bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tacking by conjunction, genuine confirmation and convergence to certainty
Authors: Schurz Gerhard
Published: July 2022

Tacking by conjunction is a well-known problem for Bayesian confirmation theory. In the first section, disadvantages of existing Bayesian solution proposals to this problem are pointed out and an alternative solution proposal is presented: that of genuine confirmation (GC). In the second section, the notion of GC is briefly recapitulated and three versions of GC are distinguished: full (qualitative) GC, partial (qualitative) GC and quantitative GC. In the third section, the application of partial GC to pure post-facto speculations is explained. In the fourth section it is demonstrated that full GC is a necessary condition for Bayesian convergence to certainty based on the accumulation of conditionally independent pieces of evidence. It is found that whenever a hypothesis is equivalent to a disjunction of more fine-grained hypotheses conveying different probabilities to the evidence, then conditional independence of the evidence fails. This failure occurs typically for unspecific negations of hypotheses. A refined version of the convergence to certainty theorem that overcomes this difficulty is developed in the final section.
Standardization of an in vitro assay matrix to assess cytotoxicity of organic nanocarriers: a pilot interlaboratory comparison
Authors: Eder Kai Moritz , Marzi Anne , Wågbø Ane Marit , Vermeulen Jolanda P. , de la Fonteyne-Blankestijn Liset J. J. , Rösslein Matthias , Ossig Rainer , Klinkenberg Geir , Vandebriel Rob J. , Schnekenburger Jürgen
Published: July 2022

Nanotechnologies such as nanoparticles are established components of new medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The use and distribution of these materials increases the requirement for standardized evaluation of possible adverse effects, starting with a general cytotoxicity screening. The Horizon 2020 project “Regulatory Science Framework for Nano(bio)material-based Medical Products and Devices (REFINE)” identified in vitro cytotoxicity quantification as a central task and first step for risk assessment and development for medical nanocarriers. We have performed an interlaboratory comparison on a cell-assay matrix including a kinetic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release cell death and WST-8 cell viability assay adapted for testing organic nanocarriers in four well-characterized cell lines of different organ origins. Identical experiments were performed by three laboratories, namely the Biomedical Technology Center (BMTZ) of the University of Münster, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry (SINTEF), and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) of the Netherlands according to new standard operating procedures (SOPs). The experiments confirmed that LipImage™ 815 lipidots® are non-cytotoxic up to a concentration of 128 µg/mL and poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) nanoparticles for drug delivery of cytostatic agents caused dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on the cell lines starting from 8 µg/mL. PACA nanoparticles loaded with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) cabazitaxel showed a less pronounced dose-dependent effect with the lowest concentration of 2 µg/mL causing cytotoxic effects. The mean within laboratory standard deviation was 4.9% for the WST-8 cell viability assay and 4.0% for the LDH release cell death assay, while the between laboratory standard deviation was 7.3% and 7.8% for the two assays, respectively. Here, we demonstrated the suitability and reproducibility of a cytotoxicity matrix consisting of two endpoints performed with four cell lines across three partner laboratories. The experimental procedures described here can facilitate a robust cytotoxicity screening for the development of organic nanomaterials used in medicine.

Graphical abstract
The Ethics of AI Ethics. A Constructive Critique
Authors: Heilinger Jan-Christoph
Published: July 2022

The paper presents an ethical analysis and constructive critique of the current practice of AI ethics. It identifies conceptual substantive and procedural challenges and it outlines strategies to address them. The strategies include countering the hype and understanding AI as ubiquitous infrastructure including neglected issues of ethics and justice such as structural background injustices into the scope of AI ethics and making the procedures and fora of AI ethics more inclusive and better informed with regard to philosophical ethics. These measures integrate the perspective of AI justice into AI ethics, strengthening its capacity to provide comprehensive normative orientation and guidance for the development and use of AI that actually improves human lives and living together.
Growing research groves to visualize young students’ learning in small groups
Authors: Knox Joanne , Kontorovich Igor’
Published: July 2022

This paper stems from calls for methodological advancement in two areas of research: primary mathematics education and dialogical education. We respond to these calls from the commognitive standpoint by introducing the Grove of Realizations as a tool for capturing and visualizing individual students’ learning through collaborative work in small groups. We focus on a group of four students from a New Zealand Year 4 class (aged 8 and 9 years old), as they classified odd and even numbers and reasoned about their sums. This data is used to present the analytical affordances of the tool for (i) visualizing gaps in communication between group members, (ii) mapping their discursive development, and (iii) showing whether and how gaps are bridged within a group. The paper concludes with the discussion of the tool’s affordances and directions for further development.
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential of natural bioactive pigment: astaxanthin
Authors: Patil Apurva D. , Kasabe Pramod J. , Dandge Padma B.
Published: July 2022

Astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione) is an orange-red, lipophilic keto-carotenoid pigment. It is majorly found in marine ecosystems particularly in aquatic animals such as salmon, shrimp, trout, krill, crayfish, and so on. It is also synthesized in microalgae Heamatococcus pluvialis, Chlorococcum, Chlorella zofingiensis, red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma and bacterium Paracoccus carotinifaciens. Some aquatic and terrestrial creatures regarded as a primary and secondary sources of the astaxanthin producing and accumulating it through their metabolic pathways. Astaxanthin is the powerful antioxidant, nutritional supplement as well as promising therapeutic compound, observed to have activities against different ravaging diseases and disorders. Researchers have reported remarkable bioactivities of astaxanthin against major non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, and immune disorders. The current review discusses some structural aspects of astaxanthin. It further elaborates its multiple potencies such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-cancer, anti-obese, anti-diabetic, anti-ageing, anti-TB, anti-viral, anti-COVID 19, neuro-protective, nephro-protective, and fertility-enhancing properties. These potencies make it a more precious entity in the preventions as well as treatments of prevalent systematic diseases and/or disorders. Also, the review is acknowledging and documenting its powerful bioactivities in relation with the pharmaceutical as well as nutraceutical applicability.

Graphical Abstract
Fissure sealing and caries development in Norwegian children
Authors: Sæthre-Sundli H. B. , Løken S. Y. , Wang N. J. , Wigen T. I.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To explore the use of fissure sealing as a caries preventive method by describing characteristics of children who had received sealants and to study associations between sealing and caries prevalence at 12 years of age.

Methods

The study included 3075 children examined at 5 and 12 years of age. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaire to parents. The questionnaire provided information on child characteristics and oral health behaviour in children at 5 years of age. Data on sealing and caries prevalence were obtained from dental records. Bi- and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. The Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics approved the study (2.200.54 and 2013/1881).

Results

Of the children, 12% had received sealants on permanent teeth before 12 years of age. Children with dentin caries at 5 years of age (OR 2.0, CI 1.5–2.7) had a higher probability of having received sealants than children without caries. Having sealants (OR 2.8, CI 2.2–3.6), enamel caries (OR 1.5, CI 1.2–1.9), dentin caries (OR 2.9, CI 2.3–3.6) and using fluoride lozenges less than daily (OR 1.5, CI 1.3–1.8) at 5 years of age were associated with having dentin caries prevalence at 12 years of age.

Conclusion

Few children had received fissure sealing. Although sealing was used as a caries preventive method in children who had experienced caries in primary teeth, these children continued developing caries in their permanent teeth.
A review of numerical modelling and optimisation of the floating support structure for offshore wind turbines
Authors: Faraggiana Emilio , Giorgi Giuseppe , Sirigu Massimo , Ghigo Alberto , Bracco Giovanni , Mattiazzo Giuliana
Published: July 2022

Compared to onshore wind power, floating offshore wind power is a promising renewable energy source due to higher wind speeds and larger suitable available areas. However, costs are still too high compared to onshore wind power. In general, the economic viability of offshore wind technology decreases with greater water depth and distance from shore. Floating wind platforms are more competitive compared to fixed offshore structures above a certain water depth, but there is still great variety and no clear design convergence. Therefore, optimisation of the floating support structure in the preliminary phase of the design process is still of great importance, often up to personal experience and sensibility. It is fundamental that a suitable optimisation approach is chosen to obtain meaningful results at early development stages. This review provides a comparative overview of the methods, numerical tools and optimisation approaches that can be used with respect to the conceptual design of the support structure for Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) attempting to detail the limitations preventing the convergence to an optimal floating support structure. This work is intended to be as a reference for any researcher and developer that would like to optimise the support platform for FOWT.
The Evaluation of Biocompatibility, Elemental Composition and Surface Analysis of Retrieved Infra-zygomatic Screws
Authors: Singh Amoli , Shetty Siddarth , Kotian Ravindra , Rao Padmalatha , Pais Mikitha
Published: July 2022

The study aimed to assess the alterations in the morphology, elemental composition, and biocompatibility of infra-zygomatic crest (IZC) miniscrews, before and after their insertion in the patient’s oral cavity. The study was conducted on 16 IZC miniscrews (8 as-received and 8 retrieved). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the miniscrew surfaces. Micrographs were obtained at ×50, ×100, and ×500 magnification. The miniscrews were subjected to Energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis to investigate the elemental composition. It was performed at four zones of each miniscrew- head, neck, body, tip. Corrosion of the miniscrews was analyzed through the potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) test by immersing the stainless steel (SS) miniscrews in an artificial saliva medium (pH 5.8) and then allowing it to obtain a steady-state open-circuit potential (OCP) for 15 min. Gingival fibroblasts were cultured using gingival tissue which was used to check the biocompatibility of the miniscrews by observing their proliferation and viability by MTT colorimetric assay. The SEM analysis showed generalized surface dullness, variable corrosion, craters, and blunting in the retrieved miniscrews. EDX analyses showed the deposition of additional elements: carbon, oxygen, calcium, and nitrogen in the retrieved miniscrews. PDP tests showed a higher corrosion rate in the retrieved miniscrews, but the results were not significant. The MTT assay showed that the cell viability was higher in the as-received group and the results were statistically significant with apvalue of 0.002. It was concluded that the retrieved miniscrews exhibited morphologic surface changes in the form of dullness, blunting of threads and tips, corrosion, craters, and cracks which were not seen in the as-received miniscrews. A higher percentage of adsorbed elements were seen on the retrieved miniscrew surface. The corrosion rate assessed through the PDP test for both groups was comparable. The fibroblast cell viability was significantly reduced in the retrieved miniscrews when compared to as-received miniscrews.
Calabi–Yau 3-folds of Picard number 2 with hypersurface Cox rings
Authors: Mauz Christian
Published: July 2022

We classify all smooth Calabi–Yau threefolds of Picard number two that have a general hypersurface Cox ring.
Selection, Optimization, and Compensation Strategies and Within-Day Changes in Occupational Well-Being
Authors: Moghimi Darya , Scheibe Susanne , Zacher Hannes
Published: July 2022

According to the selection, optimization, compensation (SOC) model, employees can actively influence their well-being. However, associations could differ at the within- and between-person levels. Considering SOC strategies as dynamic processes that unfold during a workday, we hypothesized that selection-focused strategies are related to decreased work fatigue, whereas pursuit-focused strategies are related to increased work fatigue at the end of the work day. We further hypothesized that preference-based strategies are related to increased job satisfaction, whereas loss-based strategies are related to decreased job satisfaction at the end of a workday. We tested these hypotheses with a sample of 244 employees who completed twice-daily measurements over ten consecutive work days. Day-level results of multi-level analyses showed that, controlling for morning levels of workload and autonomy, loss-based selection was positively related to changes in work fatigue. Optimization and compensation were positively related to changes in job satisfaction, whereas loss-based selection was negatively related to changes in job satisfaction. At the person-level, loss-based selection was associated with higher work fatigue, and optimization with higher job satisfaction. In supplemental analyses, we found little evidence for reversed relationships. Results suggest that links exist between SOC strategies and within-day changes in occupational well-being, yet the direction of effects differs between strategies.
Discrete-Variable-Thrust Guidance for Orbital Rendezvous Based on Feedback Linearization
Authors: Napoli I. , Pontani M.
Published: July 2022

This research is focused on the analysis, design, and numerical testing of a feedback guidance algorithm for autonomous (unmanned) close-range maneuvering of a chaser spacecraft, in the context of orbital rendezvous with a target vehicle. The relative dynamics of the two vehicles, placed in nearby low Earth orbits, is modeled using the nonlinear Battin–Giorgi equations of relative motion, with the inclusion of all the relevant perturbations, i.e. several harmonics of the geopotential, atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure, and third body gravitational pull due to Moon and Sun. Unlike several former contributions in the scientific literature, this research considers the orbit perturbing actions on both vehicles, proving that this is crucial for a successful maneuver. Feedback linearization provides the theoretical foundation for the definition and development of a guidance algorithm that is capable of driving the chaser vehicle toward the target spacecraft. Moreover, discrete-variable thrust is considered, and an effective modulation scheme is proposed that includes adaptation of the control gains. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the guidance technique at hand is effective and accurate in driving the chaser spacecraft toward the target vehicle, in the presence of orbit perturbations and unpredictable displacements from the nominal initial conditions.
Beyond cost reduction: improving the value of energy storage in electricity systems
Authors: Parzen Maximilian , Neumann Fabian , Van Der Weijde Adriaan H. , Friedrich Daniel , Kiprakis Aristides
Published: July 2022

From a macro-energy system perspective, an energy storage is valuable if it contributes to meeting system objectives, including increasing economic value, reliability and sustainability. In most energy systems models, reliability and sustainability are forced by constraints, and if energy demand is exogenous, this leaves cost as the main metric for economic value. Traditional ways to improve storage technologies are to reduce their costs; however, the cheapest energy storage is not always the most valuable in energy systems. Modern techno-economical evaluation methods try to address the cost and value situation but do not judge the competitiveness of multiple technologies simultaneously. This paper introduces the ‘market potential method’ as a new complementary valuation method guiding innovation of multiple energy storage. The market potential method derives the value of technologies by examining common deployment signals from energy system model outputs in a structured way. We apply and compare this method to cost evaluation approaches in a renewables-based European power system model, covering diverse energy storage technologies. We find that characteristics of high-cost hydrogen storage can be more valuable than low-cost hydrogen storage. Additionally, we show that modifying the freedom of storage sizing and component interactions can make the energy system 10% cheaper and impact the value of technologies. The results suggest looking beyond the pure cost reduction paradigm and focus on developing technologies with suitable value approaches that can lead to cheaper electricity systems in future.

Graphical Abstract
Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal) seeds: A review on nutritional properties and health benefits
Authors: Bhadkaria Amita , Narvekar Dakshita Tanaji , Gupta Neha , Khare Akanksha , Bhagyawant Sameer Suresh
Published: July 2022

Ensuing protein malnutrition in developing countries, an affordable protein food source needs to be distinguished. Fabaceae family accommodate moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia L.) as its one of the important members that ascertains exceptional nutritional composition. Moth bean is a drought-tolerant food legume of the tropics. Seeds of moth bean serve abundant food protein source besides carbohydrate, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Additionally, the level of antioxidant and polyphenol contents in moth bean seeds are substantial. Moth bean legume has several health benefits capable of preventing cardiac diseases, diabetes and obesity to humans, if consumed regularly. This review address nutritional bioavailability and associated health benefits in the seeds of moth bean.
The Enclosure of Knowledge
Authors: Fisher James D.
Published: July 2022

The rise of agrarian capitalism in Britain is usually told as a story about markets, land and wages. The Enclosure of Knowledge reveals that it was also about books, knowledge and expertise. It argues that during the early modern period, farming books were a key tool in the appropriation of the traditional art of husbandry possessed by farm workers of all kinds. It challenges the dominant narrative of an agricultural 'enlightenment', in which books merely spread useful knowledge, by showing how codified knowledge was used to assert greater managerial control over land and labour. The proliferation of printed books helped divide mental and manual labour to facilitate emerging social divisions between labourers, managers and landowners. The cumulative effect was the slow enclosure of customary knowledge. By synthesising diverse theoretical insights, this study opens up a new social history of agricultural knowledge and reinvigorates long-term histories of knowledge under capitalism.
Frances Power Cobbe
Authors: Stone Alison
Published: July 2022

This Element introduces the philosophy of Frances Power Cobbe (1822-1904), a very well-known moral theorist, advocate of animal welfare and women's rights, and critic of Darwinism and atheism in the Victorian era. After locating Cobbe's achievements within nineteenth-century British culture, this Element examines her duty-based moral theory of the 1850s and then her 1860s accounts of duties to animals, women's rights, and the mind and unconscious thought. From the 1870s, in critical response to Darwin's evolutionary ethics, Cobbe put greater moral weight on the emotions, especially sympathy. She now criticised atheism for undermining morality, emphasised women's duties to develop virtues of character, and recommended treating animals with sympathy and compassion. The Element links Cobbe's philosophical arguments to her campaigns for women's rights and against vivisection, brings in critical responses from her contemporaries, explains how she became omitted from the history of philosophy, and shows the lasting importance of her work.
The Coal Trap
Authors: Van Nostrand James M.
Published: July 2022

Between 2009 and 2019, West Virginian politicians aligned themselves with the interests of the coal industry to the substantial detriment of the citizens and economy of the state. Despite the undeniable low-carbon transformation that was occurring in the energy industry in the US during this period, state political leaders doubled down on coal. Rather than provide the leadership necessary to manage the transition of the state's economic drivers away from fossil fuels, they largely blamed the demise of the coal industry on the federal government. At every turn, the interests of the coal industry were placed above the economic and environmental health of West Virginians. James Van Nostrand tells the story of why West Virginia now faces overwhelming obstacles to competing in the economic marketplace of the twenty-first century. The book serves as a warning of how a fair energy transition can be derailed by political failure.
Correspondence of Richardson's Final Years (1755–1761)
Authors: Richardson Samuel
Published: July 2022

Samuel Richardson (1689–1761) was a prominent eighteenth-century printer and businessman as well as an important and influential English novelist. He was also a prolific letter writer. This volume in the first ever full edition of Richardson's correspondence offers a fascinating glimpse of the writer in his final years - at the height of his professional powers but facing the challenging circumstances of physical decline and commercial conflict. The collection of miscellaneous letters addresses a variety of issues ranging from details of Richardson's printing operation to his mentorship of women writers including Sarah Fielding, Anna Meades and Frances Sheridan. Other correspondents of note include Samuel Johnson, Meta Klopstock, Thomas Sheridan and Tobias Smollett. Taken together this series of letters draws an intimate picture of Richardson's professional and personal circles as they exchange family gossip, business advice, literary anecdotes and news of the day.
High levels of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis: Implications for hospital-based antibiotic stewardship in Sierra Leone
Authors: Lakoh Sulaiman , Kanu Joseph Sam , Conteh Sarah K. , Russell James B.W. , Sevalie Stephen , Williams Christine Ellen Elleanor , Barrie Umu , Kabia Aminata Kadie , Conteh Fatmata , Jalloh Mohamed Boie , Deen Gibrilla F. , Kabba Mustapha S. , Lebbie Aiah , Kamara Ibrahim Franklyn , Fofanah Bobson Derrick , Maruta Anna , Kallon Christiana , Sahr Foday , Samai Mohamed , Adekanmbi Olukemi , Yi Le , Guo Xuejun , Kamara Rugiatu Z. , Jiba Darlinda F. , Okeibunor Joseph Chukwudi , Yendewa George A. , Firima Emmanuel
Published: July 2022

Objective:

Despite the impact of inappropriate prescribing on antibiotic resistance, data on surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. In this study, we evaluated antibiotic use and consumption in surgical prophylaxis in 4 hospitals located in 2 geographic regions of Sierra Leone.

Methods:

We used a prospective cohort design to collect data from surgical patients aged 18 years or older between February and October 2021. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16 software.

Results:

Of the 753 surgical patients, 439 (58.3%) were females, and 723 (96%) had received at least 1 dose of antibiotics. Only 410 (54.4%) patients had indications for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis consistent with local guidelines. Factors associated with preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis were the type of surgery, wound class, and consistency of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis with local guidelines. Postoperatively, type of surgery, wound class, and consistency of antibiotic use with local guidelines were important factors associated with antibiotic use. Of the 2,482 doses administered, 1,410 (56.8%) were given postoperatively. Preoperative and intraoperative antibiotic use was reported in 645 (26%) and 427 (17.2%) cases, respectively. The most commonly used antibiotic was ceftriaxone 949 (38.2%) with a consumption of 41.6 defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 bed days. Overall, antibiotic consumption was 117.9 DDD per 100 bed days. The Access antibiotics had 72.7 DDD per 100 bed days (61.7%).

Conclusions:

We report a high rate of antibiotic consumption for surgical prophylaxis, most of which was not based on local guidelines. To address this growing threat, urgent action is needed to reduce irrational antibiotic prescribing for surgical prophylaxis.
Pastoralists and Violent Conflict along the Oromia–Somali Border in Eastern Ethiopia: Institutional Options toward Peacebuilding
Authors: Kenee Fekadu Beyene
Published: July 2022

Four theories are used to explain the causes and dynamics of violent conflict along the Oromia–Somali Border in eastern Ethiopia. Of these, political economy (greed versus grievance) and political ecology theories are instrumental in understanding the main drivers of violence. Politicization of ethnicity and the self-centered behavior of political elites have increased the complexity of the conflict. Fekadu Kenee demonstrates that peacebuilding efforts require respect for the outcomes of referendums on the disputed territorial units and revitalization of customary systems, among others. While customary institutions can resolve conflicts at least temporarily, sustained community dialogue needs to be part of the political reform to build lasting inter-regional peace.
Community engagement education in academic health centers, colleges, and universities
Authors: Doubeni Chyke A. , Nelson David , Cohn Elizabeth Gross , Paskett Electra , Asfaw Seleshi Ayalew , Sumar Mehek , Ahmed Syed M. , McClinton-Brown Rhonda , Wieland Mark L. , Kinney Anita , Aguilar-Gaxiola Sergio , Rosas Lisa G. , Patino Cecilia M.
Published: July 2022

Community engagement (CE) is critical for advancing health equity and a key approach for promoting inclusive clinical and translational science. However, it requires a workforce trained to effectively design, implement, and evaluate health promotion and improvement strategies through meaningful collaboration with community members. This paper presents an approach for designing CE curricula for research, education, clinical care, and public health learners. A general pedagogical framework is presented to support curriculum development with the inclusion of community members as facilitators or faculty. The overall goal of the curriculum is envisioned as enabling learners to effectively demonstrate the principles of CE in working with community members on issues of concern to communities to promote health and well-being. We highlight transformations needed for the commonly used critical service-learning model and the importance of faculty well-versed in CE. Courses may include didactics and practicums with well-defined objectives and evaluation components. Because of the importance of building and maintaining relationships in CE, a preparatory phase is recommended prior to experiential learning, which should be guided and designed to include debriefing and reflective learning. Depending on the scope of the course, evaluation should include community perspectives on the experience.
Variability and the form–function framework in evolutionary biomechanics and human locomotion
Authors: Murray Alison A.
Published: July 2022

The form–function conceptual framework, which assumes a strong relationship between the structure of a particular trait and its function, has been crucial for understanding morphological variation and locomotion among extant and fossil species across many disciplines. In biological anthropology, it is the lens through which many important questions and hypotheses have been tackled with respect to relationships between morphology and locomotor kinematics, energetics and performance. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that the morphologies of fossil hominins, apes and humans can confer considerable locomotor diversity and flexibility, and can do so with a range of kinematics depending on soft tissue plasticity and environmental and cultural factors. This complexity is not built into traditional biomechanical or mathematical models of relationships between structure and kinematics or energetics, limiting our interpretation of what bone structure is telling us about behaviour in the past. The nine papers presented in this Special Collection together address some of the challenges thatvariationin the relationship between form and function pose in evolutionary biomechanics, to better characterise the complexity linking structure and function and to provide tools through which we may begin to incorporate some of this complexity into our functional interpretations.
Do we Know it When we See it? A Review of ‘Pseudoscience’ Patterns of Usage
Authors: Letrud Kåre
Published: July 2022

Definitions of ‘pseudoscience’ are required to heed the established usage of the definiendum by subsuming those cases that are generally considered to be pseudoscientific, and by excluding those that are considered sciences. In this paper I sample the published record to assess the consensus on pseudoscience case classifications. The review finds inconclusive evidence for an overall agreement. However, the frequent usage of a small number of pseudoscience-cases indicates that these are considered paradigms of pseudoscience. I briefly discuss some practical implications of these findings for the pseudoscience demarcation project.
Directed harmonic currents near non-hyperbolic linearizable singularities
Authors: CHEN ZHANGCHI
Published: July 2022

Let$(\mathbb {D}^2,\mathscr {F},\{0\})$be a singular holomorphic foliation on the unit bidisc$\mathbb {D}^2$defined by the linear vector field$$ \begin{align*} z \frac{\partial}{\partial z}+ \unicode{x3bb} w \frac{\partial}{\partial w}, \end{align*} $$

where$\unicode{x3bb} \in \mathbb {C}^*$. Such a foliation has a non-degenerate singularity at the origin${0:=(0,0) \in \mathbb {C}^2}$. LetTbe a harmonic current directed by$\mathscr {F}$which does not give mass to any of the two separatrices$(z=0)$and$(w=0)$. Assume$T\neq 0$. The Lelong number ofTat$0$describes the mass distribution on the foliated space. In 2014 Nguyên (see [16]) proved that when$\unicode{x3bb} \notin \mathbb {R}$, that is, when$0$is a hyperbolic singularity, the Lelong number at$0$vanishes. Suppose the trivial extension$\tilde {T}$across$0$is$dd^c$-closed. For the non-hyperbolic case$\unicode{x3bb} \in \mathbb {R}^*$, we prove that the Lelong number at$0$:

(1)

is strictly positive if$\unicode{x3bb}>0$;

(2)

vanishes if$\unicode{x3bb} \in \mathbb {Q}_{<0}$;

(3)

vanishes if$\unicode{x3bb} <0$andTis invariant under the action of some cofinite subgroup of the monodromy group.
Quality of life of mothers of children and adolescents with mental health problems in Mongolia: associations with the severity of children's mental health problems and family structure
Authors: Aoki Ai , Togoobaatar Ganchimeg , Tseveenjav Anudari , Nyam Naranbaatar , Zuunnast Khishigsuren , Takehara Kenji
Published: July 2022

Background

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), most parents of children with mental health problems receive limited support from social and health services while caring for their children. However, research on the quality of life (QOL) of these parents in LMICs is limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal QOL and children's mental health problems, and other related factors in Mongolia.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of children aged 4–17 years who lived in Ulaanbaatar and visited the National Mental Health Centre in Mongolia and their mothers was conducted. The mothers' QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF, and the severity of children's mental health problems was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed using the mothers' WHOQOL domain scores as dependent variables and the children's SDQ scores and demographic and socioeconomic factors as explanatory variables.

Results

A total of 242 child-mother dyads were included in this study, and 231 dyads were included in the multivariate regression analyses. Children's SDQ internalising scores were negatively associated with all four maternal QOL domain scores, while their externalising scores were negatively associated with maternal physical and psychological domain scores. Non-cohabitation of fathers was negatively associated with physical, social, and environmental domain scores, and non-cohabitation of grandparents was associated with psychological and environmental domain scores.

Conclusions

In Mongolia, maternal QOL is influenced by the severity of children's mental health problems and family member support. These findings highlight the importance of developing systems to support all families.
Upper and lower limit oscillation conditions for first-order difference equations
Authors: Öcalan Özkan
Published: July 2022

In this work, we consider the first-order difference equation with general argument\[ \varDelta x(n)+p(n)x\left( \tau (n)\right) =0,\quad n\geq 0, \]where$(p(n))$is a sequence of non-negative real numbers,$(\tau (n))$is a sequence of integers such that$\tau (n)< n$for$\ n\in \mathbf {N},\,$and$\ \lim _{n\rightarrow \infty }\tau (n)=\infty.$Under the assumption that the deviating argument is not necessarily monotone, we obtain some new oscillation conditions and improve the all known results for the above equation in the literature, involving only upper and only lower limit conditions. Two examples illustrating the results are also given.
Instrument for the evaluation of higher surgical training experience in the operating theatre
Authors: Lau K L , Scurrah R , Cocks H
Published: July 2022

Objective

The operating theatre, as the primary learning environment for surgeons, needs to be conducive to achieve successful training. A validated 27-item questionnaire aimed at evaluating the training experience of higher surgical trainees in the operating theatre was developed.

Methods

The initial questionnaire was developed using a literature review and a focus group. Items were validated with content validity index (CVI) and Cronbach's alpha.

Results

The initial version of 33 questions was modified in the focus group into a 29-item 4-point Likert scale questionnaire covering 3 areas. Of these 29 items, 27 reached the threshold CVI of 0.87, and they achieved a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 from 17 responses.

Conclusion

The quantitative validations in the instrument are comparable to other existing medical education evaluation tools. Aspects of non-technical skills and human factors were featured heavily and perceived to be important for learning in the operating theatre.
On vagueness and parochialism in psychological research on groups
Authors: Ratner Kyle G. , Hamilton David L. , Brewer Marilynn B.
Published: July 2022

Pietraszewski asserts that social psychological research on groups is too vague, tautological, and dependent on intuitions to be theoretically useful. We disagree. Pietraszewski's contribution is thought-provoking but also incomplete and guilty of many of the faults he attributes to others. Instead of rototilling the existing knowledge landscape, we urge for more integration of new and old ideas.
Private versus public: A dual model for resource-constrained conflict representations
Authors: DeDeo Simon
Published: July 2022

Pietraszewski's representation scheme is parsimonious and intuitive. However, internal mental representations may be subject to resource constraints that prefer more unusual systems such as sparse coding or compressed sensing. Pietraszewski's scheme may be most useful for understanding how agents communicate. Conflict may be driven in part by the complex interplay between parsimonious public representations and more resource-efficient internal ones.
Coalitionary psychology and group dynamics on social media
Authors: Deminchuk Jeff , Mishra Sandeep
Published: July 2022

Pietraszewski's model allows understanding group dynamics through the lens of evolved coalitionary psychology. This framework is particularly relevant to understanding group dynamics on social media platforms, where coalitions based on salience of group identity are prominent and generate unique frictions. We offer testable hypotheses derived from the model that may help to shed light on social media behavior.
More “us,” less “them”: An appeal for pluralism – and stand-alone computational theorizing – in our science of social groups
Authors: Pietraszewski David
Published: July 2022

The target article is an appeal to allow explicit computational theorizing into the study of social groups. Some commentators took this proposal and ran with it, some had questions about it, and some were confused or even put off by it. But even the latter did not seem to outright disagree – they thought the proposal was mutually exclusive with some other enterprise, when in fact it is not. Unfortunately, scientists studying social groups have not yet avoided the thread-bare trope of the blind men studying the different parts of the elephant: We see mutual exclusivity when we should see complementarity. I hope we can all take the next steps of examining how the different enterprises and approaches within our area of research might all fit together into a unified whole.
Exploring young Australians’ understanding of sustainable and healthy diets: a qualitative study
Authors: Ronto Rimante , Saberi Golsa , Carins Julia , Papier Keren , Fox Elizabeth
Published: July 2022

Objective:

This qualitative study aimed to explore young Australians’ perspectives, motivators and current practices in achieving a sustainable and healthy diet.

Design:

Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with young Australians. Interviews were audio-recorded using the online Zoom platform, transcribed and analysed using a deductive analysis method by applying the Theoretical Domains Framework and inductive thematic data analysis.

Setting:

Young Australians recruited via social media platforms, noticeboard announcements and flyers.

Subjects:

Twenty-two Australians aged 18 to 25 years.

Results:

The majority of participants were aware of some aspects of a sustainable and healthy diet and indicated the need to reduce meat intake, increase intake of plant-based foods, reduce food wastage and packaging and reduce food miles. Young adults were motivated to adopt more sustainable dietary practices but reported that individual and environmental factors such as low food literacy, limited food preparation and cooking skills, lack of availability and accessibility of environmentally friendly food options and costs associated with sustainable and healthy diets hindered their ability to do so.

Conclusions:

Given the barriers faced by many of our participants, there is a need for interventions aimed at improving food literacy and food preparation and cooking skills as well as those that create food environments that make it easy to select sustainable and healthy diets. Future research is needed for longitudinal larger scale quantitative studies to confirm our qualitative findings. In addition, the development and evaluation of individual and micro-environmental-based interventions promote sustainable and healthy diets more comprehensively.
A New Ocean State After Nuclear War
Authors: Harrison Cheryl S. , Rohr Tyler , DuVivier Alice , Maroon Elizabeth A. , Bachman Scott , Bardeen Charles G. , Coupe Joshua , Garza Victoria , Heneghan Ryan , Lovenduski Nicole S. , Neubauer Philipp , Rangel Victor , Robock Alan , Scherrer Kim , Stevenson Samantha , Toon Owen B.
Published: July 2022

Nuclear war would produce dire global consequences for humans and our environment. We simulated climate impacts of US‐Russia and India‐Pakistan nuclear wars in an Earth System Model, here, we report on the ocean impacts. Like volcanic eruptions and large forest fires, firestorms from nuclear war would transport light‐blocking aerosols to the stratosphere, resulting in global cooling. The ocean responds over two timescales: a rapid cooling event and a long recovery, indicating a hysteresis response of the ocean to global cooling. Surface cooling drives sea ice expansion, enhanced meridional overturning, and intensified ocean vertical mixing that is expanded, deeper, and longer lasting. Phytoplankton production and community structure are highly modified by perturbations to light, temperature, and nutrients, resulting in initial decimation of production, especially at high latitudes. A new physical and biogeochemical ocean state results, characterized by shallower pycnoclines, thermoclines, and nutriclines, ventilated deep water masses, and thicker Arctic sea ice. Persistent changes in nutrient limitation drive a shift in phytoplankton community structure, resulting in increased diatom populations, which in turn increase iron scavenging and iron limitation, especially at high latitudes. In the largest US‐Russia scenario (150 Tg), ocean recovery is likely on the order of decades at the surface and hundreds of years at depth, while changes to Arctic sea‐ice will likely last thousands of years, effectively a “Nuclear Little Ice Age.” Marine ecosystems would be highly disrupted by both the initial perturbation and in the new ocean state, resulting in long‐term, global impacts to ecosystem services such as fisheries.
Terrestrial Stilling Projected to Continue in the Northern Hemisphere Mid‐Latitudes
Authors: Deng K. , Liu W. , Azorin‐Molina C. , Yang S. , Li H. , Zhang G. , Minola L. , Chen D.
Published: July 2022

The near‐surface wind speed over land has declined in recent decades, a trend known as terrestrial stilling (TS). However, recent studies have indicated a reversal of the TS during the last decade, triggering renovated interest in the future wind speed changes. This study examines the TS over the Northern Hemisphere (NH) land areas and explores its future changes under Model Inter‐comparison Projection Phase 6 Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios. The results show that the NH mid‐latitude TS will likely continue during the whole 21st century under mid‐to‐high greenhouse warmings (SSPs‐245, 370, and 585). Nevertheless, if the world reduces carbon emissions substantially (SSP‐126), the TS will be interrupted and likely reversed after the mid‐21st century. The projected TS shows seasonal differences, with the largest (smallest) decreasing trends of wind speed in boreal summer (winter). Moreover, the TS reversal during the last decade is suggested as a multi‐decadal fluctuation related to the Pacific and Atlantic multi‐decadal oscillations. In addition, this study proposes that increased upper‐air warming in the future climate could play a key role in reducing the NH mid‐latitude surface wind speed. The continuing TS provides strong implications for the near‐surface environment and wind energy development, particularly for countries in the NH mid‐latitudes.
WUS256: An Adjoint Waveform Tomography Model of the Crust and Upper Mantle of the Western United States for Improved Waveform Simulations
Authors: Rodgers A. , Krischer L. , Afanasiev M. , Boehm C. , Doody C. , Chiang A. , Simmons N.
Published: July 2022

We report a new model (WUS256) of radially anisotropic seismic wavespeeds of the crust and upper mantle of the western United States (WUS) obtained from adjoint waveform tomography for the purpose of improving synthetic waveform fits to observed data. WUS256 is based on inversion of over 94,000 waveforms from 72 earthquakes recorded by nearly 3,400 stations. We started with the SPiRaL global model (Simmons et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggab277) and waveforms in the period band of 50–120 s. We followed a conservative multiscale inversion approach with eight stages and 256 total inversion iterations which enabled monotonic misfit reduction to 20‐s minimum‐period waves. WUS256 relied on time‐frequency (TF) phase misfits and a trust region limited memory Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (L‐BFGS) optimization. Hessian‐vector products were used to qualitatively assess model resolution. Results indicate that WUS256 has good coverage of the continental regions to depths of about 150 km and is able to resolve features on lateral scales of about 200 km. We quantify waveform fits by the reduction in TF and normalized amplitude difference misfits between WUS256 and the SPiRaL starting model. WUS256 significantly improves waveform fits with misfit reduction 64% for both inversion and validation data sets compared to the SPiRaL starting model and shows even better fits compared to other models. Waveform fits illustrate that WUS256 reproduces body‐waves, fundamental mode surface waves as well as late arriving dispersed and/or scattered short period surface waves. The improvement in waveform fit indicates that WUS256 can be used to reproduce path effects on regional complete waveforms and moment tensor inversions.
Long‐Term Patterns of Dissolved Oxygen Dynamics in the Pearl River Estuary
Authors: Qian Wei , Zhang Shi , Tong Chuan , Sardans Jordi , Peñuelas Josep , Li Xiaofei
Published: July 2022

Long‐term patterns of dissolved oxygen (DO) in estuarine and coastal waters remain poorly understood. Here we summarized DO concentrations and analyzed the crucial drivers of hypoxia in northwestern and southern Hong Kong and Mirs Bay over the past three decades. Deoxygenation was weak in the bottom water in northwestern Hong Kong, although DO was consistently undersaturated, whereas the annual minimum DO in the bottom water exhibited a significant decrease in southern Hong Kong (−0.06 ± 0.01 mg L−1 yr−1) and Mirs Bay (−0.10 ± 0.02 mg L−1 yr−1). Seasonal hypoxia in the bottom water was accompanied by supersaturated DO and high Chl‐a in surface waters of southern Hong Kong, indicating a crucial role of local extensive productivity in the oxygen depletion of the bottom water. The rapid deoxygenation was also attributed to the water stratification preventing oxygen replenishment in southern Hong Kong and the predeoxygenation of bottom water retained in Mirs Bay. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations have increased from 1 to 3 mg N L−1, which increased the primary productivity contributing to the decrease in water DO over the past three decades. Therefore, these results suggest that biological oxygen consumption and seasonal stratification are mainly driving the formation and maintenance of hypoxia in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent areas.