bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of labour income on the optimal bankruptcy problem
Authors: Ding Guodong , Marazzina Daniele
Published: January 2023

In this paper we deal with the optimal bankruptcy problem for agents who can optimally allocate their consumption rate, the amount of capital invested in the risky asset, as well as their leisure time. In our framework, the agents are endowed by an initial debt, and they are required to repay their debt continuously. Declaring bankruptcy, the debt repayment is exempted at the cost of a wealth shrinkage. We implement the duality method to solve the problem analytically and conduct a sensitivity analysis to the bankruptcy cost and benefit parameters. Introducing the flexible leisure/working rate, and therefore the labour income, into the bankruptcy model, we investigate its effect on the optimal strategies.
TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibril/polyvalent cations hydrogels: a multifaceted view of network interactions and inner structure
Authors: Rossetti Arianna , Paciaroni Alessandro , Rossi Barbara , Bottari Cettina , Comez Lucia , Corezzi Silvia , Melone Lucio , Almásy László , Punta Carlo , Fiorati Andrea
Published: January 2023

In the last years, hydrogels from renewable biopolymers and low-cost row materials are a hot topic for biomedical applications. In this context, cellulose nanofibrils are considered suitable building blocks for the synthesis of many biocompatible products, with a variety of chemical-physical properties. Herein we report a multi-technique and multi-scale study, from the molecular to the nanometric length scale, of the sol–gel transition observed in aqueous solutions of TEMPO-oxidized nano-sized cellulose fibrils (TOCNFs), when in the presence of polyvalent cations (Mg2+ and Ca2+). We combine the data from Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), which provide information about the inner structure of the nanofibril, with those from UV Resonant Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy, which is a sensitive probe of the intra- and inter-molecular interactions in the gel and the liquid state. The transition between the gel and the liquid phases is investigated as a function of the concentration of both TOCNFs and cations, the nature of the latter, and the pH at which the phenomenon is observed. SANS analysis reveals that ion concentration induces an anisotropic swelling in the nanofibrils which, at the same time, become more and more flexible. The nanofibrils flexibility is also dependent on TOCNF concentration and pH value. UVRR allows us to elucidate the structural organization and hydrogen-bonding properties of water in aqueous TOCNF dispersions and gels, showing how water molecules partially lose their typical bulk-like tetrahedral organization when ions are added, and the gel phase is formed.

Graphical abstract
Development of SNP molecular markers associated with resistance to reniform nematode in soybean using KASP genotyping
Authors: Wilkes Juliet E. , Fallen Benjamin , Saski Chris , Agudelo Paula
Published: January 2023

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis, Linford and Oliveira) is a sedentary, semi-endoparasite that infects a wide range of plant hosts and is one of the top three nematode pathogens affecting soybean in the southeastern United States. Previous studies have linked resistance to reniform nematode in soybean to two quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 11 and 18. A Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) assay was designed using SNP markers within these two regions to distinguish reniform nematode-resistant soybean based on genotype. A collection of 44 soybean plant introductions with resistant phenotype to reniform nematode and 40 susceptible soybean lines were genotyped at the two target loci to validate the KASP assay design. Of the 44 observed resistant lines, two carried the susceptible genotype; PI 438489B at the locus on chromosome 18 and PI 495017C on chromosome 11. Of the 40 observed susceptible soybean lines, only 25 had the expected susceptible genotype at the loci on chromosome 18 and 13 on chromosome 11. Our KASP assay was 68% accurate in predicting the phenotype of 84 soybean accessions based on their genotype at the SNP marker on chromosome 18 and 83% accurate at chromosome 11. These results indicate a moderate correlation of soybean SNP markers GlyREN18_46 and GlyREN11_190 with reniform nematode resistance. Further research is required to improve the accuracy of KASP assays to predict soybean response to reniform nematode, particularly host susceptibility.
Black phosphorus unipolar transistor, memory, and photodetector
Authors: Kumar Arun , Viscardi Loredana , Faella Enver , Giubileo Filippo , Intonti Kimberly , Pelella Aniello , Sleziona Stephan , Kharsah Osamah , Schleberger Marika , Di Bartolomeo Antonio
Published: January 2023

We report the fabrication, electrical, and optical characterizations of few-layered black phosphorus (BP)-based field-effect transistor (FET). The fabricated device exhibits a p-type transport with hole mobility up to 175 cm2 V−1 s−1 at Vds = 1 mV. The transfer characteristics show a large hysteresis width that depends linearly on the gate voltage and decreases with the increasing drain bias. The fabricated device also ensures a non-volatile charge-trap memory behaviour, with a stable and long retention time. The material’s photodetection capabilities enhance the functionality of the device making it controllable by light. The photocurrent was observed to be linearly increasing with the light incident power and exposure time. As a photodetector, the transistor reaches a responsivity and detectivity up to 340 mA W−1 and 6.52 × 1011 Jones under white light at 80 $$\mathrm{mW}$$
mW
, respectively. Time-resolved measurements provide evidence of a long single exponential decay process through deep intra-gap states. Our results highlight the potential of a few layers BP as a nanomaterial for field-effect, memory, and optoelectronic devices.

Graphical Abstract
Words matter: how ecologists discuss managed and non-managed bees and birds
Authors: Argueta-Guzmán Magda , West Mari , Gaiarsa Marilia P. , Allen Christopher W. , Cecala Jacob M. , Gedlinske Lauren , McFrederick Quinn S. , Murillo Amy C. , Sankovitz Madison , Rankin Erin E. Wilson
Published: January 2023

Effectively promoting the stability and quality of ecosystem services involves the successful management of domesticated species and the control of introduced species. In the pollinator literature, interest and concern regarding pollinator species and pollinator health dramatically increased in recent years. Concurrently, the use of loaded terms when discussing domesticated and non-native species may have increased. As a result, pollinator ecology has inherited both the confusion associated with invasion biology’s lack of a standardized terminology to describe native, managed, or introduced species as well as loaded terms with very strong positive or negative connotations. The recent explosion of research on native bees and alternative pollinators, coupled with the use of loaded language, has led to a perceived divide between native bee and managed bee researchers. In comparison, the bird literature discusses the study of managed (poultry) and non-managed (all other birds) species without an apparent conflict with regard to the use of terms with strong connotations or sentiment. Here, we analyze word usage when discussing non-managed and managed bee and bird species in 3614 ecological and evolutionary biology papers published between 1990 and 2019. Using time series analyses, we demonstrate how the use of specific descriptor terms (such as wild, introduced, and exotic) changed over time. We then conducted co-citation network analyses to determine whether papers that share references have similar terminology and sentiment. We predicted a negative language bias towards introduced species and positive language bias towards native species. We found an association between the terminvasiveand bumble bees and we observed significant increases in the usage of more ambiguous terms to describe non-managed species, such aswild. We detected a negative sentiment associated with the research area of pathogen spillover in bumble bees, which corroborates the subjectivity that language carries. We recommend using terms that acknowledge the role of human activities on pathogen spillover and biological invasions. Avoiding the usage of loaded terms when discussing managed and non-managed species will advance our understanding and promote effective and productive communication across scientists, general public, policy makers and other stake holders in our society.
Children’s perspective on fears connected to school transition and intended coping strategies
Authors: Stiehl Katharina A. M. , Krammer Ina , Schrank Beate , Pollak Isabella , Silani Giorgia , Woodcock Kate A.
Published: January 2023

The transition from primary to secondary school comes with major changes in the lives of children. There is a shortage of in-depth analyses of young people’s perspectives concerning their fears and strategies to address these. This qualitative study aims to gain first-hand understanding of children’s fears and the intended coping strategies used during school transition. Data from 52 workshops were analysed, with a total of 896 students (M age = 10.40,SD = .839) in lower Austria. First, in the classroom setting, a vignette story about a child facing fears about school transition from primary to secondary school was developed with pupils in a brainstorming session. This was followed by self-selected small group discussions, where pupils proposed strategies to help cope with these fears. A thematic analysis was carried out. Major thematic clusters distinguished between four types of fears: peer victimisation, being alone, victimisation by authority figures, and academic failure. Three additional thematic clusters described strategies for countering the fears: enacting supportive networks, personal emotion regulation, and controlling behaviour. In addition to these connected clusters, two further themes were identified: strategy outcomes and consequences, i.e., personal experiences with using specific strategies, and the discussion of participants about contradictions and questionable usefulness of identified strategy outcomes. In conclusion, the children in our study reported more social fears as compared to academic fears. Children seem reasonably competent at naming and identifying strategies; however, maladaptive strategies, as well as controversies within the described strategies may indicate a lack of certainty and competence at engaging with these strategies on a practical level.
Bayesian Inference for an Unknown Number of Attributes in Restricted Latent Class Models
Authors: Chen Yinghan , Culpepper Steven Andrew , Chen Yuguo
Published: January 2023

The specification of the <mml:math xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mnf="http://cambridge.org/core/manifest" xmlns:cup="http://contentservices.cambridge.org" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:m="http://cambridge.org/core/metadata" xmlns:core="http://cambridge.org/core" xmlns:c="http://cambridge.org/core/content">Q\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$${\varvec{Q}}$$\end{document} matrices. However, inference of the number of attributes in the general restricted latent class model remains an open question. We propose a Bayesian framework for general restricted latent class models and use the spike-and-slab prior to avoid the computation issues caused by the varying dimensions of model parameters associated with the number of attributes, K. We develop an efficient Metropolis-within-Gibbs algorithm to estimate K and the corresponding <mml:math xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mnf="http://cambridge.org/core/manifest" xmlns:cup="http://contentservices.cambridge.org" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:m="http://cambridge.org/core/metadata" xmlns:core="http://cambridge.org/core" xmlns:c="http://cambridge.org/core/content">Q\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$${\varvec{Q}}$$\end{document} matrix simultaneously. The proposed algorithm uses the stick-breaking construction to mimic an Indian buffet process and employs a novel Metropolis–Hastings transition step to encourage exploring the sample space associated with different values of K. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method through a simulation study under different model specifications and apply the method to a real data set related to a fluid intelligence matrix reasoning test.
Entry Mode Choice: A Meta-Analysis of Antecedents and Outcomes
Authors: Wan Chenxi , Sousa Carlos M. P. , Lengler Jorge , Tan Qun
Published: January 2023

The entry mode decision is a critical topic in international business. Several studies have tested the antecedents of entry mode choices and compared the outcomes after entry. However, the results reported in these studies are contradictory and difficult to explain. Furthermore, the reviews using qualitative approaches cannot statistically combine empirical results and fail to fully discuss these relationships. Additionally, the mediating effects remain unexamined in the existing studies. Drawing upon transaction cost economics and the resource-based view, this paper presents a meta-analysis that combines entry mode choices, antecedents and post-entry outcomes to address these issues. This meta-analysis is based on 1499 effect sizes from 230 published empirical studies. This study focuses on 15 antecedents as well as post-entry performance and survival of entry mode choices. In addition to bivariate relationships (i.e. how a single antecedent affects entry mode choices), the paper uses meta-analytic structural equation modelling to analyse the mediating effects of entry mode choices on the antecedent - outcome relationship.
Stability and Physical Properties of the L12-γ′ Phase in the CoNiAlTi-System
Authors: Pyczak F. , Liang Z. , Neumeier S. , Rao Z.
Published: January 2023

There is a current interest in Co-based superalloys hardened by a L12-γ′ phase because Co has a higher melting point than Ni and is more resistant against sulfidation attack. However, the Co-Al-W system many of those γ′ hardened Co-based superalloys are based on, has a number of drawbacks. The γ′ phase Co3(Al,W) is not stable at high temperature, the density of the alloys is very high and the oxidation resistance is insufficient. Due to this, there is an ongoing interest to develop γ′-hardened Co-based superalloys based on other systems. Here, first principles calculations are presented to investigate the properties of the γ′ L12-(Co0.5,Ni0.5)3(Al0.5,Ti0.5) phase and related L12 structures. (Co0.5,Ni0.5)3(Al0.5,Ti0.5) exhibits a lower energy of formation than Co3Ti and Co3(Al0.5,W0.5). Nevertheless, Ni3(Al0.5,Ti0.5) has an even lower energy of formation which is further lowered if Ti is enriched on the second sublattice. This finding is supported by analyzing the electronic densities of states. Ni3(Al0.5,Ti0.5) and especially Ni3(Al0.25,Ti0.75) exhibit Fermi levels close to the gap between binding and antibinding states, which is an indicator for stability. In addition to the stability of the γ′-phase in dependence on Ni and Ti content, also the elastic properties were calculated. Ni3(Al0.25,Ti0.75) is less elastic anisotropic and has higher Young’s and shear modulus compared to Ni3(Al0.5,Ti0.5) and (Co0.5,Ni0.5)3(Al0.5,Ti0.5).
Biology as involving laws and inconceivable without them
Authors: Creath Richard
Published: January 2023

There is an old attempt to divide the sciences into sciences of laws and the historical sciences. More recently, John Beatty has drawn the distinction so that biology is a historical science and urged that there are no genuinely biological laws. This paper shows that there are indeed biological laws, specifically statistical ones, notably in evolutionary theory. Moreover, all or almost all other areas of biology involve laws as well. Even history involves laws. Finally, the paper shows that this pervasiveness of laws is compatible with the most basic commitments of those who, like Beatty, would claim that biology is only historical.
Exactly Solvable Quadratic Differential Equation Systems Through Generalized Inversion
Authors: Bácsi Ádám , Kocsis Albert Tihamér
Published: January 2023

We study the autonomous systems of quadratic differential equations of the form $${\dot{x}}_i(t)={\textbf{x}}(t)^T {\textbf{A}}_i {\textbf{x}}(t) + {\textbf{v}}_i^T {\textbf{x}}(t)$$

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with $${\textbf{x}}(t) = (x_1(t),$$

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which, in general, cannot be solved exactly. In the present paper, we introduce a subclass of analytically solvable quadratic systems, whose solution is realized through a multi-dimensional generalization of the inversion which transforms a quadratic system into a linear one. We provide a constructive algorithm which, on one hand, decides whether the system of differential equations is analytically solvable with the inversion transformation and, on the other hand, provides the solution. The presented results apply for arbitrary, finite number of variables.
A methodology for emotional intelligence testing in elderly people with low-cost EEG and PPG devices
Authors: Sánchez-Cifo Miguel Ángel , Montero Francisco , Lopez Maria Teresa
Published: January 2023

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a basic concept in psychology that is gaining social importance. According to Goleman, it refers to the ability to be aware of and to handle one’s emotions in varying situations. Current research indicates that EI can be improved through training, leading to an increased awareness of how we can contribute to the emotional management. In this paper, a low-cost ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG) and PhotoPlethysmoGraphy (PPG) based proposal is introduced in order to assess the level of emotional intelligence among elderly people during cognitive stimulation sessions. Twenty-five older people , who were baby boomers (people born from 1946 to 1964), were recruited during 2 months, while they participated in a cognitive stimulation program. During those months, these participants were trained in different techniques of emotional management and they learned how to use several low-cost EEG and PPG devices. They were subjected to several emotional stimulation sessions where stress and anxiety scenarios were considered. By using our proposal, different supervised learning algorithms were evaluated in order to allow emotion detection, having the Support Vector Machine (SVM) technique as the one that reached better scores. Later, our solution supports emotional intelligence test and promising outcomes were achieved.
The survival rate of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: impact of IL1RAP rs4624606, IL1RL1 rs1041973, IL-6 rs1800795, BLK rs13277113, and TIMP3 rs9621532 single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Pasvenskaite Agne , Liutkeviciene Rasa , Gedvilaite Greta , Vilkeviciute Alvita , Liutkevicius Vykintas , Uloza Virgilijus
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Results of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treatment and the 5 year survival rate of these patients remain poor. To purify therapeutic targets, investigation of new specific and prognostic blood-based markers for LSCC development is essential.

Methods

In the present study, we evaluated five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): IL1RAP rs4624606, IL1RL1 rs1041973, IL-6 rs1800795, BLK rs13277113, and TIMP3 rs9621532, and determined their associations with the patients’ 5 year survival rate. Also, we performed a detailed statistical analysis of different LSCC patients’ characteristics impact on their survival rate.

Results

Three hundred fifty-three LSCC patients and 538 control subjects were included in this study. The multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between patients’ survival rate and distribution of IL1RAP rs4624606 variants: patients carrying AT genotype at IL1RAP rs4624606 had a lower risk of death (p = 0.044). Also, it was revealed that tumor size (T) (p = 0.000), tumor differentiation grade (G) (p = 0.015), and IL1RAP rs4624606 genotype (p = 0.044) were effective variables in multivariable Cox regression analysis prognosing survival of LSCC patients. The specific-LSCC 5 year survival rate was 77%.

Conclusions

In summary, our findings indicate that the genotypic distribution of IL1RAP rs4624606 influences the 5 year survival rate of LSCC patients. The results of the present study facilitate a more complete understanding of LSCC at the biological level, thus providing the base for the identification of new specific and prognostic blood-based markers for LSCC development.
Risk factors, uncertainty, and investment decision: evidence from mutual fund flows from India
Authors: Nedumparambil Elizabeth , Bhandari Anup Kumar
Published: January 2023

Asset pricing theories provide an understanding of the risk factors that determine the price of assets. The identification of risk factors assists investors in seeking out profitable investment opportunities. The difficulty in observing how investors identify such opportunities and how they react to it has largely restricted the literature from determining the factors that matter to an investor. There is a paucity of empirical studies that give insight into the investment decision-making process of an investor. Some of the recent studies that seek to fill this gap have used mutual fund flows to infer which asset pricing model investors use. The fund flows are used as a measure of investors’ response for the identification of a positive net present value investment opportunity. These studies suggest that the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is closest to the asset pricing model used by investors in the US market. Taking this literature forward, we enquire whether investors from Indian markets exhibit a similar pattern when making investment decisions. Using the fund flows to actively managed equity schemes, we have investigated the risk factors that matter for mutual fund investors in India for the period from April 2006 to December 2019. We use alternative performance measure and then evaluate the sensitivity of fund flows to each of the performance measures. Our results suggest that investors assess the performance of competing investment opportunities based on naïve measures. Further, though uncertainty has a negative impact on fund flow, the flow–performance relation is not sensitive to the level of uncertainty.
Boosting the performance of quantum annealers using machine learning
Authors: Brence Jure , Mihailović Dragan , Kabanov Viktor V. , Todorovski Ljupčo , Džeroski Sašo , Vodeb Jaka
Published: January 2023

Noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices are spearheading the second quantum revolution. Of these, quantum annealers are the only ones currently offering real world, commercial applications on as many as 5000 qubits. The size of problems that can be solved by quantum annealers is limited mainly by errors caused by environmental noise and intrinsic imperfections of the processor. We address the issue of intrinsic imperfections with a novel error correction approach, based on machine learning methods. Our approach adjusts the input Hamiltonian to maximize the probability of finding the solution. In our experiments, the proposed error correction method improved the performance of annealing by up to three orders of magnitude and enabled the solving of a previously intractable, maximally complex problem.
Phenomic Studies on Diseases: Potential and Challenges
Authors: Ying Weihai
Published: January 2023

The rapid development of such research field as multi-omics and artificial intelligence (AI) has made it possible to acquire and analyze the multi-dimensional big data of human phenomes. Increasing evidence has indicated that phenomics can provide a revolutionary strategy and approach for discovering new risk factors, diagnostic biomarkers and precision therapies of diseases, which holds profound advantages over conventional approaches for realizing precision medicine: first, the big data of patients' phenomes can provide remarkably richer information than that of the genomes; second, phenomic studies on diseases may expose the correlations among cross-scale and multi-dimensional phenomic parameters as well as the mechanisms underlying the correlations; and third, phenomics-based studies are big data-driven studies, which can significantly enhance the possibility and efficiency for generating novel discoveries. However, phenomic studies on human diseases are still in early developmental stage, which are facing multiple major challenges and tasks: first, there is significant deficiency in analytical and modeling approaches for analyzing the multi-dimensional data of human phenomes; second, it is crucial to establish universal standards for acquirement and management of phenomic data of patients; third, new methods and devices for acquirement of phenomic data of patients under clinical settings should be developed; fourth, it is of significance to establish the regulatory and ethical guidelines for phenomic studies on diseases; and fifth, it is important to develop effective international cooperation. It is expected that phenomic studies on diseases would profoundly and comprehensively enhance our capacity in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
The Impact of China's AIIB on the World Bank
Authors: Qian Jing , Vreeland James Raymond , Zhao Jianzhi
Published: January 2023

The World Bank, under the stewardship of the United States, stands out as the global leader among international development organizations. Does China's establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) undermine this status? Examining this question, we focus on the borrowing practices of a special set of countries: the founding members of the AIIB. These founders openly defied the public preference of the United States, arguably to create a potential rival to the World Bank. Using a new causal inference method, Pang, Liu, and Xu's Dynamic Multilevel Latent Factor Model—as well as several well-known estimation models as robustness checks—we document at least a temporary decrease in the number of World Bank infrastructure projects that the developing AIIB founders have entered into. This study presents the first systematic evidence that China's AIIB could unsettle the political influence the United States has enjoyed over developing countries through its leadership of the World Bank. An important set of countries may be parting ways with the World Bank and looking to a Chinese institution for leadership in the world of development.
Effectiveness of 1 and 2 per cent acetic acid solutions in the 2-week treatment of granular myringitis
Authors: Prakairungthong S , Werawatganon T , Chantarawiwat T , Warnpeurch L , Atipas S , Thongyai K , Suvarnsit K , Limviriyakul S
Published: January 2023

Objective

Granular myringitis is characterised by de-epithelialisation of the tympanic membrane. Patients present with intermittent otorrhoea, otalgia or itching. With improper or inadequate treatment, granular myringitis could cause ear canal fibrosis and stenosis. There are no standard topical ear drops for granular myringitis. Treatments have inconsistent success rates and variable timelines. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of treating granular myringitis with 1 and 2 per cent acetic acid solutions for two weeks.

Method

This double-blind, randomised, controlled trial enrolled and randomly allocated 47 participants to 2 groups between October 2021 and June 2022.

Results

After two weeks, the groups’ treatment success rates did not differ significantly. There was a 10 per cent recurrence rate 8 weeks after treatment completion. All patients tolerated the diluted vinegar.

Conclusion

There is no difference in the efficacy of 1 and 2 per cent diluted vinegar in treating granular myringitis for two weeks.
A machine learning model for predicting the three-year survival status of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma using multiple parameters
Authors: Li Z , Ding S , Zhong Q , Fang J , Huang J , Huang Z , Zhang Y
Published: January 2023

Objective

This study aimed to establish a model for predicting the three-year survival status of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma using artificial intelligence algorithms.

Method

Data from 295 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were analysed retrospectively. Training sets comprised 70 per cent of the data and test sets the remaining 30 per cent. A total of 22 clinical parameters were included as training features. In total, 12 different types of machine learning algorithms were used for model construction. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and Cohen's kappa co-efficient were used to evaluate model performance.

Results

The XGBoost algorithm achieved the best model performance. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and kappa value of the model were 80.9 per cent, 92.6 per cent, 62.9 per cent, 77.7 per cent and 58.1 per cent, respectively.

Conclusion

This study successfully identified a machine learning model for predicting three-year survival status for patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that can offer a new prognostic evaluation method for the clinical treatment of these patients.
A scoping review of the conceptualisations of food justice
Authors: Murray Sandra , Gale Fred , Adams David , Dalton Lisa
Published: January 2023

Objective:

The emerging concept of ‘food justice’ describes a social movement and a set of principles. It align with the goals of social justice, demanding recognition of human rights, equal opportunity, fair treatment and is participatory and community specific. The aim of this study was to investigate the conceptualisation of food justice and to explore how community participation is positioned in food justice scholarship.

Design:

A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted using the term ‘food justice’. This study used a five-step scoping review protocol. The databases included Scopus, Web of Science and Medline (OVID). Data were extracted on country of origin, research discipline, study type and conceptualisations of food justice. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify the themes.

Results:

The search identified 546 abstracts of which ninety peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified five themes of food justice across these ninety studies: (1) social equity, (2) food security, (3) food systems transformation, (4) community participation and agency and (5) environmental sustainability.

Conclusions:

Current conceptualisations of food justice are evolving. Together, these five themes, using the term food justice, embrace a more holistic and structural view of the food system. They emphasise healthy, sustainable and equitable food as a human right and acknowledge the need to address structural barriers to that right. Community participation and agency in food justice decision-making is critical for transformative change towards a healthy, sustainable, and more just food system.
Evaluation of electrical and mechanical Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) management in cucumber, peanut, and sweetpotato
Authors: Moore Levi D. , Jennings Katherine M. , Monks David W. , Boyette Michael D. , Leon Ramon G. , Jordan David L. , Ippolito Stephen J. , Blankenship Colton D. , Chang Patrick
Published: January 2023

Field studies were conducted to assess the efficacy of physical weed management of Palmer amaranth management in cucumber, peanut, and sweetpotato. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 4 factorial in which the first factor included a treatment method of electrical, mechanical, or hand-roguing Palmer amaranth control and the second factor consisted of treatments applied when Palmer amaranth was approximately 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, or 1.2 m above the crop canopy. Four wk after treatment (WAT), the electrical applications controlled Palmer amaranth at least 27 percentage points more than the mechanical applications when applied at the 0.3- and 0.6-m timings. At the 0.9- and 1.2-m application timings 4 WAT, electrical and mechanical applications controlled Palmer amaranth by at most 87%. Though hand removal generally resulted in the greatest peanut pod count and total sweetpotato yield, mechanical and electrical control resulted in similar yield to the hand-rogued plots, depending on the treatment timing. With additional research to provide insight into the optimal applications, there is potential for electrical control and mechanical control to be used as alternatives to hand removal. Additional studies were conducted to determine the effects of electrical treatments on Palmer amaranth seed production and viability. Treatments consisted of electricity applied to Palmer amaranth at first visible inflorescence, 2 wk after first visible inflorescence (WAI) or 4 WAI. Treatments at varying reproductive maturities did not reduce the seed production immediately after treatment. However, after treatment, plants primarily died and ceased maturation, reducing seed production assessed at 4 WAI by 93% and 70% when treated at 0 and 2 WAI, respectively. Treatments did not have a negative effect on germination or seedling length.
Die Wahrnehmung weiten
Authors: Reckhenrich Jörg , Nebelung Marlen
Published: January 2023

Zusammenfassung. Wie gelangen wir in komplexen Situationen durch präzise Wahrnehmung zu schlüssigen Aussagen? Die vorgestellte Methode „Coaching vor Kunst“ bietet dafür einen systematischen Ansatz. Neben der schrittweisen Beschreibung der Methode und der neurowissenschaftlichen Verortung werden abschließend vier konkrete Anwendungssituationen im Kontext der Pflegeberufe vorgestellt.
Distinct coordination patterns integrate exploratory head movements with whole-body movement patterns during walking
Authors: van Andel Steven , Schmidt Andreas R. , Federolf Peter A.
Published: January 2023

Visual guidance of gait is an important skill for everyday mobility. While this has often been studied using eye-tracking techniques, recent studies have shown that visual exploration involves more than just the eye; head movement and potentially the whole body is involved for successful visual exploration. This study aimed to assess coordinative patterns associated with head movement and it was hypothesized that these patterns would span across the body, rather than being localized. Twenty-one (after exclusions) healthy young adult volunteers followed a treadmill walking protocol designed to elicit different types of head movements (no stimuli compared to stimuli requiring horizontal, vertical, and mixed gaze shifts). Principal Component Analysis was used to establish whole-body correlated patterns of marker movement (Principal Movements; PMs) related to the activity of the head. In total 37 higher order PMs were found to be associated with head movement, two of these showed significant differences between trials associated with strong head rotations in the horizontal and sagittal plane. Both of these were associated with a whole-body pattern of activity. An analysis of the higher order components revealed that exploratory head movements are associated with distinct movement patterns, which span across the body. This shows that visual exploration can produce whole-body movement patterns that have a potentially destabilizing influence. These findings shed new light on established results in visual search research and hold relevance for fall and injury prevention.
Racial disparities in breast cancer treatment patterns and treatment related adverse events
Authors: Stabellini Nickolas , Cullen Jennifer , Cao Lifen , Shanahan John , Hamerschlak Nelson , Waite Kristin , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill S. , Montero Alberto J.
Published: January 2023

The main objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive analysis and provide a race-stratified epidemiological report accounting for differences in treatment patterns and treatment related adverse events in Non-Hispanic women with breast cancer (BC). The cohort included women ≥ 18 years diagnosed with in-situ, early-stage, and late-stage BC (2005–2022). Treatment patterns included: surgery, breast radiation, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or biologic therapy. Treatment related adverse events were: chemotherapy complications, cardiovascular toxicities, immune-related adverse events, psychological affectations, or cognitive decline/dementia. The influence of race on the outcomes was measured via Cox proportional-hazards models. We included 17,454 patients (82% non-Hispanic Whites [NHW]). Most of the patients had a Charlson Comorbidity Score between 1 and 2 (68%), and TNM stage I (44.5%). Surgery was performed in 51.5% of the cases, while 30.6% received radiotherapy, 26.4% received chemotherapy, 3.1% received immunotherapy, and 41.2% received endocrine therapy. Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) had a lower probability of undergoing breast cancer surgery (aHR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.97) and of being prescribed endocrine therapy (aHR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.79–0.89), but a higher probability of receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (aHR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.29–1.52). Moreover, NHBs had lower risk of being diagnosed with psychological issues (aHR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.63–0.80) but a higher risk for cognitive decline/dementia (aHR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.08–1.56). In conclusion, NHB women diagnosed with BC were less likely than NHW to undergo curative intent surgery or receive endocrine therapy, and had a higher risk of cognitive decline/dementia after cancer treatment. Public policy measures are urgently needed which equalize access to quality healthcare for all patients and that promote a learning healthcare system which can improve cancer outcomes.
Schooling behavior driven complexities in a fear-induced prey–predator system with harvesting under deterministic and stochastic environments
Authors: Sk Nazmul , Pal Samares
Published: January 2023

The well-being of humans is closely linked to the well-being of species in any ecosystem, but the relationship between humans and nature has changed over time as societies have become more industrialized. In order to ensure the future of our ecosystems, we need to protect our planet’s biodiversity. In this work, a prey–predator model with fear dropping prey’s birth as well as death rates and nonlinear harvesting, is investigated. In addition, we consider that the consumption rate of predators, i.e., the functional response, is dependent on schooling behavior of both species. We have investigated the local stability of the equilibrium points and different types of bifurcations, such as transcritical, saddle-node, Hopf and Bogdanov–Takens (BT). We find that consumption rate of predator, fear and harvesting effort give complex dynamics in the neighbourhood of BT-points. Harvesting effort has both stabilizing and destabilizing effects. There is bistability between coexistence and predator-free equilibrium points in the system. Further, we have studied the deterministic model in fluctuating environment. Simulation results of stochastic system includes time series solutions of one simulation run and corresponding phase portraits. Notably, several simulation runs are conducted to obtain time series solutions, histograms, and stationary distributions. Our findings exhibit that during stochastic processes, model species fluctuate around some average values of the deterministic steady-state for lower environmental disturbances. However, higher values of environmental disturbances lead the species to extinction.
Rapid prototyping for high-pressure microfluidics
Authors: Rein Carlie , Toner Mehmet , Sevenler Derin
Published: January 2023

Soft lithography has permitted rapid prototyping of precise microfluidic features by patterning a deformable elastomer such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with a photolithographically patterned mold. In microfluidics applications where the flexibility of PDMS is a drawback, a variety of more rigid materials have been proposed. Compared to alternatives, devices fabricated from epoxy and glass have superior mechanical performance, feature resolution, and solvent compatibility. Here we provide a detailed step-by-step method for fabricating rigid microfluidic devices from soft lithography patterned epoxy and glass. The bonding protocol was optimized yielding devices that withstand pressures exceeding 500 psi. Using this method, we demonstrate the use of rigid high aspect ratio spiral microchannels for high throughput cell focusing.
Forensic Practice
Authors: Rankin Brian
Published: January 2023

Forensic science in its simplest definition is the application of science within a legal framework. Further definitions are explored in this chapter as forensic science continues to grow and incorporate additional sciences and approaches. Forensic science is the independent input to an investigation and the unbiased input to the court. However, no matter how valuable this application is, be it at the scene, in the lab, providing intelligence, its input to the courts, position within the justice system in terms of public sector – mainly police forces or private sector with commercial providers – the industry has been subjected to many changes over the last 25 years. Questions and debate on how forensic science should be paid for, who should pay, how do we use forensic science to keep ahead of the perpetrators of crime and enable innovation, are all aspects touched upon in this chapter and will no doubt continue to be debated for years to come. What is forensic science, who delivers it and what changes have taken place since the previous edition of this book will be discussed.
Forensic Entomology
Authors: Gennard Dorothy
Published: January 2023

In legal cases forensic entomology is often valuable and potentially the only means of identifying the post-mortem interval of a dead human or animal, where time-of-death determination is beyond the time frame in which the forensic pathologist can operate. It also provides a means of determining the time since colonisation or infestation of a product or location, which is valuable in civil cases where food contamination or nuisance is alleged. Forensic entomology can additionally provide a means of determining the length of time an individual, human or animal has been neglected or abused and as a result is infested with insects, mites, lice, or ticks. The insect or indeed arthropod life cycle, and its ecology combined with how environmental conditions influence insect growth, provides information which allows evidential interpretation of crimes – both civil and criminal. Flies are the most frequent initial coloniser, especially where the body has been left or hidden on land. It is their life cycles which have been most comprehensively researched by forensic entomologists. Recent studies have focussed on differences in fly ecology due to geography and also the development of new identification techniques. Such developments, together with attempts to refine the current methods used to determine the post-mortem interval, and the use of other arthropods besides flies to solve crimes, have provided further insights into determining the time of death of an individual. This has strengthened the discipline.
Trace and Contact Evidence
Authors: Coyle Tiernan
Published: January 2023

Trace evidence is ubiquitous because it comes from the environment in which we interact as part of our daily lives. Although the environment in which we interact is populated by manufactured materials supplied at the transient whims of the global manufacturing economy, our behaviour as human beings remains highly individual. The strength of trace evidence—its value to the court—lies in being able to put the finding of these materials into the context of human behaviour. It is largely for this reason that a DNA-style statistic is not the appropriate means to express the strength of trace evidence in the court room. This chapter deals with the principles shared by all types of particulate trace evidence, focusing on the types most commonly examined in forensic science laboratories, typically fibres and glass. Laboratory processes are described, and some case studies are presented to illustrate particular points.
Review of the use of Fibrous Contractile Ionic Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in Smart Materials and Artificial Muscles
Authors: Shahinpoor Mohsen
Published: January 2023

Chapter 5 reviews contractile ionic polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers as smart materials and artificial muscles. PAN fibers in an active form (PAN or PAN gel modified by annealing/cross-linking and partial hydrolysis) elongate and contract when immersed in pH solutions (caustic and acidic solutions, respectively). Activated PAN fibers can also contract and expand in polyelectrolyte when electrically and ionically activated with cations and anions, respectively. The change in length of these pH-activated fibers is typically greater than 100%. However, more than 900% contraction/expansion of PAN nanofibers (less than 1 micron in diameter) has been observed in the laboratories. PAN muscles present great potential as artificial muscles for linear actuation. The basic unit of commercially available PAN fibers (Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Japan, Orlon or artificial silk) that can be handled properly from an engineering point-of-view is a “single strand”. One PAN strand consists of approximately two thousand filaments. The typical diameter of each filament is approximately 10 μm in the raw state and 30 μm in the fully elongated state (gel). The advantages of PAN fibers among other electrolyte gels are that PAN fiber gels have good mechanical properties, which can be compared to those of mammalian biological muscles. The large volume change of PAN fiber gels also allows the reduction in the size of the gel, which is an important factor in determining the response time. PAN fibers can convert chemical energy directly into mechanical motion. Based on ion diffusion theory, the response time of swelling will be proportional to the square of the gel fiber diameter. Surface/volume ratio also affects the response time. Note that such pH-induced contraction–expansion of modified PAN fibers can also be induced electrically in a chemical cell by electrolysis and production of H+ and OH− ions.