bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing and Development of Slightly Thick Infant Formula Recipes for Dysphagia Management: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Marshall Jeanne , Buttsworth Jordyn , Grandt Hannah D. S. , Raatz Madeline , Signorini Annabelle , Fernando Shenali , Clarke Sally
Published: January 2023

Thickened feeds may be useful in supporting improved suck–swallow–breath coordination and airway protection in infants with dysphagia. Unfortunately, the stability of thickened feeds for infant formulas is unpredictable, which makes use of this strategy challenging. This study aimed to propose a set of Level 1 (slightly thick) recipes for Australian infant formulas/thickeners. A secondary aim was to test whether formula could be batch prepared. A set of powdered, ready-to-feed, and specialized formulas were mixed with two thickening products (Aptamil Feed Thickener® and Supercol®) and tested at 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, and 45-min intervals using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) Flow Test. Formula/thickener samples were mixed following manufacturer instructions, but recipes were adapted to determine an ideal recipe for Level 1 (slightly thick) consistency that would be maintained over a feed. Samples were refrigerated, reheated after 12 h, and retested. Each combination was tested six times. Overall, 1,353 IDDSI Flow Tests were conducted using 14 formula/thickener combinations. In all combinations, recipe alterations were made using metric spoon measurements as opposed to the manufacturer-provided scoop. All samples were most variable at the 5-min timepoint. Formulas thickened with Supercol® generally reached a more stable consistency by 10 min, whereas formulas thickened with Aptamil Feed Thickener® were more stable by 15 min. Samples tested after 12 h were more variable with Aptamil Feed Thickener®. This study provides practical recommendations for clinicians working with infants requiring thickened feeds for dysphagia management. Further study under controlled laboratory conditions is required.
Finite strain poro-hyperelasticity: an asymptotic multi-scale ALE-FSI approach supported by ANNs
Authors: Dehghani Hamidreza , Zilian Andreas
Published: January 2023

This contribution introduces and discusses a formulation of poro-hyperelasticity at finite strains. The prediction of the time-dependent response of such media requires consideration of their characteristic multi-scale and multi-physics parameters. In the present work this is achieved by formulating a non-dimensionalised fluid–solid interaction problem (FSI) at the pore level using an arbitrary Lagrange–Euler description (ALE). The resulting coupled systems of PDEs on the reference configuration are expanded and analysed using the asymptotic homogenisation technique. This approach yields three partially novel systems of PDEs: the macroscopic/effective problem and two supplementary microscale problems (fluid and solid). The latter two provide the microscopic response fields whose average value is required in real-time/online form to determine the macroscale response (a concurrent multi-scale approach). In order to overcome the computational challenges related to the above multi-scale closure, this work introduces a surrogate approach for replacing the direct numerical simulation with an artificial neural network. This methodology allows for solving finite strain (multi-scale) porohyperelastic problems accurately using direct automated differentiation through the strain energy. Optimal and reliable training data sets are produced from direct numerical simulations of the fully-resolved problem by including a simple real-time output density check for adaptive sampling step refinement. The data-driven approach is complemented by a sensitivity analysis of the RVE response. The significance of the presented approach for finite strain poro-elasticity/poro-hyperelasticity is shown in the numerical benchmark of a multi-scale confined consolidation problem. Finally, to show the robustness of the method, the system response is dimensionalised using characteristic values of soil and brain mechanics scenarios.
Real-time six-dimensional spatiotemporal tracking of single anisotropic nanoparticles in live cells by integrated multifunctional light-sheet nanoscopy
Authors: Cao Yingying , Lee Seungah , Kim Kyungsoo , Kwak Jong-Young , Kang Seong Ho
Published: January 2023

An integrated multifunctional light-sheet nanoscopy (iMLSN) combined with differential interference contrast, total internal reflection, epifluorescence, a super-resolution radial fluctuation-stream module, and a wavelength-dependent light sheet was developed to simultaneously realize the six-dimensional (6D) vector-valued (three coordinates + rotational dynamics (azimuth and elevation angles) + transport speed) tracking of anisotropic nanoparticles in single living cells. The wavelength-dependent asymmetric scattering of light by gold nanorods was used to trigger signals depending on the polarizer angle, and real-time photo-switching was achieved by turning the polarizer, obtaining a series of super-resolution images, and tracking using different polarization directions and two channels. This technique was employed to directly observe native gold nanorods (AuNRs; 5 nm diameter × 15 nm length) and surface-functionalized AuNRs during their endocytosis and transport at the upper and attaching side membrane regions of single living cells, revealing that the AuNRs bound to the membrane receptors. The nanorods were subsequently internalized and transported away from the original entry spots. Detailed dynamic information regarding the rotation properties and endocytosis speed during the transmembrane process was also acquired for each region. The developed technique can be considered useful for the real-time monitoring of intracellular transport at various regions in single living cells, as well as for 6D vector-valued non-fluorescence super-resolution imaging and tracking.

Graphical Abstract
Ultra-fast meta-parameter optimization for time series similarity measures with application to nearest neighbour classification
Authors: Tan Chang Wei , Herrmann Matthieu , Webb Geoffrey I.
Published: January 2023

Nearest neighbour similarity measures are widely used in many time series data analysis applications. They compute a measure of similarity between two time series. Most applications require tuning of these measures’ meta-parameters in order to achieve good performance. However, most measures have at least $$O(L^2)$$

O
(

L
2

)

complexity, making them computationally expensive and the process of learning their meta-parameters burdensome, requiring days even for datasets containing only a few thousand series. In this paper, we propose UltraFastMPSearch, a family of algorithms to learn the meta-parameters for different types of time series distance measures. These algorithms are significantly faster than the prior state of the art. Our algorithms build upon the state of the art, exploiting the properties of a new efficient exact algorithm which supports early abandoning and pruning for most time series distance measures. We show on 128 datasets from the UCR archive that our new family of algorithms are up to an order of magnitude faster than the previous state of the art.
A fast computational model for circulatory dynamics: effects of left ventricle–aorta coupling
Authors: Moulton Michael J. , Secomb Timothy W.
Published: January 2023

The course of diseases such as hypertension, systolic heart failure and heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction is affected by interactions between the left ventricle (LV) and the vasculature. To study these interactions, a computationally efficient, biophysically based mathematical model for the circulatory system is presented. In a four-chamber model of the heart, the LV is represented by a previously described low-order, wall volume-preserving model that includes torsion and base-to-apex and circumferential wall shortening and lengthening, and the other chambers are represented using spherical geometries. Active and passive myocardial mechanics of all four chambers are included. The cardiac model is coupled with a wave propagation model for the aorta and a closed lumped-parameter circulation model. Parameters for the normal heart and aorta are determined by fitting to experimental data. Changes in the timing and magnitude of pulse wave reflections by the aorta are demonstrated with changes in compliance and taper of the aorta as seen in aging (decreased compliance, increased diameter and length), and resulting effects on LV pressure–volume loops and LV fiber stress and sarcomere shortening are predicted. Effects of aging of the aorta combined with reduced LV contractile force (failing heart) are examined. In the failing heart, changes in aortic properties with aging affect stroke volume and sarcomere shortening without appreciable augmentation of aortic pressure, and the reflected pressure wave contributes an increased proportion of aortic pressure.
Guidelines to derive an $$e^{3}value$$ business model from a BPMN process model: an experiment on real-world scenarios
Authors: Torres Isaac da Silva , Fantinato Marcelo , Branco Gabriela Musse , Gordijn Jaap
Published: January 2023

Process models, e.g., BPMN models, may represent how companies in an ecosystem interact with each other. However, the business model of the same ecosystem, e.g., expressed by an $$e^{3}value$$

e
3

v
a
l
u
e

 model, is often left implicit. This hinders the proper analysis of the ecosystem at the business level, and more specifically financial assessment, for which process models are less appropriate. Therefore, the question is if we can somehow derive $$e^{3}value$$

e
3

v
a
l
u
e

 models from BPMN models. This would not only allow for proper business model analysis but would also facilitate business model mining, similar to the success of process mining. However, although an $$e^{3}value$$

e
3

v
a
l
u
e

 model and BPMN model represent the same ecosystem, their perspectives differ significantly. Therefore an automated derivation of an $$e^{3}value$$

e
3

v
a
l
u
e

 model from a BPMN seems not to be feasible, but we can assist the $$e^{3}value$$

e
3

v
a
l
u
e

 model designer with practical guidelines. We explore and test our guidelines in two real-world settings, we then analyze and evaluate its application to better understand their limitations and how to improve them.
Seasonality in commodity prices: new approaches for pricing plain vanilla options
Authors: Frau Carme , Fanelli Viviana
Published: January 2023

We present a new term-structure model for commodity futures prices based on Trolle and Schwartz (2009), which we extend by incorporating seasonal stochastic volatility represented with two different sinusoidal expressions. We obtain a quasi-analytical representation of the characteristic function of the futures log-prices and closed-form expressions for standard European options’ prices using the fast Fourier transform algorithm. We price plain vanilla options on the Henry Hub natural gas futures contracts, using our model and extant models. We obtain higher accuracy levels with our model than with the extant models.
360° videos in education – A systematic literature review on application areas and future potentials
Authors: Rosendahl Philipp , Wagner Ingo
Published: January 2023

As a teaching and learning medium, 360° videos offer new teaching-learning experiences. Through the possibility of immersion, individual 360° panoramic images, multi-perspective viewing options and interaction possibilities, they extend the advantages of conventional video technology. To understand the potential of using 360° video technology for educational processes, a systematic literature review analyzed previous scientific articles (N = 44) about the interdisciplinary use of 360° videos according to PRISMA guidelines. In the systematic literature selection, particular emphasis was placed on the conceptual distinction between virtual reality and 360° videos. By the authors, 360° videos are understood as a specific video format that has characteristics of virtual reality but is to be distinguished from virtual reality by the necessary real recording situation without programmed virtual environments. The results show a use of 360° videos mainly for three teaching-learning purposes: presentation and observation of teaching–learning content, immersive and interactive theory–practice mediation, and external and self-reflection. Combined with the added value of conventional video technology and other immersive technology such as virtual reality, five added value categories for its use as a teaching–learning medium were identified: To increase learning motivation and interest, to learn in authentic and realistic learning scenarios, for immersive and interactive learning experiences, for multi-perspective observation opportunities and for individual learning. These consisted primarily of positive motivational effects for authentic or immersive learning experiences.
Effect of Emotional Valence on Emotion Recognition in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Palmer Sarah J. , Fanucci-Kiss Adrian , Kipervassar Ella , Jalnapurkar Isha , Hodge Steven M. , Frazier Jean A. , Cochran David
Published: January 2023

This study investigated how emotional valence of a perceived emotional state impacted performance on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task (RMET) in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) controls. Valence of items on the RMET, Adult (RMET-A) and Child (RMET-C) versions, was first classified in a survey of 113 medical students. Adolescents with ASD (N = 33) and TD adolescents (N = 30) were administered both RMET versions. Individuals with ASD made more errors than TD controls on positive and negative, but not neutral, valence items. The difference in performance was accentuated on the RMET-A compared to the RMET-C. Both emotional valence and complexity of language contribute to RMET performance in individuals with ASD.
How Should Your Assistive Robot Look Like? A Scoping Review on Embodiment for Assistive Robots
Authors: Ringwald Marina , Theben Paulina , Gerlinger Ken , Hedrich Annika , Klein Barbara
Published: January 2023

Assistive robots have the potential to support older people and people with disabilities in various tasks so that they can live more independently. One of the research challenges is the appearance of assistive robots so that they are accepted by prospective users and encourage interaction. This scoping review aims to identify studies that report preferences in order to derive indicators for the embodiment of a robot with assistance functions. A systematic literature research was conducted in the three electronic databases IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library and PubMed Central (PMC). Included papers date back not further than 2015 and report empirical studies about the preferred appearance of service robots. The search resulted in 1,760 papers. 29 were included, of which 20 papers reported quantitative studies, three described a qualitative and six a mixed-methods design. Out of these papers, seven categories of robot appearances and design components could be extracted. Most papers focused on humanoid or humanlike robots and components like facial features or gender aspects. Others relied on design that reflects the robot’s function or simulated emotions through light applications. Only eight studies focused on older adults, and no study on people with disabilities. The appearance of a humanoid robot is often described as favorable, but the definition of ‘humanoid’ varies widely within all analyzed studies and an explizit allocation of features is not possible. For their practical work, robot designers can extract various aspects from the papers; however, for generalization more research is necessary.
Generalized conformable fractional Newton-type method for solving nonlinear systems
Authors: Candelario Giro , Cordero Alicia , Torregrosa Juan R. , Vassileva María P.
Published: January 2023

In a recent paper, a conformable fractional Newton-type method was proposed for solving nonlinear equations. This method involves a lower computational cost compared to other fractional iterative methods. Indeed, the theoretical order of convergence is held in practice, and it presents a better numerical behaviour than fractional Newton-type methods formerly proposed, even compared to classical Newton-Raphson method. In this work, we design a generalization of this method for solving nonlinear systems by using a new conformable fractional Jacobian matrix, and a suitable conformable Taylor power series; and it is compared with classical Newton’s scheme. The necessary concepts and results are stated in order to design this method. Convergence analysis is made and a quadratic order of convergence is obtained, as in classical Newton’s method. Numerical tests are made, and the Approximated Computational Order of Convergence (ACOC) supports the theory. Also, the proposed scheme shows good stability properties observed by means of convergence planes.
Cash transfers and female labor supply—how public policy matters? A bibliometric analysis of research patterns
Authors: Drejerska Nina , Chrzanowska Mariola , Wysoczański Jakub
Published: January 2023

This paper employs bibliometric analysis to determine the scientific landscape of the influence of social transfers on female labor supply. We determine the scale and scope of the subject, as well as interconnections between various research fields, utilizing the Scopus database. The most significant areas of the research landscape are (i) labor, (ii) socioeconomics, and (iii) maternity, with multiple and complex connections between and among them. However, these areas are specific within given countries, and there is little collaboration between countries and researchers. This implies that the current state of research may not be sufficient to explain how, in fact, cash transfers affect human behavior in case of women’s labor. It is important for policymakers, particularly those governing non-homogeneous structures, such as the European Union, to avoid generalizing conclusions on the success or failure of a given policy in a given country. Research results demonstrate that the large scientific landscape investigated is divided into clusters which encompass ideas that are strongly interconnected outside their clusters. Nevertheless, the degree of collaboration between authors from different countries is low. A map of keywords reveals that certain aspects of the landscape may be associated only with a specific country or group of countries.
Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurements in chronic and malignant diseases: ten years’ experience with PRO-algorithm-based patient-clinician interaction (telePRO) in AmbuFlex
Authors: Hjollund Niels Henrik I. , Larsen Louise Pape , de Thurah Annette Ladefoged , Grove Birgith Engelst , Skuladottir Halla , Linnet Hanne , Friis Rasmus Blechingberg , Johnsen Søren Paaske , May Ole , Jensen Annesofie Lunde , Hansen Troels Krarup , Taarnhøj Gry Assam , Tolstrup Lærke Kjær , Pappot Helle , Ivarsen Per , Dørflinger Liv , Jessen Anne , Sørensen Nanna Toxvig , Schougaard Liv Marit Valen , team The AmbuFlex
Published: January 2023

Background

Patient-reported Outcome (PRO) measures may be used as the basis for out-patient follow-up instead of fixed appointments. The patients attend follow-up from home by filling in questionnaires developed for that specific aim and patient group (telePRO). The questionnaires are handled in real time by a specific algorithm, which assigns an outcome color reflecting clinical need. The specific questionnaires and algorithms (named solutions) are constructed in a consensus process with clinicians. We aimed to describe AmbuFlex’ telePRO solutions and the algorithm outcomes and variation between patient groups, and to discuss possible applications and challenges.

Methods

TelePRO solutions with more than 100 processed questionnaires were included in the analysis. Data were retrieved together with data from national registers. Characteristics of patients, questionnaires and outcomes were tabulated for each solution. Graphs were constructed depicting the overall and within-patient distribution of algorithm outcomes for each solution.

Results

From 2011 to 2021, 29 specific telePRO solutions were implemented within 24 different ICD-10 groups. A total of 42,015 patients were referred and answered 171,268 questionnaires. An existing applicable instrument with cut-off values was available for four solutions, whereas items were selected or developed ad hoc for the other solutions. Mean age ranged from 10.7 (Pain in children) to 73.3 years (chronic kidney disease). Mortality among referred patients varied between 0 (obesity, asthma, endometriosis and pain in children) and 528 per 1000 patient years (Lung cancer). There was substantial variation in algorithm outcome across patient groups while different solutions within the same patient group varied little.

Discussion

TelePRO can be applied in diseases where PRO can reflect clinical status and needs. Questionnaires and algorithms should be adapted for the specific patient groups and clinical aims. When PRO is used as replacement for clinical contact, special carefulness should be observed with respect to patient safety.
Gibbard on Quasi-realism and Global Expressivism
Authors: Price Huw
Published: January 2023

In recent work Allan Gibbard claims to be both a local quasi-realist, in Blackburn’s sense, and a global expressivist. His local quasi-realism rests on an argument that for naturalistic discourse but not ethical discourse, the semantic relation of denotation and the causal relation of tracking can and should be identified; that denoting simply is tracking, for naturalistic vocabulary. I argue that Gibbard’s case for this conclusion is unconvincing, and poorly motivated by his own expressivist standards. I also argue that even if it were successful, it is doubtful whether the resulting position would count as global expressivism, as Gibbard and I both use that term.
Risk assessment of trace metals in Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato) grown under wastewater irrigation conditions
Authors: Ahmed Dalia Abd El-Azeem , Slima Dalia Fahmy , Al-Yasi Hatim M. , Hassan Loutfy M. , Galal Tarek M.
Published: January 2023

Heavy
metal contamination of food crop plants is viewed as a global issue. Heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), and mercury (Hg) are poisonous. Depending on their concentration and capacity for bioaccumulation, they can provide a range of health risks.This research sought to investigate the effects of toxic metals (TMs) on the growth characteristics of produced tomatoes grown under wastewater irrigation. Additionally, it looked into the potential repercussions of both domestic and foreign individuals consuming this plant. In south Cairo, Egypt, two study locations were looked into: a control site in Abu Ragwan, which received water from tributaries of the Nile River, and a contaminated site in El-Shobak El-Sharky, which had raw industrial wastewater. The nutrients of soil and tomato plants (N, P, and K) decreased (P < 0.01), while TMs increased (P < 0.001) significantly as a result of using wastewater for irrigation. Except for Cu, all examined TM accumulating in tomato plants’ roots as opposed to shoots had a bioaccumulation factor (BF) > 1. However, the tomato plant’s shoot had solely undergone Pb and Ni translocation and storage, with a translocation factor (TF) > 1. A significant amount of Fe (5000.1 mg kg−1), Pb (360.7 mg kg−1), and Mn (356.3 mg kg−1) were present in the edible fruits. The ingestion of contaminated crops increases the daily intake rate of metals (DIR). The values of the high hazard quotient (HQ) were obtained (2073.8 and 2558.9 for Pb, 574.0 and 708.3 for Cd, and 41.1 and 50.7 for Fe for adults and children, respectively). Therefore, tomato plants grown in soils irrigated with untreated wastewater may offer a greater danger to human health, indicating that they should not be grown as a crop for human consumption.
The reciprocal relationship among Chinese senior secondary students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and cognitive engagement in learning mathematics: a three-wave longitudinal study
Authors: Zhang Yongqiang , Yang Xinrong , Sun Xiaojian , Kaiser Gabriele
Published: January 2023

In the present longitudinal study, cross-lagged path models were applied to investigate the potential reciprocal relationships between senior secondary school students’ motivation and their cognitive engagement, using data from 623 Chinese senior secondary school students across 2 years. The 623 students completed self-reported measures of motivation and engagement at three time points within 2 years. The results suggest that the participants held a mixed type of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to learn mathematics and did not hold a deep level of cognitive engagement in mathematics learning. Compared with their extrinisic motivation, their intrinsic motivation to learn mathematics was more closely related to their cognitive engagement in mathematics learning, which points to a stronger reciprocal effect between their cognitive engagement and intrinsic motivation. The findings suggest that societal and cultural factors, such as the strong examination culture and high external expectations might be influential factors affecting the reciprocal relationships among students’ motivation and cognitive engagement.
Summer Clinical Oncology Research Experience (SCORE) Program: Engaging Undergraduates from Diverse Backgrounds in Cancer Research
Authors: Liberman Laura , Singh Priya , Tan Kay See , Gotian Ruth
Published: January 2023

Diversifying the future cancer research workforce requires that students engage in cancer research, persist in paths toward science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields, and choose cancer research careers. The Summer Clinical Oncology Research Experience (SCORE) Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering, designed in 2010 to engage undergraduate (U) and post-baccalaureate (PB) students from diverse backgrounds in cancer research, is an 8-week summer program pairing an U or PB student with a faculty mentor to conduct cancer research. We report demographics and career paths for 2010–2019 SCORE students. Of 116 students, 112 (97%) attended public universities, and 75 (64%) were in their first 2 years of college. Race/ethnicity was Black/African American, 20 (17%); Hispanic/Latinx, 15 (13%); multiracial, five (4%); Asian, 40 (34%); White/Caucasian, 36 (31%). A total of 112 (97%) identified as female; 47 (41%) were first-generation college students, and 85 (73%) were from immigrant families. As of 2021, 114 (98%) persisted in paths toward STEMM careers: 44 (38%) medical school (MS) students, 14 (12%) residents, two (2%) practicing physicians, 12 (10%) pursuing non-MD STEMM advanced degrees, 21 (18%) working in non-MD STEMM fields, 17 (15%) applying to MS, and 4 (3%) U science majors. Cancer research participation significantly increased from 5% pre- to 84% post-SCORE. A total of 63/116 (54%) students subsequently co-authored 152 peer-reviewed publications, including 105 (69%) in oncology. SCORE engaged underrepresented U and PB students in cancer research, and 98% of these students persisted in paths toward STEMM careers. Long-term follow-up is needed to assess the enduring engagement of these underrepresented students in cancer research.
Performance of real-time neutron/gamma discrimination methods
Authors: Liu Shi-Xing , Zhang Wei , Zhang Zi-Han , Lin Shuang , Cao Hong-Rui , Song Cheng-Xin , Zhao Jin-Long , Zhong Guo-Qiang
Published: January 2023

Nuclear security usually requires the simultaneous detection of neutrons and gamma rays. With the development of crystalline materials in recent years, Cs2LiLaBr6 (CLLB) dual-readout detectors have attracted extensive attention from researchers, where real-time neutron/gamma pulse discrimination is the critical factor among detector performance parameters. This study investigated the discrimination performance of the charge comparison, amplitude comparison, time comparison, and pulse gradient methods and the effects of a Sallen–Key filter on their performance. Experimental results show that the figure of merit (FOM) of all four methods is improved by proper filtering. Among them, the charge comparison method exhibits excellent noise resistance; moreover, it is the most suitable method of real-time discrimination for CLLB detectors. However, its discrimination performance depends on the parameters $${t}_\text{s}$$

t
s

, $${t}_\text{m}$$

t
m

, and $${t}_\text{e}$$

t
e

. When $${t}_\text{s}$$

t
s

corresponds to the moment at which the pulse is at 10% of its peak value, $${t}_\text{e}$$

t
e

requires a delay of only 640–740 ns compared to $${t}_\text{s}$$

t
s

, at which time the potentially optimal FOM of the charge comparison method at 3.1–3.3 MeV is greater than 1.46. The FOM obtained using the $${t}_\text{m}$$

t
m

value calculated by a proposed maximized discrimination difference model (MDDM) and the potentially optimal FOM differ by less than 3.9%, indicating that the model can provide good guidance for parameter selection in the charge comparison method.
Grievance Mechanisms in Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives: Providing Effective Remedy for Human Rights Violations?
Authors: Harrison James , Wielga Mark
Published: January 2023

This article presents an empirical study of six grievance mechanisms in multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs). It argues that key characteristics of each grievance mechanism as well as the contexts in which they operate significantly affect human rights outcomes. However, even the most successful mechanisms only manage to produce remedies in particular types of cases and contexts. The research also finds that it is prohibitively difficult to determine whether ‘effective’ remedy has been achieved in individual cases. Furthermore, the key intervention by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), to prescribe a set of effectiveness criteria for designing or revising MSI grievance mechanisms, itself appears ineffective in stimulating better outcomes for rights-holders. Drawing on these findings, the article reflects on the future potential and limitations of MSI grievance mechanisms within broader struggles to ensure business respect for human rights.
Eppur si Muove! Young People, Issue Salience and Volatility in Nine European Countries
Authors: Kiess Johannes , Portos Martín
Published: January 2023

Political participation and party attachment in Western democracies have become more and more volatile. In turn, political campaigns seem increasingly dependent on short-term discursive windows of opportunity opened by dynamic debates on issues such as migration, climate, employment and economic policies. Based on panel data from nine European countries, we investigate how patterns and changes in the materialist and postmaterialist concerns of respondents affect electoral turnout and party switching. By relating these variables, we aim to uncover whether and to what extent underlying concerns – and thus short-term politicization – account for short-term patterns of electoral volatility. We pay special attention to young respondents, who are often framed as being particularly dynamic and less bound to traditional political loyalties. Our findings offer insights into short-term change in discursive opportunities for political mobilization and broader democratic engagement.
Instability of a thin film of chemotactic active suspension
Authors: Murugan Nishanth , Roy Anubhab
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we analyse the instability of a thin-film suspension of micro-swimmers subjected to an attractant gradient. The imposed attractant gradient introduces a preferential swimming direction for the swimmers, resulting in an anisotropic orientation field. By modelling the swimmers as force dipoles, the study by Kasyap & Koch (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 108, issue 3, 2012, 038101, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 741, 2014, pp. 619–657) found an instability arising from the coupling between the active stress associated with an anisotropic orientation field and perturbations to the swimmer density field. In this work we begin by presenting a stability analysis that calculates the modification of this instability in the presence of an interface. We then detail the presence of a new mode of instability that arises solely from the deformation of the interface mediated by the active stress in the suspension. The resulting hydrodynamic instabilities in the system are observed to be sensitive to the direction of the attractant gradient relative to the interface. Furthermore, we show that the coupling between the two modes involving a jump in interfacial viscous stresses and normal stress differences within the suspension allows for an instability to manifest in a suspension of chemotactic pullers, previously thought to be unconditionally stable. We then use a long-wave theory to write down a set of nonlinear equations governing the film evolution. The numerical solution of the system using the long-wave theory aids in explaining the mechanism associated with the instability in addition to validating the predictions from the linear stability theory.
Numerical studies on detonation propagation in inhomogeneous mixtures with periodic reactant concentration gradient
Authors: Wang Yuan , Huang Chengyang , Deiterding Ralf , Chen Haitao , Chen Zheng
Published: January 2023

In detonation engines and accidental explosions, a detonation may propagate in an inhomogeneous mixture with non-uniform reactant concentration. In this study, one- and two-dimensional simulations are conducted for detonation propagation in hydrogen/oxygen/nitrogen mixtures with periodic sinusoidal or square wave distribution of the reactant concentration. The objective is to assess the properties of detonation propagation in such inhomogeneous mixtures. Specifically, detonation quenching and reinitiation, cellular structure, cell size and detonation speed deficit are investigated. It is found that there exists a critical amplitude of the periodic mixture composition distribution, above which the detonation quenches. When the amplitude is below the critical value, detonation quenching and reinitiation occur alternately. A double cellular structure consisting of substructures and a large-scale structure is found for a two-dimensional detonation propagating in inhomogeneous mixtures with a periodic reactant concentration gradient. The detonation reinitiation process and the formation of the double cellular structure are interpreted. To quantify the properties of detonation propagation in different inhomogeneous mixtures, the large cell size, critical amplitude, transition distance and detonation speed deficit are compared for hydrogen/air without and with nitrogen dilution and for periodic sine wave and square wave distributions of the reactant concentration. The large-scale cell size is found to be linearly proportional to the wavelength, and both the critical amplitude and the transition distance decrease with the wavelength. The small detonation speed deficit is shown to be due to the incomplete combustion of the reactant. This work provides helpful understanding of the features of detonation propagation in inhomogeneous mixtures.
PROOF OF A CONJECTURE OF BANERJEE AND DASTIDAR ON ODD CRANK
Authors: TANG DAZHAO
Published: January 2023

Recently, when studying intricate connections between Ramanujan’s theta functions and a class of partition functions, Banerjee and Dastidar [‘Ramanujan’s theta functions and parity of parts and cranks of partitions’, Ann. Comb., to appear] studied some arithmetic properties for
$c_o(n)$
, the number of partitions of n with odd crank. They conjectured a congruence modulo
$4$
satisfied by
$c_o(n)$
. We confirm the conjecture and evaluate
$c_o(4n)$
modulo
$8$
by dissecting some q-series into even powers. Moreover, we give a conjecture on the density of divisibility of odd cranks modulo 4, 8 and 16.
Is dieting a risk for higher weight gain in normal-weight individual? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pélissier Léna , Bagot Sarah , Miles-Chan Jennifer Lynn , Pereira Bruno , Boirie Yves , Duclos Martine , Dulloo Abdul , Isacco Laurie , Thivel David
Published: January 2023

While there is an increasing prevalence of dieting in the overall population, weight loss (WL) practices could be a risk factor for weight gain (WG) in normal-weight (NW) individuals. The aim of the present work was to systematically review all the studies implicating diet restriction and body weight (BW) evolution in NW people. The literature search was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021281442) and was performed in three databases from April 2021 to June 2022 for articles involving healthy NW adults. From a total of 1487 records initially identified, eighteen were selected in the systematic review. Of the eight dieting interventional studies, only one found a higher BW after weight recovery, but 75 % of them highlighted metabolic adaptations in response to WL favouring weight regain and persisting during/after BW recovery. Eight of the ten observational studies showed a relationship between dieting and major later WG, while the meta-analysis of observational studies results indicated that ‘dieters’ have a higher BW than ‘non-dieters’. However, considering the high methodological heterogeneity and the publication bias of the studies, this result should be taken with caution. Moreover, the term ‘diet’ was poorly described, and we observed a large heterogeneity of the methods used to assess dieting status. Present results suggest that dieting could be a major risk factor for WG in the long term in NW individuals. There is, however, a real need for prospective randomised controlled studies, specifically assessing the relationship between WL induced by diet and subsequent weight in this population.
RETHINKING RISK-TAKING: THE DEATH OF VOLENTI?
Authors: Gardner Jodi
Published: January 2023

Volenti non fit injuria allows a negligent defendant to escape liability by showing that the claimant voluntarily and willingly accepted the risk in question. This article combines the theoretical limitations of the volenti defence with a case analysis of how its application has played out in the “real world”, and argues it is not fit for modern tort law. The defence has a controversial and chequered history, being described as a “so-called principle … of little help: indeed, it is confusing, unnecessary, and if we are not careful, it will lead us to the wrong outcome”. It is submitted that volenti is based on unjustified concepts of people agreeing to risks, leads to harmful outcomes and that the defence does not fit with current approaches to tort liability. This article therefore concludes that the harmful outcomes of the volenti defence far exceed any potential benefits provided, and the defence should therefore be abolished.
The development and usability of a web-based mobile application as a dairy intake screener for South African adults
Authors: Piderit Monique C. , White Zelda , Wenhold Friedeburg A. M.
Published: January 2023

Paper-based dietary assessment tools such as food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and especially dietary screeners are making way for versions that use technology. Amidst low intakes of dairy and dairy-related nutrients in South Africa, and to increase public awareness thereof, we aimed to develop and evaluate the usability of an application (app) to screen for dairy intake in higher income South African adults. In a consultative process, a dairy intake screener (‘Dairy Diary’) was developed as an eight-item quantitative FFQ with four types of commonly consumed local dairy products: milk, maas (fermented milk), yoghurt, and cheese. For each dairy product, usual frequency of consumption and portion size per eating occasion were scored resulting in three risk classes: <1 serving daily; 1≤2 servings daily; ≥2 servings daily. Digitalisation included product- and portion-specific graphics with linkage to risk class-relevant preliminary dairy-related guidance as part of a web-based mobile app. For the evaluation of the usability, the 26-item end-user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) was used in an online cross-sectional survey (Qualtrics; April 2020). Items were scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale, resulting in three final app scores. From a conveniently recruited sample of 1102, 703 (64%; 81% female; mean age 29.8 ± 11.0 years) were retained for analysis. uMARS-informed descriptive statistics summarise the findings. The uMARS app mean objective quality score (3.9 ± 0.85), app subjective quality score (3.5 ± 0.77), app-specific score (3.6 ± 0.94), and additional question on e-portion (4.3 ± 0.78) met the minimum acceptability score of ≥3.0. For the subscales, the mean score for aesthetics was the highest (4.4 ± 0.82), followed by information (4.3 ± 0.90) and functionality (4.0 ± 1.33). Engagement scored lowest (3.0 ± 1.55). The ‘Dairy Diary’ is a user-friendly screener for dairy intake.
Weakly institutionalized, heavily contested: Does support for contemporary welfare reforms rely on norms of distributive justice?
Authors: Van Hootegem Arno , Abts Koen , Meuleman Bart
Published: January 2023

Three reforms each appealing to a different logic of (re)distribution are strongly politicized in contemporary welfare states: means-tested benefits, demanding activation policies and basic income schemes. While the policy design of means-tested benefits relies on the distributive justice principle of need, demanding activation policies are intrinsically related to the principle of equity and basic income schemes depend on equality. Based on the moral economy and policy feedback literatures, which assume that public opinion adapts to the normative conceptions of justice encapsulated by institutions, attitudes towards these welfare reforms are expected to be grounded on these distributive logics. However, as these reforms are weakly institutionalized and their underlying principles are politically contested, the normative foundation of their public support remains unclear. This study investigates how distributive justice preferences shape support for these proposals by applying structural equation modelling on data from the CRONOS panel linked to the European Social Survey round 8 (2016/2017). Results indicate that only basic income schemes and demanding activation policies are to some extent connected to each of the justice principles. Overall, this study nevertheless indicates that the justice principles have limited explanatory power, which confirms that attitudes towards contemporary welfare reforms rely weakly on justice norms.
Obstacle avoidance method for fixed trajectory of a seven-degree-of-freedom manipulator
Authors: Quan Yuan , Wang Ke , Zhao Chong , Lv Congmin , Zhao Haifeng , Lv Hongyu
Published: January 2023

This paper, based on the idea of redundancy angle discretisation, proposes an obstacle avoidance method for the fixed tip pose trajectory of a seven degrees-of-freedom (7-DOF) modular manipulator. First, for the case in which a specific redundancy angle is given, the analytical solutions of the redundant manipulator left 6-DOF subchain are found. Then, through the discretisation of the redundancy angle, the concept of the self-motion space of the tip pose is proposed and is extended to the concept of the self-motion space of the trajectory. Based on this discrete space, a path-planning algorithm is proposed to help select the appropriate redundancy angles to obtain the collision-free solution set of the fixed Cartesian trajectory. However, due to the large fluctuation of the obtained path, a path optimisation method based on the path cost is proposed to smooth the path, and the continuous and collision-free solution set of the manipulator tip’s trajectory is obtained. The method proposed in this paper provides a new thought for the problem of collision-free solution set planning for the Cartesian trajectory of a 7-DOF manipulator and it has great application potential in working environments with high accuracy requirements for the trajectory.
Body mass determines the role of mammal species in a frugivore-large fruit interaction network in a Neotropical savanna
Authors: Goebel Larissa Gabriela Araujo , Vitorino Breno Dias , Frota Angélica Vilas Boas , Santos-Filho Manoel dos
Published: January 2023

Frugivorous mammals play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and are considered one of the main dispersers of large seeds. In this study, we describe the structure of the interaction network between non-flying mammals and seven plant species with large fruits in a megadiverse savanna-forest mosaic in the Brazilian Cerrado. We also evaluated the individual contribution of each species to the organization of the interaction network and tested whether body mass determined the mammals’ role in the network. To record frugivory events of mammals with arboreal and terrestrial habits, camera traps were installed at ground and canopy levels. We identified 18 mammal species interacting with seven plant species in 515 frugivory events. Our observations highlight an interaction network with a modular and non-nested topology and the important role of large mammals in the network structure, which reflects the importance of the group in potential seed dispersal. The extinction of large frugivorous mammals can cause several damages to ecosystem services in the Brazilian Cerrado through changes in network structure, especially threatening the survival of plant species with large fruits.
The Design of Flexible Specialisation
Authors: Stewart-Halevy Jacob
Published: January 2023

This article discusses the aesthetics of flexible specialisation, a form of labour marked by micro-enterprises, skilled artisans, flexible machinery, municipal welfare and strong kinship and subcultural networks. Focusing on the writing and projects of Nanni Strada and Andrea Branzi, the article describes the fate of this labour configuration within so-called ‘Radical’ design in the central and northeastern sections of Italy (‘The Third Italy’) during the 1970s. I look at how these practices were exported abroad and deteriorated in the face of increasing global competition. The article pays particular attention to the Soviet reception of Third Italy design and the reciprocal interest by Radical designers in Soviet Productivism in order to consider the persistent ideologies of third way production.
Predicted Particle Properties (P3) Microphysics Scheme Coupled With WRF‐Chem Model: Evaluation With Convective and Stratiform Cases
Authors: Cao Qimin , Huang Yongjie , Zou Jianan , Lin Wenshi , Zhou Xu , Li Hao , Zhang Xiaotuo
Published: January 2023

Predicted particle properties (P3) microphysics scheme was coupled with the weather research and forecasting (WRF)‐Chem model in this study. Cases of convective and stratiform mixed‐phase clouds were used to explore the differences and applicability of the simulation results of different types of clouds when different P3 configurations were coupled with WRF and WRF‐Chem models. For convective mixed‐phase clouds, configurations coupled with the WRF‐Chem model greatly improved the simulations of cloud properties and precipitation, which simulated more accurate magnitudes and extreme values of precipitation rate, areas of convective clouds, and more centralized distributions of heavy rainfall and high reflectivity (>45 dBZ) than WRF did compared with observations. Different configurations in WRF significantly overestimated the magnitudes and extreme values of hourly precipitation and produced dispersed rainfall distribution. Analysis showed that compared with WRF‐Chem, higher precipitation rates at the ground surface in WRF simulations were due to the overestimated mixing ratios of ice particles and stronger cold rain production processes of melting ice to raindrops. For stratiform mixed‐phase clouds, the configurations of one‐ and two‐ice categories in both WRF‐Chem and WRF models simulated the close ice macro‐ and micro‐physics properties to observations. However, little difference was observed in the ice simulations before and after the same configuration coupled with the WRF‐Chem model, which is caused by the close simulated air temperature and ice nucleation and deposition in different models.