapid,
and hence, more economical, initial polish of aspheric and freeform
optics.
Optimization method for low-loss single-mode bending negative curvature anti-resonant hollow-core fiber designed by mode modification
Authors: He Junyi , Jiang Ping , Caiyang Weinan , Qin Yan , Zhou Miaofang , Deng Jingxin , Yang Jing , Hu Lizhong , Yang Huajun
Published: November 2022

A method of designing negative curvature anti-resonant hollow-core fibers (NC-AR-HCFs) with bending resistance is proposed, by which the fundamental mode (FM) and higher-order mode (HOM) can be adjusted. An asymmetric double-ring negative curvature hollow-core fiber (ADR-NC-HCF) is proposed to verify the method. The ADR-NC-HCF achieves the FM loss of 0.8 dB/km at 1550 nm under the bending radius of 20 mm. The coupling relation between the modes in ADR-NC-HCFs is analyzed revealing the physical principle of the design method. Based on the principle, the fiber can be directionally optimized to achieve a lower loss of the FM or higher-order mode extinction ratio.
Phase retrieval algorithm using edge point referencing
Authors: Gautam Surya Kumar , Panchal Pramod , Athira T. S , Naik Dinesh N.
Published: November 2022

In the past few decades, extensive research and efforts have been made for developing a phase retrieval iterative algorithm (PRA) for reconstructing a complex object from far-field intensity equivalently from the object autocorrelation. Since most of the existing PRA techniques employ a random initial guess, the reconstruction output sometimes changes in different trials leading to a non-deterministic output. Additionally, the output of such algorithm occasionally either shows non-convergence, needs a longer time to converge, or shows the twin-image problem. Due to these problems, PRA methods are unsuitable for cases where consecutive reconstructed outputs need to be compared. In this Letter, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, method is developed and discussed using edge point referencing (EPR). In the EPR scheme, in addition to illuminating a region of interest (ROI) of the complex object, a small area near the periphery of the complex object within the ROI is illuminated with an additional beam. Such illumination creates an imbalance in the autocorrelation that can be used to improve the initial guess for achieving unique deterministic output free from the aforementioned problems. Furthermore, by introducing the EPR, one can also achieve faster convergence. To support our theory, derivation, simulations, and experiment are performed and presented.
Bats expand their vocal range by recruiting different laryngeal structures for echolocation and social communication
Authors: Håkansson Jonas , Mikkelsen Cathrine , Jakobsen Lasse , Elemans Coen P. H.
Published: November 2022

Echolocating bats produce very diverse vocal signals for echolocation and social communication that span an impressive frequency range of 1 to 120 kHz or 7 octaves. This tremendous vocal range is unparalleled in mammalian sound production and thought to be produced by specialized laryngeal vocal membranes on top of vocal folds. However, their function in vocal production remains untested. By filming vocal membranes in excised bat larynges (Myotis daubentonii) in vitro with ultra-high-speed video (up to 250,000 fps) and using deep learning networks to extract their motion, we provide the first direct observations that vocal membranes exhibit flow-induced self-sustained vibrations to produce 10 to 95 kHz echolocation and social communication calls in bats. The vocal membranes achieve the highest fundamental frequencies (fo’s) of any mammal, but their vocal range is with 3 to 4 octaves comparable to most mammals. We evaluate the currently outstanding hypotheses for vocal membrane function and propose that most laryngeal adaptations in echolocating bats result from selection for producing high-frequency, rapid echolocation calls to catch fast-moving prey. Furthermore, we show that bats extend their lower vocal range by recruiting their ventricular folds—as in death metal growls—that vibrate at distinctly lower frequencies of 1 to 5 kHz for producing agonistic social calls. The different selection pressures for echolocation and social communication facilitated the evolution of separate laryngeal structures that together vastly expanded the vocal range in bats.
Estimation of export cutoff productivity of Chinese industrial enterprises
Authors: Duan Lianjie
Published: November 2022

Based on China’s transaction-level trade data and firm-level production data during the period 2000–2006, this paper firstly estimates the export cutoff productivity by applying non-parametric ROC method. The results are as follows. First, under the full sample, the export cutoff productivity is 7.051. Second, the export cutoff productivity of home enterprises is relatively low, and that of foreign enterprises is relatively high. Third, the export thresholds of capital-intensive and technology-intensive industries are relatively high, while that of labor-intensive industry is relatively low. Fourth, the export threshold of western provinces is relatively high, followed by central provinces and eastern provinces. In addition, this paper investigates the dynamic change of export threshold. The result indicates that the evolution of export threshold is generally a horizontal S-shape during the sample period, and after China’s accession to WTO in 2001, it is an inverted U-shape.
Comparative study of the Rheum tanguticum’s chemical contents based on spatial distribution characteristics
Authors: Guo Yafei , Cao Qiang , Guo Mei , Wang Junmei , Kou Renbo , Ye Leilei
Published: November 2022

Rheum tanguticum (R. tanguticum) has been widely used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in clinical. However, limited research exist on the quality evaluation of various R. tanguticum locations, which has certain drawbacks. In this study, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to comparative study on the chemical contents of R. tanguticum, to clarify the relationship between the chemical contents and the spatial distribution of R. tanguticum. First of all, the FTIR spectra of 18 batches of R. tanguticum were examined. Following the cluster analysis, the FTIR spectra of various production locations differed. To some extent, establishing the double index analysis sequence of common and variation peaks may differentiate distinct production locations of medicinal materials. The HPLC fingerprint of R. tanguticum was constructed to further explore the link between components and their origin. PCA of common peaks of 18 batches of R. tanguticum indicated that R. tanguticum grown in Gannan and Qinghai had a tendency to separate t[2], however this trend was not noticeable. Then, OPLS-DA model was established, and the key differential components of R. tanguticum produced in Gannan and Qinghai were discovered to be R16, R37, R46, and R47 (Aloe emodin) (VIP ≥ 1 and P < 0.05). At last, Pearson’s test was used to examine the relationship between longitude, latitude, altitude, and composition. Longitude was significantly positively correlated with R28 and R30 (P < 0.05), and a very significantly positively correlated with R35, R36, R37, R46, and R47 (P < 0.01). Latitude was significantly negatively correlated with R34, R35, and R40 (P < 0.05), and extremely significantly negatively correlated with R28, R30, R36, R37, R46, and R47 (P < 0.01). Altitude was significantly positive correlation with R36 and R37 (P < 0.01). The results of our study can provide insights into R. tanguticum quality control and aid in establishing a natural medication traceability system.
Random forest model can predict the prognosis of hospital-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection as well as traditional logistic regression model
Authors: Fan Shuaihua , Lin Jinlan , Wu Sheng , Mu Xiangdong , Guo Jun
Published: November 2022

Objective

To explore if random forest (RF) model can predict the prognosis of hospital-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection as well as traditional logistic regression(LR) model.

Methods

A total of 254 cases of hospital-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in a tertiary hospital in Beijing from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected. Appropriate influencing factors were selected by referring to relevant articles from the aspects of basic clinical information and contact history before infection, and divided into a training set and a test set. Both the RF and LR models were trained by the training set, and using testing set to compare these two models.

Results

The prediction accuracy of the LR model was 87.0%, the true positive rate of the LR model was 94.7%; the false negative rate of the LR model was 5.3%; the false positive rate of the LR model was 35%; the true negative rate of the LR model was 65%; the sensitivity of the LR model for the prognosis prediction of hospital-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection was 94.7%; and the specificity was 65%. The prediction accuracy of the RF model was 89.6%; the true positive rate of the RF model was 92.1%; the false negative rate of the RF model was 7.9%; the false positive rate of the RF model was 21.4%; the true negative rate of the RF model was 78.6%; the sensitivity of the RF model for the prognosis prediction of hospital-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection was 92.1%; and the specificity was 78.6%. ROC curve shows that the area under curve(AUC) of the LR model was 0.91, and that of the RF model was 0.95.

Conclusion

The RF model has higher specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for the prognostic prediction of hospital-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection than the LR model and has greater clinical application prospects.
Factors associated with pre-loss grief and preparedness in relatives of people with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Schmidt Viktoria , Kaiser Julia , Treml Julia , Kersting Anette
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Before the loss of a loved one to cancer, relatives have time to adapt to the impending death. However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, adjustment to an imminent death may be more difficult. This study investigates factors related to pre-loss grief and preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their relationship with COVID-19 related fears.

Methods

Data of 299 participants from a cross-sectional study was used. Participants were included if they were relatives of people with cancer, spoke German and were at least 18 years. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to measure the relationship between predictors (dysfunctional coping, emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, COVID-19 related fears, prognosis, perceived depth of the relationship, perceived conflict in the relationship, health status) and pre-loss grief, preparedness for caregiving and preparedness for death as the dependent variables.

Results

Perceived depth (β = .365, p < .001), COVID-19 related fears (β = .141, p = .002), prognosis for death (β = .241, p < .001), dysfunctional coping strategies (β = .281, p < .001) and emotion-focused coping strategies (β = -.320, p < .001) significantly predicted pre-loss grief. Prognosis for death (β = .347, p < .001), dysfunctional coping strategies (β = -.229, p < .001), emotion-focused coping strategies (β = .242, p < .001), COVID-19 related fears (β = -.112, p = .037) and health status (β = .123, p = .025) significantly predicted preparedness for death. Dysfunctional coping (β = -.147, p = .009), problem-focused coping (β = .162, p = .009), emotion-focused coping (β = .148, p = .017), COVID-19 related fears (β = -.151, p = .006), attachment anxiety (β = -.169, p = .003), perceived conflict in the relationship with the patient with cancer (β = -.164, p = .004), perceived depth in the relationship (β = .116, p = .048) and health status (β = .157, p = .003) significantly predicted preparedness for caregiving.

Conclusions

This study shows COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the grieving process of relatives of patients with cancer. Consequently, screening for pre-loss grief, preparedness and their associated factors may help provide early support for relatives of people with cancer at need. However, further research is needed to help understand the stability of pre-loss grief and preparedness.
Rose-tinted spectacles: An autoethnography of a lone-mother’s experiences within the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Beazley Pippa
Published: November 2022

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruption and changes to all levels of life in Britain. This article uses autoethnography as a method of research, reflexivity and transformation, to explore the complexities of lone-motherhood during the pandemic. An account is given of how, for myself, the concept of lone-motherhood was socially constructed. Evocative vignettes reflect how I look inwards at my self, as a lone-mother in a pandemic and back outwards at others, hopefully eliciting responses, reflection and dialogue from readers.
Impact Of Donor Agencies On Poverty Reduction In Birnin Kebbi Local Government, Kebbi State
Authors: Tsav Rosemary  Mngohol
Published: November 2022

ABSTRACT

Poverty, either as a plague or cause of other specific under development ailments, afflicts Nigeria as it does other Nations of the World. The high level of prevalence in the country, which has attained an endemic nature is becoming worrisome. Poverty has made Nigeria to attain an unenviable status such that no Government (no matter the level), Organisation, Community, Clan or Family can survive effectively without introducing one kind of poverty reduction effort or the other. This problem is essentially not that of programme introduction but effectiveness of such programme and strategies so adapted in poverty reduction efforts. Nigeria has not been known to lack in such efforts. This study therefore is based on the impact of Donor Agencies effort on poverty reduction in Birnin Kebbi especially in relation to the policy and strategy formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring, control and review, sourcing and utilisation of resources both human and material and complementarity of programmes. The study also focused on the impact of the past and strategies and programmes on the target poor. In the course of the study, related literature on poverty and poverty reduction efforts strategies and programmes were intensively and extensively reviewed and relevant information and ideas obtained for the research. The study also utilised the survey approach and assumptions to collect, collate, analyse and present data respectively in its findings which include: poverty is multi-dimensional in nature and must be treated in order to be effective; Most Donor Agencies and Government activities are poverty reduction-based; poverty reduction programmes have not been effective; and reasons for non-effectiveness were adduced. Based on the above findings and conclusions, recommendations, were made towards poverty reduction efforts in Birnin Kebbi as well as Nigeria as a whole, Government, Donor Agencies and other stakeholders should develop a multidimensional approach towards poverty reduction efforts or strategies and implement along that line, efforts should be made to effectively target the poor in all considerations and at all levels of articulation, implementation, and review; the government anti-poverty reduction efforts should be stepped up and seriously up-held in dealing with matters concerning poverty reduction efforts so as to achieve the SDGs 2030.
Attempt to an Analysis of the Advances Made in Implementing the Strategic Environmental Assessment in Southern Africa in the Light of Climate Change
Authors: Mubanga Raphael , Kwarteng Kwaku
Published: November 2022

The current study aims to provide an up-to-date status quo of the advances made in establishing and operationalising SEA and the subsequent integration of climate change in the Southern African region. It examines through a comparative qualitative assessment of SEA systems' status and implementation by highlighting individual countries' strengths, opportunities, and weaknesses to pave the way for effective strategic environmental decision-making. I used a desktop review of scientific papers and other relevant documents published about SEA and climate change in the region as the primary method used to collect all the information necessary for this study. Other documents were obtained from the governmental and other institutions websites to supplement the published documents. The findings of this study indicate that SEA in southern African countries is currently a crucial environmental policy consideration. Nevertheless, the study also exposes the heterogeneity in SEA adoption, climate change integration, and implementation in the region. A lot needs to be done as the formalisation of SEA in the region has been quite slow.
The Policy Of Privatisation And Commercialisation Of Public Enterprises In Nigeria: A Case Study Of Telecommunication Industry.
Authors: Phil Chibuikem Opute
Published: November 2022

It is because of social issues like economic inequalities, unemployment that made the state to interfere in the economy of Nigeria. Government choose public sector as a means or medium for economic and social development due to poor managerial skills, weak technological base etc. This enhanced the zeal to establish various enterprise institutions in Nigeria. Due to inadequate capital and lack of finance, public enterprises in Nigeria are confronted with many problems by the employees, managers and political interference in the affairs of public enterprises. The project title is the policy of privatisation and commercialisation of public enterprises with a case study of telecommunication industries. This research made use of some relevant textbooks and also secondary method of data collection, he found out that privatisation is seen as means to harness economy or as measure to increase efficiency of the public sector or organisation and also the privatisation and commercialisation has improved the potential, the efficiency and service delivery in Nigeria by making telecommunication easily accessible and affordable. These are the recommendations: as the privatisation is in the hands of few individuals, government should ensure that before granting the license or opportunity, they should examine and select the competent people who will handle private enterprises and not people of questionable character. The only thing left is for government to hands off from those enterprises.
General Collective Intelligence Platforms and the Hive Mind
Authors: Williams Andy E
Published: November 2022

From a human-centric perspective, all technology solves one of two problems. It either optimizes outcomes for a single individual, or optimizes outcomes for the entire group. According to the technology gravity well hypothesis, the pace of technological advance, and the pace at which technologies are integrating and otherwise interacting with each other, is accelerating. As it does so this advance is predicted to increase the ability of technology to solve one or both of those two optimization problems. But the two solutions to those problems can become mutually exclusive. That is, at some point the ability to achieve one is predicted to become so great that it could eliminate any ability to achieve the other, wherever the more powerful of the two forces of optimization prohibits the less powerful one from occurring. Beyond this point of no return, the dominant force is predicted to either create a one-way path leading to pervasive centralization of decision-making, control, and resources, or a one-way path leading to the decentralization of the same. This has been called a centralized technology gravity well in the first case, and a decentralized technology gravity well in the second case. The accelerating advance and increased integration of technology in both cases is predicted to lead to humans being compelled to self-organize into a hive mind as they reach the bottom of each technology gravity well. The difference is that the hive mind at the bottom of the centralized technology gravity well is predicted to act as a mechanism of control that serves the interests of a single individual or entity, and the hive mind at the bottom of the decentralized technology gravity well is predicted to act as a mechanism of cooperation that serves the interests of the collective well-being.
Netra
Authors: Tiwari Ansh
Published: November 2022

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, which causes lesions onthe retina that affect vision. If it is not detected early, it can lead to blindness. Unfortunately, DRis not a reversible process, and treatment only sustains vision. DR early detection and treatmentcan significantly reduce the risk of vision loss. The manual diagnosis process of DR retina fundusimages by ophthalmologists is time-, effort-, and cost-consuming and prone to misdiagnosis unlikecomputer-aided diagnosis systems.[ 1] Convolutional neural networks are more widely used asa deep learning method in medical image analysis and they are highly effective.[1] Netrascopyis a more efficient system for Diabetic Retinopathy detection, which consists of a low cost,Camera, “DIYretCAM Netrascopy FUNDUS Camera V1”, An Android Application and WebApplication which aims to help patients and doctors detect diabetic retinopathy at early stages bytaking 30-Second video of patient’s retina and passing each frame as an individual test case to aConvolutional Neural Network to detect probability of a patient having diabetic retinopathy.
A Differentiable Tight-Binding Model for Inverse Design
Authors: YUAN LYU
Published: November 2022

Differentiable tight-binding models are implemented to reveal the potential of inverse design on nano devices. The condition of the reciprocity for green's functions and its role in efficient calculations of gradients are explained through a simple case, a 1D inhomogeneous tight-string system. Further insights on reciprocity and the formalism for later discussion are provided through a 1D tight-binding model example. Algorithm details for both 1D and 2D cases are presented and bring us experimental results such as probability amplitude tunneling, resonance, and the growth of transmission rate. Finally, future works and notes worth mentioned are discussed.
Ancient Athens and Modern Ideology: Value, Theory and Evidence in Historical Sciences
Authors: Nafissi Mohammad
Published: November 2022

For over a century the foundations of Athenian political economy have been debated by scholarly camps broadly described as primitivist/substantivist, modernist and Marxist and involving political economists, sociologists and anthropologists as well as historians and classicists. Ancient Athens and modern ideology demonstrates the dialectic of intellectual and substantive history and offers a consensual resolution to the debate by examining the interplay of values, theories and evidence in the contributions of Max Weber (1864-1920), Karl Polanyi (1886-1964) and Moses Finley (1912-86), widely recognised as successive champions of the primitivist cause. Pursuing Finley’s own ‘official’ account of his intellectual roots and hegemonic perspective, the book starts with Weber and Polanyi and ends by finding the actual views of all three far more complex than generally assumed by their followers and critics.  Through systematic scrutiny and contextualisation of tensions in their work arising from the resistance of facts ancient and modern to theories and the varied dissonance of both with ideological priorities the case for a radical reconsideration of the debate and its protagonists is argued. The book concludes with an account of Athenian developments and institutions which draws on recent scholarship associated with modernism and Marxism as well as primitivism. The work’s interdisciplinary approach and multidisciplinary scope will be of major interest to all concerned with the historical sciences in the broad sense of the term.
Puerto Rico erizando mi piel. Intertextos/intercuerpos lordeanos en la narrativa de Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
Authors: Trávez Diego Falconí
Published: November 2022

Interesa analizar en este artículo cómo la subjetividad afrodescendiente, lesbiana y poscolonial de la escritora puertorriqueña Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro, además de sintomatizar la interseccionalidad de etnia, clase y deseo en varios de sus relatos, posibilita entender la compleja relación poscolonial existente entre Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico. Desde una focalización sexo-genérica en la que el erotismo se convierte en una suerte de nuevo pacto social, escarbar en las novelas Violeta (2013) y Caparazones (2010); los libros de cuentos las Negras (2012) y Lesbianas en clave caribeña (2012); y el diario personal/bitácora La Macacoa (2011) posibilitan dar una lectura que se cimienta en el múltiple poder de significación del cuerpo.

Para realizar este análisis se ha invitado como compañera de travesía a Audre Lorde, en su faceta de autora; no sólo por haber sido pionera en la propuesta identitaria de interseccionalidad, por su lucha poético-política en pos de las mujeres afro, lesbianas y trabajadoras, sino porque, también, su escritura arraigada en el poder de lo erótico permite entender algunos alcances contemporáneos y boricuas realizados hoy por parte de Arroyo Pizarro al momento de entender cómo vivir con Puerto Rico bajo la piel.
Archivos potenciales: domiciliación y colindancias en Viriditas de Cristina Rivera Garza
Authors: Arzabal Roberto Cruz
Published: November 2022

Tomando como punto de partida el concepto de archivo según fue problematizado por Jacques Derrida en su muy conocido Mal d’archive, propongo leer las prácticas de archivo dentro de la obra de Cristina Rivera Garza no sólo como elementos referenciales dentro de los textos, sino como procedimientos artísticos en relación con la acumulación y en la domiciliación que delimitan el interior y el exterior de la textualidad. En especial, propongo la lectura del libro Viriditas que, aunque poco atendido por la crítica, resulta un objeto ejemplar para entender el movimiento entre domiciliación y trazo arqueológico en la obra de Rivera Garza. Además, utilizo el concepto de escrituras colindantes, propuesto por la propia autora, para relacionar las formas intermediales del libro con los movimientos del archivo que las producen.
Laurencia Then and Now: A Transhistorical Reading of Lope de Vega’s Fuenteovejuna
Authors: Fernández Esther
Published: November 2022

Among the many recent adaptations of Lope de Vega’s Fuenteovejuna that feature a modern sociopolitical reading of the play, Eugenia Cano Puga’s Laurencia stands out for the way in which it manages to distil the essence of Lope’s collective protagonist and transfer it to a single female leading character. By staging the basic story of Lope’s Early Modern drama to the Ciudad Juárez of the femicides, the article argues, Cano gives new relevance to Lope’s drama of a people who stand united against an unjust political system. Additionally, Laurencia masterfully reflects the complicity of local and global forces in failing to address the magnitude of violence against women. This article examines the dramatic and performative processes deployed by the playwright/director as she maintains the moral relevance of Fuenteovejuna while contemporizing its characters and its plot and highlighting the global responsibility for addressing the pervasive victimization of women.
ToastingMéxicoin the American West:BrindisPoems and Political Loyalties of Women’s Mexican Patriotic Clubs
Authors: Perez Vanessa Ovalle
Published: November 2022

Brindis poems were popular in the nineteenth century. Accompanied by the raise of a glass, their verses were meant to celebrate a person or event. Only two decades after the Mexican-American War, Latinas/os living in the newly annexed territories of the American West found themselves using the brindis genre to declare their loyalties to Mexico against a new invader, France. Among the most ardent supporters of the Mexican army’s fight against French imperialism were lower and middle-class Latinas who formed Mexican patriotic clubs exclusively for women in California and Nevada. This article examines one brindis series recited by women of the Patriotic Club of Mexico of Virginia City, Nevada, and two series of such poems by women of the Zaragoza Club of Los Angeles published in 1865 in the San Francisco, Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Mundo. By reading the printed brindis as a trace of the original vocal and performative gesture, this article asserts that the verses of these women were a three-fold protest: first, through their performance in the public sphere, these Latinas disrupted their political disenfranchisement as women; second, they contested outright European tyrants; and third, by verbalizing anti-colonial sentiment more broadly, they protested their annexation by the U.S. in a shrouded, but powerful way. The article explores some of the most salient stylistic features of the brindis poems, including the mocking tone of most of the rhymed verses, call and response technique, and gendered rhetoric of patriotic “deber” or duty.