bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction and validation of the motives for smartphone use questionnaire
Authors: Mostyn Sullivan Beau , George Amanda M. , Rickwood Debra
Published: February 2025

Background and aims

Smartphones have been so widely adopted that many consider them essential for modern life. However, some people use their phone excessively, which can cause functional impairment or harm, termed problematic smartphone use (PSU). Smartphone use motives may help explain why users engage in general smartphone use and PSU, but existing measures may not capture certain motives which research suggests are important to smartphone use. To address this, across two studies, we constructed and validated a Motives for Smartphone Use Questionnaire (MSUQ) among young adults.

Methods and results

In Study 1, the Delphi method was used, whereby engagement with a panel of 23 international academic experts resulted in a pool of 62 smartphone use motives items that measure 11 proposed motives. In Study 2, the 62 items were administered to 680 young adults aged 18–25 years (Mage = 22.50, SD = 2.16). Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses found that the MSUQ has a seven-factor structure, assessing smartphone use to cope, pass time, socialize, obtain social comfort, feel safe, fulfil social obligations, and seek information. These motives differentially influenced PSU and smartphone usage.

Conclusions

The MSUQ is a valid measure of motives for smartphone use. It was developed specifically for smartphone use and it includes motives not captured in prior measures.
ІННОВАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ СУШІННЯ РОСЛИННОЇ СИРОВИНИ РЕОЛОГІЧНОЇ СТРУКТУРИ
Authors: Кравченко О. Ю.
Published: February 2025

Виявлено ключові проблеми при зневодненні харчової сировини реологічної структури. Представлено аналіз літературних джерел, присвячених вирішенню проблематики зневоднення матеріалу з неньютонівськими властивостями. Найбільш розповсюдженим методом видалення вологи з реологічної сировини є розпилювальне сушіння. Проте незважаючи на ефективність установок даного типу, їх робота супроводжується суттєвими енерго- та ресурсовтратами з відпрацьованим теплоносієм. Окремою проблемою є високі температури обробки, що вкрай негативно впливає на якість готового продукту. Зазначено, що наявність великої кількості робіт вказує на актуальність даного напрямку і потребує інноваційного підходу при організації процесів дегідратації неньютонівських рідин. При конструюванні варто керуватися не лише принципами енерго- та ресурсоефективності, а й можливістю організації процесу сушіння в режимі безперервної роботи. Відповідно до цього було запропоновано конструкцію стрічкової сушильної установки з інфрачервоними джерелами енергії. ІЧ випромінювачі здатні проникати вглиб матеріалу в межах 2-4 мм. Тому, з метою забезпечення ефективності та якості процесу сушіння, товщина шару харчової сировини не повинна перевищувати зазначеного регламенту. В залежності від заданого значення вологовмісту готового продукту в установці передбачено регулювання швидкості руху стрічкового транспортера та потужності електромагнітного поля ІЧ діапазону. Передбачено завантаження початкової сировини як на спеціальних касетах, так і безпосередньо на стрічку транспортера. При цьому встановлюється спеціальний бункер подачі сировини, а необхідна товщина шару забезпечується за допомогою регулятора. Запропонована конструкція стрічкової сушарки з ІЧ генераторами відзначається працездатністю та високою надійністю, що підтверджується результатами експериментальних досліджень. Разом із цим вона представляє комерційній інтерес при впровадженні у виробництво за рахунок наявності безперервного режиму роботи
РОЛЬ ОСНОВНИХ ПОЖИВНИХ РЕЧОВИН У СКЛАДІ КОМБІКОРМОВОЇ ПРОДУКЦІЇ ТА ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФОРМУВАННЯ РЕЦЕПТІВ ДЛЯ ДЕКОРАТИВНИХ ГРИЗУНІВ – МОРСЬКИХ СВИНОК, І ІННОВАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ЇХ ВИРОБНИЦТВА
Authors: Бордун Т. В. , Мазур Д. В.
Published: February 2025

Сучасні власники декоративних гризунів мають у своєму розпорядженні оптимальний вибір готових кормів, що дає змогу підібрати необхідний режим годівлі для своїх улюбленців. Однак аналіз ринку комбікормів для цих тварин показує, що його значну частку займає імпортна продукція, тоді як вітчизняні комбікорми і ласощі представлені обмеженим асортиментом, часто не відповідають вимогам споживачів і не завжди здатні конкурувати з іноземними аналогами. До того ж більшість наявних на ринку комбікормів складно назвати повнораціонними, адже вони переважно являють собою кормові суміші, до складу яких входять різні компоненти залежно від цінової категорії. Це можуть бути як звичайні зернові злакові, олійні культури, так і дорожчі інгредієнти, такі як горіхи, сухофрукти тощо.
Комбікорм повинен містити всі необхідні компоненти, що забезпечують вироблення енергії, ріст, відновлення тканин і регуляцію обміну речовин. Повнораціонний комбікорм для декоративних гризунів має включати визначену кількість енергії, поживних і біологічно активних речовин. Важливо також враховувати такі фактори, як стадія розвитку, репродуктивна активність, вік та стать тварини.
На сьогодні залишається низка питань, що потребують подальшого вивчення та вдосконалення знань про кормові потреби різних видів декоративних гризунів. Зокрема, це стосується складу кормових компонентів, рівня енергетичної цінності, перетравності корму, а також оптимального балансу поживних і біологічно активних речовин у його складі.
У зв’язку з цим детально проаналізовано кожен клас поживних та біологічно активних речовин у раціоні, а також особливості формування рецептів комбікормів з урахуванням потреб декоративних гризунів, а саме морських свинок. Визначено функціональне значення цих речовин, вивчено симптоми, що виникають при їх дефіциті або надлишку в раціоні, а також встановлено їхні основні джерела та мінімальні потреби морських свинок у різні періоди життя – під час росту, розмноження та для підтримання здоров’я.
Для забезпечення повноцінної годівлі морських свинок у домашніх умовах, одним із найбільш ефективних рішень є створення збалансованих комбікормів із використанням сучасних технологій, таких як гранулювання або екструдування. Це дозволить одночасно задовольнити як природні кормові потреби морських свинок, так і їхню поведінкову активність, пов’язану з процесом споживання корму.
ІННОВАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ФРАКЦІЙНОГО РОЗДІЛЕННЯ ПРИ ВИПАРЮВАННІ ХАРЧОВИХ РОЗЧИНІВ
Authors: Євтушенко І. М. , Сиротюк І. В.
Published: February 2025

Процеси зневоднення харчових розчинів є одними із основних на харчових виробництвах. Однак, незважаючи на широке застосування таких методів вологовидалення існує ряд серйозних проблем пов’язаних з якістю готової продукції. Відомо, що в традиційних вакуум-випарних апаратах абсолютно неможливо отримати високі значення концентрації сухих речовин. Пов’язано це з характером поверхневого підведення енергії, який зумовлює пригорання продукту на стінках апарату через значне підвищення його в’язкості. Проведено аналіз наукової літератури, присвяченої вирішенню цих проблем. Виявлено, що в більшості з них пропонується використовувати альтернативні джерела енергії, що зумовлюють зміни в організації процесу випарювання. Зазначено, що найбільш перспективним напрямком є мікрохвильові технології, які дозволяють організувати підведення енергії не до поверхні сировини, а до всього об’єму одночасно. Це дозволяє отримати високі значення кінцевих концентрацій без завдання шкоди якості. Проте виникає ще одна проблема, пов’язана із втратою цінних та корисних летких компонентів із вторинною парою. Зазвичай на підприємствах для відділення цих компонентів від загального об’єму конденсату застосовують метод дистиляції. Такий підхід потребує спеціального обладнання та додаткових енергетичних витрат. В роботі пропонується розділяти полікомпонентну парову фазу одразу після процесу її утворення при випарюванні. Представлена конструкція експериментального стенду фракційної мікрохвильової вакуум-випарної установки. Ключовим елементом в ній виступає конденсаторна система, головна ідея якої полягає у розділенні вторинної пари на легколеткі та важколеткі компоненти, що відрізняються температурами конденсації. Для точності проведення експериментальних досліджень передбачений автоматизований збір та обробка даних, що надходять з датчиків температур та ваг. Проведені досліди з розділення водо-спиртового розчину з метою перевірки працездатності та герметичності установки, які підтверджують її доцільність та актуальність.
Breastfeeding difficulties after breast augmentation: A scoping review
Authors: Pereira Raquel Ruzicki , Rech Rafaela Soares , Schiavoni Laura Battistin , Berbert Monalise Costa Batista
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify and describe difficulties observed in breastfeeding in women who underwent breast augmentation surgery. Methods: a scoping review, with the guiding question: "What are the possible difficulties in breastfeeding observed in women who have undergone breast augmentation, as described in the literature?". The search strategy was carried out with combinations of descriptors for searching the Lilacs, SciELO, Cochrane CENTRAL, BIREME, Pubmed, ADOLEC, BDENF, MedCarib, and gray literature databases, October 12, 2023 being the date of the last search. Complete articles, without restrictions on language and publication time, observational design, and that analyzed women with a history of breast augmentation and possible difficulties in breastfeeding, were included. Literature Review: seven research articles were included with studies identifying the following as possible difficulties in breastfeeding in women undergoing breast augmentation surgery: the presence of breast engorgement, mastitis, pain, nipple lesions, and changes in lactation and sensitivity involved in breastfeeding. Conclusion: it is expected that the results presented in this scoping review will stimulate the development of more robust evidence on the relationship between these findings.
A produção do fracasso escolar nos discursos das reformas educacionais
Authors: Alves Rosana Maria de Souza
Published: February 2025

Resumo O artigo problematiza as premissas da renovação escolar a partir dos diagnósticos que caracterizam a dita má qualidade da escola pública. Dentre os investimentos realizados, discute-se a hipótese de que os projetos reformadores acionam lógicas que produzem o fracasso escolar. A abordagem traz indícios de que a afirmação do fracasso, vinculado à inadequada aprendizagem estudantil, foi condicionada pelas configurações atuais da escola e pela disposição de sofisticados instrumentos estatísticos. Conclui alegando que a fabricação de expectativas de aprendizagem atreladas à idade e série estabelece uma normalidade de desempenhos que direcionam investimentos em um tipo específico de educação e de sujeito a ser formado.
Carnaval e Feminilidades: aspectos currículo-pedagógicos na fronteira Brasil-Bolívia
Authors: Helena Rener de Melo , Duque Tiago
Published: February 2025

Resumo O objetivo do artigo é analisar a dimensão educativa que se refere a aspectos currículo-pedagógicos de feminilidades no Carnaval em Corumbá (MS). Os dados foram levantados em pesquisas anteriores realizadas pelos autores. O caráter metodológico envolve entrevistas semiestruturadas e pesquisas on-line. Foi utilizada a etnografia, inclusive em ambiente digital. O referencial teórico é pós-crítico em educação. Conclui-se que o que se ensina em termos de feminilidades por meio dessa festa se dá a partir da diferenciação nacional hierarquizada, mas sem se livrar das próprias hierarquias internas. O modo como circula o poder e se dão os agenciamentos nesse processo não coloca em risco a alegria.
MEB under suspicion: the seizure of the booklet Viver é Lutar and the 1964 coup
Authors: Bilhão Isabel Aparecida , Alves Kelly Ludkiewicz
Published: February 2025

Abstract This article addresses the seizure of the booklet Viver é Lutar (To Live is to Fight), produced by the Basic Education Movement (Movimento de Educação de Base – MEB). It analyzes the event in two dimensions: in relation to the national political context, based on journalistic coverage and texts responding to the proceedings initiated by the Department of Political and Social Order (Departamento de Ordem Política e Social – DOPS); and its impact on the daily life of the radio schools, based on a set of letters written by monitors from Pernambuco. As a result, the study expands knowledge about the political tensions and contradictions involving the Movement in the pre–civil-military coup context of 1964, as well as the impacts on its activities with the establishment of the dictatorship.
A Scoping Review on the Effects of Music Therapy in the Field of Education
Authors: Zaguini Fernanda , Stoltz Tania
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT Music therapy is a field of knowledge that studies the effects of music and the use of musical experiences on human beings. Music Therapy being considered as related to Education is not self-evident. In this sense, this scoping review aims to identify different theoretical perspectives of Music Therapy and their educational proposals. Seven fields of Music Therapy were identified that dialog with the field of Education: Educational Music Therapy, Social and Community Music Therapy, Clinical Music Therapy, Hospital Music Therapy, Neurological Music Therapy, Creative Music Therapy, and an incipient field in Palliative Care. The results show that Music Therapy offers innovative applicability in the field of Education, favoring a more inclusive, holistic, and student-centered learning environment.
Vivências Educativas de Mulheres Negras na Segunda Metade do Século XIX
Authors: Lima Adriane , Ranieri Beatriz Pompeu , Silva Lúcia Isabel da C.
Published: February 2025

Resumo Este artigo analisa as vivências educativas de mulheres negras na segunda metade do século XIX, fazendo emergir uma leitura histórica cultural a partir dos saberes e resistências das mulheres negras neste período. Fundamenta-se na epistemologia feminista decolonial antirracista e, metodologicamente, na história cultural e na práxis interseccional. Os resultados revelam que as autoras debatem a formação educacional das mulheres em estreita relação com os movimentos políticos de descolonização do continente latino-americano. Os seus escritos constituem um pensamento fronteiriço que emerge na densa trama da decolonialidade.
Educational Experiences of Black Women in the Second Half of the 19th Century
Authors: Lima Adriane , Ranieri Beatriz Pompeu , Silva Lúcia Isabel da C.
Published: February 2025

Abstract Educational Experiences of Black Women in the Second Half of the 19th Century. This article analyzes the educational experiences of black women in the second half of the 19th century, emerging a historical and cultural reading based on the knowledge and resistance of black women in this period. It is based on anti-racist decolonial feminist epistemology and, methodologically, on cultural history and intersectional praxis. The results reveal that the authors debate the educational training of women in close relation with the political movements for decolonization on the Latin American continent. Their writings constitute a borderline thought that emerges in the dense web of decoloniality.
Gender and Social Roles in Family-Owned Schools
Authors: Loureiro Simone Porto , Féres-Carneiro Terezinha
Published: February 2025

Abstract This study aimed to research the relation between gender and the management and caregiving activities carried out by the staff of family-owned schools, as well as to analyze how the gender issue has been addressed with students. Four schools in Rio de Janeiro were surveyed. Results were analyzed via content analysis. The analysis showed a strong centralization of caregiving responsibilities for young children in the hands of female employees. The discussion on gender issues with students was shown to rely on the Brazilian curricular guidelines and legislation so as to avoid potential resistance from some students’ families.
The Role of the School in the Constitution of Transcendence
Authors: Ferreira Patrick Vieira , Placco Vera Maria Nigro de Souza
Published: February 2025

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the contributions of contemporary schools to the development of transcendence among high school students in the city of Sao Paulo. The instruments for the collection of data were: 1) surveys and 2) discussion groups. Descriptive frequency and variance analysis, as well as prose analysis, were used to process the data thus produced. The results revealed that schools contribute to the development of transcendence when: 1) they provide an environment in which the transcendental dimension can be explored; 2) they offer psycho-emotional support to students; 3) their teachers become mediators of deep knowledge by developing relationships based on humanizing practices.
Análisis Comparativo de las Propiedades de Crudos Convencionales y No Convencionales y su Impacto en el Procesamiento y Refinación
Authors: Fals Guerra Jayson , Gutiérrez-Beleño Luis , Jiménez Rojas Mayerlenis
Published: February 2025

Objetivo: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar un analisis comparativo de las propiedades de los crudos y sus cortes, tanto de origen convencional y no convencional, y establecer las principales diferencias que podrían tener influencia en cada una de las etapas que inician desde la extracción del yacimiento hasta su refinación, incluyendo el craqueo catalítico. Metodología: Las alimentaciones se obtuvieron a escala de laboratorio mediante una adaptación de la norma ASTM D2892-18 y su posterior caracterización empleando diversas técnicas analíticas. Una vez obtenidas y caracterizadas las alimentaciones fueron evaluadas catalíticamente en un reactor de lecho fijo tipo MAT. Resultados: Los hidrocarburos provenientes de yacimientos no convencionales presentaron una elevada concentración de n-parafinas que durante las etapas de destilación favorecieron la formación de hidrocarburos más livianos y disminuyeron la cantidad de residuos. Durante la evaluación catalítica estas alimentaciones no convencionales mostraron una elevada selectividad a gases y menor selectividad a combustibles líquidos, sumado a una menor calidad del corte gasolina. Conclusión: El exceso de parafinas presentes en los hidrocarburos extraídos por fracking se convierte en un aspecto negativo que podría ocasionar considerables pérdidas económicas en la industria petrolera. La elevada producción de gases y baja selectividad a combustibles líquidos y coque afectaría la operatividad normal del proceso teniendo en cuenta que fueron diseñadas para la producción de combustibles líquidos.
Uganda's unrelenting legislative efforts to criminalise same-sex relations: Implications for human rights
Authors: Mubangizi John C
Published: February 2025

The first direct legal instrument promoting homophobia and aimed at criminalising all sexual acts of intimacy by LGBTI persons in Uganda was the 2009 Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The Bill was widely criticised by human rights groups, foreign governments and international organisations, and was eventually withdrawn in 2011. In 2013 the Ugandan Parliament passed a new version of the Bill, which was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni but was later, in August 2014, overturned on technical grounds by the Ugandan Constitutional Court. In May 2023 the Ugandan Parliament passed a new Anti-Homosexuality Act, which is the focus of this article. This Act attracted world-wide condemnation as the harshest legislation ever against LGBTI persons. The article begins with a historical context of legislative efforts to criminalise same-sex relations in Uganda before focusing on the latest Anti-Homosexuality Act. In order to understand the human rights implications of the legislation, a discussion of certain aspects and contents of the Act is undertaken. The human rights implications of the legislation are then discussed, before concluding with some recommendations on how the rights of LGBTI persons in Uganda can be protected in the face of such legislative and societal hostility.
Sexual consent laws and the child's right to freedom from sexual exploitation in Zimbabwe: Unpacking the 'polarising' legacy of Kawenda & Another v Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & Others
Authors: Moyo Admark
Published: February 2025

This article examines the intersection between sexual consent laws and the child's right to be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse in Zimbabwe. It is shown that, by codifying a minimum age of sexual consent, the law performs an integral function in preventing child sexual exploitation and the prosecution of adult offenders. A MASC - without exceptions or gender-based variations - entrenches a protective and irrefutable presumption that children below that age lack the capacity to consent to sexual activities. It is argued that to better protect children, the stipulation of a MASC should be coupled with the criminalisation of consensual sex between an adult person and any child below the MASC and the enforcement of the relevant rules. The article approaches the analysis through the prism of the decision on 20 May 2022 by the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe in Kawenda & Another v The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & Others, which held that legislative provisions that stipulate the MASC to be 16 years are invalid and unconstitutional for lack of consistency with the child's right to be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse. The article argues that the Court's decision attracts, divides and polarises public opinion on sexual consent issues due to the conflicting messages it conveys. It is a landmark decision in holding that (a) the child's right to freedom from sexual exploitation means that all children, including those over the age of 16 years, have no legal capacity to consent to sexual intercourse with adults; (b) the limitation of the rights of over-16s to be protected from sexual exploitation is not reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society; and (c) the Criminal Law Code, in criminalising predominantly extra-marital sex with under-16s, perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children already in marriages. Conversely, the case is also a missed opportunity in failing to (a) declare invalid and unconstitutional legislative provisions that stipulate that children aged 12 to 14 years are capable of consenting to sex with adults in certain circumstances; (b) explicitly hold that the physical appearance of a child should not be a partial defence to any sexual offence committed on a child; (c) fully address the way in which sexual relationships between adolescents should be regulated; and (d) require the state to liberalise access to SRHR information and services to all adolescents who have reached the age of puberty to protect and empower sexually-active adolescents before they reach the age of sexual consent. While these gaps have been partially addressed by the Criminal Laws (Protection of Young Persons) Amendment Act, 2024, some have been re-enacted, thereby retaining the legal position that existed before the Court's decision.
Specific (first) PCR of the Leeselab 2-step PCR protocol v1
Authors: Werner Marie-Thérése , Buchner Dominik
Published: February 2025

This protocol describes how to perform the specific first step of the Leeselab 2-step PCR protocol in reactions. In the first PCR step, universal primers (e.g. fwhF2/fwhR2n) are used toamplify the target sequence. There are up to 24 different first-step primers individually labeled with a 4 - 6 bp tag (see table in the material section). These are used to individually tag up to 24 different 96-Well PCR Plates. In addition to the specific primer and the tag, each of the primers contains a universal overhang, which is used to further amplify the product in the second PCR. In the second step of the 2-step-PCR, each well is tagged with an individual Index (1-96) enabling the identification of each sample (well) after library sequencing.
HiChIP Protocol using Arima-HiC+ Kits v1
Authors: Schmitt Anthony
Published: February 2025

HiChIP Workflow Overview HiChIP is an experimental workflow that captures the structure (three-dimensional conformation) of genomes associated with a protein of interest. Chromatin from a sample source (e.g. cell lines) is first crosslinked to preserve the genome structure. The crosslinked chromatin is then digested using a restriction enzyme (RE) cocktail. The 5’-overhangs are then filled in with a biotinylated nucleotide. Next, spatially proximal digested ends of DNA are ligated, capturing the structure of the genome. The proximally-ligated chromatin is then sheared, bound to an antibody recognizing a protein of interest, immunoprecipitated, and purified to yield fragmented proximally-ligated DNA that was once bound in vivo to the protein of interest. The proximally-ligated DNA is subjected to a custom library preparation protocol utilizing a pre-validated commercially- available library prep kit. A separate HiChIP Library Prep user guide is provided that contains a custom protocol for enriching the proximally-ligated DNA for biotin and then converting the immunoprecipitated biotin-enriched DNA to HiChIP libraries. Sequencing and Data Analysis HiChIP libraries are sequenced via Illumina‱ sequencers in “paired-end” mode. The resulting data is referred to as HiChIP data. It is strongly recommended to process and analyze HiChIP using the publicly available tools Feather and MAPS (GitHub Link; Juric, 2019). This recommendation resulted from benchmarking analyses of computational tools for HiChIP data analysis and a collaboration to optimize the outputs of MAPS for maximum compatibility. However, other tools such as HiC-Pro (Servant, 2015) and FitHiChIP (Bhattacharyya, 2019) may also be used. All publicly available tools require usage modifications and custom input files that are specific to HiChIP data using Arima-HiC+ kits, so please carefully review. It is recommended to leverage the WashU Epigenome Browser (http://epigenomegateway.wustl.edu).
DIGITIZATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN CHINA: FROM E-GOVERNMEN TO DIGITAL GOVERNMENT
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, HUIXIA Wang
Published: February 2025

Background . In the context of the digital era, the digital transformation of China's public administration is not only a key step in the modernization of national governance, but also has a demonstration effect on global governance models. This transformation covers a number of key areas such as data flow, information capacity enhancement and decision-making optimization, marking the evolution from traditional e-government to data-driven digital government.

Purpose. This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the progress of digitization of public administration in China, especially its important role in enhancing administrative efficiency, optimizing public services, and enhancing policy transparency. The study also aims to explore how digital transformation contributes to the modernization of national governance, and how China can respond to the new challenges and opportunities brought about by digitization in the process, so as to provide lessons that can be learned globally.

Methods . This study utilizes a combination of research methods, including literature review, case study analysis and policy assessment. The theoretical framework is constructed by systematically sorting out relevant theories and empirical studies. In addition, through in-depth analysis of specific policy and practice cases, it reveals the effectiveness and problems of digitization of public administration in China.

Results. The digitization of public administration in China has achieved an important shift from e-government to digital government, a shift that has significantly improved the administrative efficiency of the government and the quality of public services. However, as the digitization process deepens, China also faces challenges such as data security, privacy protection, and digital divide. The existence of these issues may affect the effectiveness of digital transformation and need to be addressed through policy and technological innovation.

Conclusions . This paper points out that while the digital transformation of public administration in China has improved the efficiency and quality of government services, it has also brought about problems such as privacy protection and uneven distribution of resources. These problems need to be solved by strengthening laws and regulations, improving public digital literacy, and optimizing the allocation of technological resources. In the future, China needs to continue to deepen its digital transformation to achieve more efficient national governance while ensuring inclusiveness and fairness in the digitization process.
ShakeAlert® Version 3: Expected Performance in Large Earthquakes
Authors: McGuire Jeffrey J. , Ulberg Carl W. , Lux Angie I. , Böse Maren , Andrews Jennifer R. , Smith Deborah E. , Crowell Brendan W. , Murray Jessica R. , Henson Ivan , Hartog Renate , Felizardo Claude , Huynh Minh , Aranha Mario , Parker Grace A. , Baltay Annemarie , Murray Mark H. , Biasi Glenn P. , Guiwits Steve , Saunders Jessie K. , Good Andrew D. , Marcelo Santillan Victor , Scrivner Craig W. , Szeliga Walter M. , Melbourne Timothy I. , Kress Victor , de Groot Robert M. , McBride Sara K. , Given Douglas , Allen Richard M. , Heaton Thomas H. , Husker Allen , Thomas Valerie , Tobin Harold J. , Jha Sumant , Bunn Julian
Published: February 2025

The ShakeAlert earthquake early warning (EEW) system partners along with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) licensed operators deliver EEW alerts to the public and trigger automated systems when a significant earthquake is expected to impact California, Oregon, or Washington. ShakeAlert’s primary goal is to provide usable warning times before the arrival of damaging shaking. EEW is most likely to achieve this goal in large-magnitude earthquakes. In recent years, ShakeAlert has gone through a series of upgrades to its underlying scientific algorithms aimed at improved performance during large earthquakes. Version 3 of this software recently went live in the production system and includes improvements to all algorithms. The main seismic algorithms that detect an earthquake and characterize its location, magnitude, and fault rupture orientation are faster than older versions. Other key changes include: using real-time geodetic data to characterize the magnitude growth in large earthquakes; the introduction of an alert pause procedure to compromise between speed near the epicenter and improved accuracy at larger distances; and the inclusion of a nonergodic site-response model in the ground-motion predictions. ShakeAlert has achieved its primary goal of usable warning times before strong shaking at some locations in real-time operations in recent M 6 earthquakes. Using offline tests, we demonstrate usable warning times are possible for many sites with peak shaking values of modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) 7–8 in M 7+ earthquakes and also for many MMI 8–9 sites in M 8+ earthquakes. ShakeAlert partners use a variety of MMI and magnitude thresholds in deciding when to alert their users within bounds set by the USGS. Our study shows that there is room to raise the magnitude thresholds up to about M 5.5 without adversely affecting performance in large earthquakes. The ground-motion criteria are more complex owing to a significant drop-off in warning times between the MMI 4 and 5 levels of predicted shaking. However, widely used ShakeAlert products, such as the MMI 3 and 4 contour products, can provide sufficiently long warning times before strong shaking in moderate-to-great earthquakes to enable a range of protective actions.
New approaches to understanding stress concentration sensitivity in pharmaceutical powder compacts
Authors:   , Wright Joseph Robert , Zavaliangos Antonios , Li Christopher Y.
Published: February 2025

The compaction of powder to produce bulk shapes is an economical process that is used in the pharmaceutical, confectionary, and metal product industries. In this process, powder precursor materials are pressed together to form a compact or tablet. The material characteristics, press parameters, and post-processing all influence the characteristics of such products. In this work, powder compacts are examined for their sensitivity to a central hole defect, which was previously used for the brittle fracture index (BFI). Through the combination of finite element modeling (FEM) and experimental work, this work directly relates the applied stress ratio (ASR), a direct evolution of the BFI, to the internal microstructure of the powder compacts. We develop an "equivalent crack length" representative of the behavior of the compact, which is prone to fracture in many locations due to the powder particulate bonds that are distributed throughout the product. This equivalent crack is proposed as a single metric of length that can be related to the size of the powder particles, and the fracture resistance of compacts can be expressed as a function of the microstructure. This workexamines the initial development and validation of the equivalent crack length, variations in the equivalent crack length for different tablet geometries and hole manufacturing methods, and confirmation of the basis of the technique through a finite element cohesive zone implementation. The development of such a metric holds incredible value for industries that manufacture powder compacts, as the selection of specific powder materials can be performed with the ultimate fracture performance in mind. Additionally, the specific geometry important to the test is identified and allows scientists to perform direct comparisons between materials and samples.
Sample size estimation for correlated count data with changes in dispersion
Authors:   , Hou Jintong , Robinson Lucy
Published: February 2025

Power analyses for correlated count data are frequently performed in health research. Most of the existing sample size estimation methods for correlated count outcomes were developed under a specified distribution assuming the same distribution or dispersion parameter of the data across measurements and interventions. This assumption may not be flexible in estimation of sample size or power when a change of dispersion happens across measurements in randomized controlled trials or other experimental designs. Existing distributions for correlated count data in sample size estimation include the Poisson distribution, the negative binomial distribution, and the zero-inflated Poisson distribution. In this dissertation, I propose sample size estimation formulas for correlated count data when changes in dispersion occur upon intervention. First, the power and sample size formulas comparing rates before and after an intervention using the rate ratio estimator are derived, assuming the rates before and after an intervention are correlated. Second, power and sample size formulas comparing rate ratios before and after an intervention for two independent interventions are derived, when the change of dispersion occurs after the interventions. Third, empirical power and Type I errors of several estimation methods under small sample size are compared.
A machine learning-based framework for automated clinical measurements, deformity classification and prediction of post-operative outcomes in early onset scoliosis patients
Authors:   , Viraraghavan Girish , Balasubramanian Sriram
Published: February 2025

Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) is a complex spinal and thoracic deformity affecting children under 10 years of age, accounting for approximately 10% of all pediatric scoliosis cases. The etiology of EOS varies widely and can be classified into congenital, idiopathic, neuromuscular, and syndromic scoliosis. Progressive spine deformity in EOS patients leads to altered thoracic cage development, resulting in reduced thoracic size and shape, which may ultimately impair normal lung development and cause thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS). TIS can lead to complications such as pulmonary hyperplasia and premature death. The C-EOS classification system is the only available method for grouping EOS patients based on pre-operative clinical indices. However, the cut-offs for major curve (Cobb) angle and kyphosis in C-EOS are not based on a data-driven approach, highlighting the need for a more robust, data-driven method to group EOS patients using pre-operative clinical indices such as age, Cobb angle, and kyphosis. Currently, there are no machine learning (ML) based methods to predict clinical outcomes after surgical intervention for the EOS population. Management strategies for EOS rely on clinician preferences and opinions, and despite the C-EOS system's ability to organize complex EOS pathologies, there is a lack of consensus among surgeons regarding intervention age, instrumentation type, and location. Therefore, an ML-based approach is needed to predict surgical outcomes based on the type of intervention. Manual radiographic measurement of clinical indices is time-consuming and associated with significant inter-observer errors, particularly in the presence of vertebral, lung, and ribcage abnormalities in EOS patients. Automated identification of anatomical structures, such as the vertebrae and lungs, is necessary to facilitate faster and more accurate clinical measurements. This thesis presents novel automated methods for clustering EOS patients using commonly used pre-operative clinical indices and provides a web-based application for accessibility. Machine learning-based regression is employed to predict Cobb angle at three time points post-intervention: immediately post-op, 2-year post-op, and 5-year post-op. The most predictive features contributing to the prediction of post-operative Cobb angle are also identified. Furthermore, a framework for segmenting vertebrae and lungs in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and EOS patients is developed, enabling the automated measurement of clinical indices such as Cobb angle, kyphosis, and lordosis.
To Cut Up Nightingales
Authors: Güthenke Constanze
Published: February 2025

If the American “classic” is involved in the dynamic of canons, value, and style, then what is the role of Classics as a field, and of the professional classicist? I argue that with the emergence of the professional classicist came significant anxiety, particularly regarding the transformative and unsettling consequences of specialist research. By discussing ostensibly established classicists like Basil Gildersleeve or Paul Shorey alongside Helen Magill, the first American woman to receive a PhD in Classics, I aim to destabilize the center of what establishment may or may not have meant in light of a shared, unsettled preoccupation with what a professional approach to a canon and a classic could be and ought to be.
What makes an American “classic”?
Authors: Domeneghini Caterina , Barnes Claire
Published: February 2025

American “classics,” and “classic” definitions of America and its people, are often tied to an apparently inescapable, ineffable sense of greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN has resurfaced as the mantra of 2025, with the newly elected President’s promise to restore a broken nation, elevating it above time, and in defiance of his own criminal record, even above the law. The slogan echoes some of the tones, if not the politics, of the preface of Leaves of Grass (1855), when Walt Whitman wrote, “The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem…”
Reprinted Excerpt from Writing Backwards: Historical Fiction and the Reshaping of the American Canon (2023)
Authors: Manshel Alexander
Published: February 2025

Alexander Manshel talks to the editors about his first book, Writing Backwards: Historical Fiction and the Reshaping of the American Canon (Columbia University Press, 2023), part of which is reprinted here with his permission (Chapter 2: The Making of the Greatest Generation). As the author writes, the book argues that over the last forty years the American literary field has transformed to celebrate narratives of the historical past over all other literary genres. In this period, key literary institutions—from the National Endowment for the Arts to major literary prizes and university English departments—have worked to promote the idea that historical fiction is singular in its artistic seriousness, its pedagogical utility, and its political potency. This shift in literary value has gone hand in hand with the increasing recognition and canonization of Black, Asian American, Latinx, and Indigenous writers in the United States: that is, the vast majority of minoritized writers who have been consecrated by these institutions over the last four decades have been celebrated for writing about the historical past.
Opportunities and Constraints in Advancing Research Management: An Account of Ghanaian Tertiary Institutions
Authors: Barnie Bernard , Aboh Florence Antwiwaah , Adjei Kezia Gladys Amaning , Gyapong-Korsah Barbara
Published: February 2025

What is new?

The objective was to assess the opportunities that abound and constraints that militate against the advancement of Research Management (RM) in policy advancement, sufficient resources and investment and highly trained Research Managers and Administrators in Ghanaian Tertiary Institutions (GTIs).

What was the approach?

A mixed methods survey with a concurrent triangular strategy method was employed. Questionnaires and interview guides were used in gathering data and a tree-stage analysis technique was used. Data were analyzed using Stata v16 into descriptive results. Ethical approval was sought from the Committee on Human Research Publication Ethics (CHPRE) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (CHRPE/AP/453/21).

What is the academic impact?

The study showed that RM in GTIs offers opportunities to researchers and other clients through the services that research administrators and managers render. Among these services are searching funding opportunities, proposal development, interpreting the terms and conditions of grants, monitoring project budget during implementation, etc. RM is bedeviled with challenges despite efforts to navigate the RM pathway. These challenges include professional development plan, mentorship programme, technological infrastructure, and policies.

What is the wider impact?

The study established that there are RM opportunities that could be leveraged and there are factors that militate against the effective delivery of RM services in GTIs. The paper recommends a deeper appreciation and effective use of RM services, and the adoption of effective measures to address the constraints identified to maximize research output and impact in GTIs.
Integrating Multiple Control Actions in Advanced Microgrids: an Analogy to Well-Established Inverter Control
Authors: Callegari João M. S. , Araujo Lucas S. , Brandão Dener A. de L. , Cardoso Filho Braz J. , Brandão Danilo I.
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes multiple control actions applied to centralized advanced microgrids (MGs). The well-established control actions feedback (FB), feedforward (FF), and disturbance decoupling (D) commonly used in current control of distributed energy resources (DERs) are herein extended to advanced MGs. Analytical expressions are derived to show the effect of each control action on the well-established DER current control and then on advanced MG control. Comprehensive comparisons between the feedback and all control action strategies are performed for both DER and MG controls. Simulation and experimental results show a dynamic response improvement in load disturbance rejection when all control actions are considered, as well as a reduction in steady-state error for the grid power flow control. By employing low-bandwidth communication between DERs and central controller, no hardware retrofit is required in comparison to what is needed in other state-of-the-art centralized MG controls.
Dependence of the descent speed of the drilling tool on the stability of the wellbore
Authors:   Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Aliyev Alesker M.
Published: February 2025

In the context of the constant development of the oil and gas industry, special attention is paid to drilling wells to great depths. This study focuses on complex aspects related to the drilling rate and wellbore stability, examining the key factors affecting the efficiency of drilling operations. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating innovative technologies to overcome technical obstacles encountered when drilling at significant depths Drilling deep wells is a multifaceted task that requires a comprehensive approach, including careful analysis and selection of equipment, as well as the use of advanced technologies. The article examines in detail important aspects, including geological conditions that directly impact the choice of technologies and equipment for drilling deep wells. Particular attention is given to wellbore stability, which is critical to the safety and efficiency of drilling operations. Strategies for controlling lateral pressure, preventing well deviations, assessing geological conditions, and using suitable drilling fluids are explored. The challenges of drilling in turbulent conditions necessitate a unique approach to control parameters, including mud pressure, flow rate, and fluid viscosity. The role of real-time monitoring systems and the use of additives are highlighted as key elements for optimizing drilling parameters. The research's analytical approach incorporates pressure balance equations and kinematic principles to understand the movement of drilling tools in turbulent wellbores, thereby improving drilling accuracy and safety. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach, including understanding geological conditions, equipment selection, and the application of modern technologies to address wellbore stability issues and enhance drilling efficiency. This study provides a valuable contribution to the development of methodologies and strategies aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of drilling operations in the oil and gas industry.
Research of bactericide-inhibitor properties of new compositions based on gossypol resin and chloroprene
Authors:   Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Gurbanov Guseyn R. , Gasimzade Aysel V. ,   Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Alikishiyeva-Balamiyeva Samira F. ,   Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University
Published: February 2025

Five new compositions with conventional names A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-5 were prepared using different ratios of chloroprene and gossypol resin reagents, and their corrosion-inhibitory properties were investigated. The sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfomicrobium genus and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans species were employed in the study. The effects of the A-series compositions on the bacteria were observed over a 15-day period, during which concentrations of 50, 100, 150, and 200 g/t were tested. Analysis of the results from numerous experiments revealed that the A-3 composition exhibited the highest bactericidal effect among the A-series compositions. Specifically, the bactericidal effect of the A-3 composition at a concentration of 200 g/t was found to be 99%. Under laboratory conditions, the effect of the new A-series compositions on the rate of electrochemical corrosion in formation water containing hydrogen sulfide was investigated. The corrosion rate was determined using the gravimetric method over a six-hour period. Based on the determined corrosion rate, the corrosion protection effect of the new compositions was calculated. The corrosion protection effects of the tested compositions in the order A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-5 were found to be 98%, 99%, 99%, 92%, and 90%, respectively, at the optimal consumption rate of 200 g/t. Therefore, the results of numerous experiments conducted under laboratory conditions provide evidence suggesting that the A-series compositions possess corrosion-inhibitory properties.