bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Worldwide prevalence of human papillomavirus among pregnant women: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ardekani Ali , Sepidarkish Mahdi , Mollalo Abolfazl , Afradiasbagharani Parivash , Rouholamin Safoura , Rezaeinejad Mahroo , Farid‐Mojtahedi Maryam , Mahjour Sanaz , Almukhtar Mustafa , Nourollahpour Shiadeh Malihe , Rostami Ali
Published: June 2022

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of cervical cancer and a suspected agent for ovarian and endometrial cancers in women. It is associated with adverse outcomes during pregnancy. To date, there is no estimate of the prevalence of HPV infection in pregnant women at the regional and global levels. This study evaluated the global prevalence of HPV infection based on all observational studies that had reported the prevalence of HPV among pregnant women between January 1980 and December 2021 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and SciELO databases. We utilised a random‐effect model to determine the global prevalence and related risk factors of HPV infection. Between‐studies heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistic. Moreover, subgroup and meta‐regression analyses were employed to assess the source of heterogeneity and the relationship between HPV prevalence and socio‐demographic factors, respectively. Among 144 eligible studies comprising 189 datasets, the overall prevalence rates of HPV at the 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated as 30.38% (26.88%–33.99%), 17.81% (9.81%–27.46%), 32.1% (25.09%–39.67%), 2.26% (0.1%–8.08%) and 25.5% (23.3%–27.8%) in cervico‐vaginal, placenta, serum, amniotic fluid and urine samples, respectively. The highest prevalence rates were estimated for countries in the African region, while countries in the European and Eastern Mediterranean regions showed the lowest prevalence rates. HPV‐16 and ‐18 were the most prevalent isolated strains. The pregnant women living with HIV and those with pregnancy disorders had significantly higher prevalence rates than general pregnant women (p < 0.05). The younger ages for first intercourse and pregnancy, multiple lifetime sexual partners, and lower education levels were primary risk factors for HPV infection. In conclusion, although the overall HPV prevalence varied markedly based on sampling sites and geographical locations, the highest prevalence rates were observed in less‐developed countries. Our findings imply that implementing behavioural and therapeutic interventions as well as vaccination programs are crucial to prevent and reduce the current burden of HPV infection among pregnant women.
Experimental evaluation of Visual‐Inertial Odometry systems for arable farming
Authors: Cremona Javier , Comelli Román , Pire Taihú
Published: June 2022

The farming industry constantly seeks the automation of different processes involved in agricultural production, such as sowing, harvesting and weed control. The use of mobile autonomous robots to perform those tasks is of great interest. Arable lands present hard challenges for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems, key for mobile robotics, given the visual difficulty due to the highly repetitive scene and the crop leaves movement caused by the wind. In recent years, several Visual‐Inertial Odometry (VIO) and SLAM systems have been developed. They have proved to be robust and capable of achieving high accuracy in indoor and outdoor urban environments. However, they were not properly assessed in agricultural fields. In this study we assess the most relevant state‐of‐the‐art VIO systems in terms of accuracy and processing time on arable lands to better understand how they behave on these environments. In particular, the evaluation is carried out on a collection of sensor data recorded by our wheeled robot in a soybean field, which was publicly released as the Rosario data set. The evaluation shows that the highly repetitive appearance of the environment, the strong vibration produced by the rough terrain and the movement of the leaves caused by the wind, expose the limitations of the current state‐of‐the‐art VIO and SLAM systems. We analyze the systems failures and highlight the observed drawbacks, including initialization failures, tracking loss and sensitivity to Inertial Measurement Unit saturation. Finally, we conclude that even though certain systems like ORB‐SLAM3 and stereo Multi‐State Constraint Kalman Filter show good results with respect to others, more improvements should be done to make them reliable in agricultural fields for certain applications such as soil tillage of crop rows and pesticide spraying.
Environmental sustainability in developing countries: Understanding the criticality of financial inclusion and globalization
Authors: Zhao Feng , Zhang Yinyin , Alharthi Majed , Zafar Muhammad Wasif
Published: June 2022

Environmental challenges are mounting in the developing world, and mitigation activities, such as improved technology, green energy production, and research and development depend on significant funding from financial institutions. In this context, financial inclusivity can channelize investments towards green energy adoption and technological upgrading. On the flip side, the absence of environmental preferences may lead financial institutions to strengthen pollution‐intensive projects and inefficient production patterns. Thus, this study used the panel quantile regression method to unfold the impacts of financial inclusion (FI) and globalization on CO2 controlling foreign direct investment (FDI), energy prices, and economic growth. The results established that FI boosts pollutant emissions in developing countries, and globalization also mounts environmental deterioration. However, energy prices and FDI contribute to mitigating CO2 in developing nations. Moreover, the Environmental Kuznets Curve is evidenced in the panel of developing nations. As an alternative technique, Driscoll–Kraay regression method validated the consistency of the results. Considering the findings of this study, several policy suggestions are discussed to enhance environmental quality.
Uncertainty in lung cancer stage for survival estimation via set‐valued classification
Authors: Bergquist Savannah , Brooks Gabriel A. , Landrum Mary Beth , Keating Nancy L. , Rose Sherri
Published: June 2022

The difficulty in identifying cancer stage in health care claims data has limited oncology quality of care and health outcomes research. We fit prediction algorithms for classifying lung cancer stage into three classes (stages I/II, stage III, and stage IV) using claims data, and then demonstrate a method for incorporating the classification uncertainty in survival estimation. Leveraging set‐valued classification and split conformal inference, we show how a fixed algorithm developed in one cohort of data may be deployed in another, while rigorously accounting for uncertainty from the initial classification step. We demonstrate this process using SEER cancer registry data linked with Medicare claims data.
Evaluation of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles as an Additive to Minimize Surfactant Loss during Chemical Flooding
Authors: Pandey Anurag , Roy Vishnu , Kesarwani Himanshu , Sharma Shivanjali , Saxena Amit
Published: June 2022

Surfactant flooding is a prolific enhanced oil recovery technique. It alters the rock fluid interfacial interactions between reservoir fluids and rocks. However, a pair of impeding factors often limit the economic viability of the process and need to be optimized. The first is the surfactant loss on the adsorbent surface due to adsorption making it a potential environmental problem. The second is the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) which governs the amount of surfactant pumped. This study aimed to minimize the surfactant loss and the CMC, thereby optimizing the flooding efficiency and reducing the environmental concerns for nanoparticle applications. To achieve this, Silicon Carbide nanoparticles (SCN) were employed as additives to the surfactant solution. It was observed that the use of SCN reduces the surfactant adsorption by as much as 44 % and the critical micelle concentration by 14 %. The studies also observed that the concentration of SCN required to get these results is dramatically (more than 25 times) lower than previously reported literature on other nanoparticles. To adsorption isotherm studies provide an insight into the type of adsorption taking place. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir model.
Built‐In Stable Lithiophilic Sites in 3D Current Collectors for Dendrite Free Li Metal Electrode
Authors: Wang Jiang‐Peng , Lan Dan‐Ni , Chen Guo‐Yin , Hu Xi‐Tao , Lin Chao , Li Quan
Published: June 2022

Stable lithiophilic sites in 3D current collectors are the key to guiding the uniform Li deposition and thus suppressing the Li dendrite growth, but such sites created by the conventional surface decoration method are easy to be consumed along with cycling. In this work, carbon fiber (CF)‐based 3D porous networks with built‐in lithiophilic sites that are stable upon cycling are demonstrated. Such heterostructured architecture is constructed by the introduction of zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8‐based nanoparticles during the formation of the 3D fibrous carbonaceous network and the following annealing. The introduced Zn species are found to be re‐distributed along the entire individual CF in the 3D network, and function as lithiophilic sites that favor the homogenous lithium nucleation and growth. The 3D network also presents a multi‐scale porous structure that improves the space utilization of the host. The corresponding symmetric cells adopting such 3D anode demonstrate excellent cycling performance, especially at a high rate (300 cycles at 10 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 5 mA h cm−2). A full cell with LiFePO4 cathode shows a capacity retention of 98% after cycling at 1C for 300 cycles. This method provides an effective design strategy for 3D hosting electrodes in dendrite‐free alkali metal anode applications.
Crystal Nucleation and Growth of Inorganic Ionic Materials from Aqueous Solution: Selected Recent Developments, and Implications
Authors: Gebauer Denis , Gale Julian D. , Cölfen Helmut
Published: June 2022

In this review article, selected, latest theoretical, and experimental developments in the field of nucleation and crystal growth of inorganic materials from aqueous solution are highlighted, with a focus on literature after 2015 and on non‐classical pathways. A key point is to emphasize the so far underappreciated role of water and solvent entropy in crystallization at all stages from solution speciation through to the final crystal. While drawing on examples from current inorganic materials where non‐classical behavior has been proposed, the potential of these approaches to be adapted to a wide‐range of systems is also discussed, while considering the broader implications of the current re‐assessment of pathways for crystallization. Various techniques that are suitable for the exploration of crystallization pathways in aqueous solution, from nucleation to crystal growth are summarized, and a flow chart for the assignment of specific theories based on experimental observations is proposed.
Elucidation of Metal Local Environments in Single‐Atom Catalysts Based on Carbon Nitrides
Authors: Büchele Simon , Yakimov Alexander , Collins Sean M. , Ruiz‐Ferrando Andrea , Chen Zupeng , Willinger Elena , Kepaptsoglou Demie M. , Ramasse Quentin M. , Müller Christoph R. , Safonova Olga V. , López Núria , Copéret Christophe , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier , Mitchell Sharon
Published: June 2022

The ability to tailor the properties of metal centers in single‐atom heterogeneous catalysts depends on the availability of advanced approaches for characterization of their structure. Except for specific host materials with well‐defined metal adsorption sites, determining the local atomic environment remains a crucial challenge, often relying heavily on simulations. This article reports an advanced analysis of platinum atoms stabilized on poly(triazine imide), a nanocrystalline form of carbon nitride. The approach discriminates the distribution of surface coordination sites in the host, the evolution of metal coordination at different stages during the synthesis of the material, and the potential locations of metal atoms within the lattice. Consistent with density functional theory predictions, simultaneous high‐resolution imaging in high‐angle annular dark field and bright field modes experimentally confirms the preferred localization of platinum in‐plane in the corners of the triangular cavities. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (DNP‐NMR) spectroscopies coupled with density functional theory (DFT) simulations reveal that the predominant metal species comprise Pt(II) bound to three nitrogen atoms and one chlorine atom inside the coordination sites. The findings, which narrow the gap between experimental and theoretical elucidation, contribute to the improved structural understanding and provide a benchmark for exploring the speciation of single‐atom catalysts based on carbon nitrides.
Horizontally Self‐Standing Growth of Bi2O2Se Achieving Optimal Optoelectric Properties
Authors: Zou Xiaobin , Sun Yong , Wang Chengxin
Published: June 2022

Air‐stable 2D Bi2O2Se material with high carrier mobility appears as a promising semiconductor platform for future micro/nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Like most 2D materials, Bi2O2Se 2D nanostructures normally form on atomically flat mica substrates, in which undesirable defects and structural damage from the subsequent transfer process will largely degrade their photoelectronic performance. Here, a new synthesis route involving successive kinetic and thermodynamic processes is proposed to achieve horizontally self‐standing Bi2O2Se nanostructures on SiO2/Si substrates. Fewer defects and avoidance of transfer procedure involving corrosive solvents ensure the integrity of the intrinsic lattice and band structures in Bi2O2Se nanostructures. In contrast to flat structures grown on mica, it displays reduced dark current and improved photoresponse performance (on–off ratio, photoresponsivity, response time, and detectivity). These results indicate a new potential in high‐quality 2D electronic nanostructures with optimal optoelectronic functionality.
Monitoring critically saturated conditions for shallow landslide occurrence using electrical resistivity tomography
Authors: Wicki Adrian , Hauck Christian
Published: June 2022

Soil wetness is an important property in determining the variable disposition of hillslopes to shallow landslides. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of in situ soil wetness information for landslide early warning. However, the spatial representativeness of in situ sensors may be affected by local heterogeneities of soil properties and hydrological processes, and their installation may be destructive. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been used in the past to estimate plot‐scale soil moisture variation and may overcome these limitations. In this study, we installed and operated an automated ERT monitoring system on a landslide‐prone hillslope in the Napf region (Switzerland). The system was operational during a period of 9 mo, and measurements were conducted at high temporal resolution and under different soil hydrological conditions. Electrical resistivity was measured along two perpendicular profile lines in Wenner–Schlumberger configuration at 0.25‐m electrode spacing. Soil saturation was calculated by the Archie's law and the parameters were fitted with colocated soil moisture sensors. Comparison of ERT‐derived soil moisture with soil wetness from in situ sensors showed a good correlation, and infiltration properties critical for landslide early warning could be reliably reproduced. Further, analysis of spatial saturation variation revealed that ERT was capable to detect heterogeneities of soil hydrological process. Under highly saturated conditions, the reliability of the saturation estimation was affected by an increased number of faulty measurements and the spatial heterogeneity of the infiltration process.
A two-component dark matter model and its associated gravitational waves
Authors: Costa Francesco , Khan Sarif , Kim Jinsu
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We consider an extension of the Standard Model that accounts for the muon g − 2 tension and neutrino masses and study in detail dark matter phenomenology. The model under consideration includes a WIMP and a FIMP scalar dark matter candidates and thus gives rise to two-component dark matter scenarios. We discuss different regimes and mechanisms of production, including the novel freeze-in semi-production, and show that the WIMP and FIMP together compose the observed relic density today. The presence of the extra scalar fields allows phase transitions of the first order. We examine the evolution of the vacuum state and discuss stochastic gravitational wave signals associated with the first-order phase transition. We show that the gravitational wave signals may be probed by future gravitational wave experiments which may serve as a complementary detection signal.
Holographic QCD3 and Chern-Simons theory from anisotropic supergravity
Authors: Li Si-wen , Luo Sen-kai , Hu Ya-qian
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Based on the gauge-gravity duality, we study the three-dimensional QCD (QCD3) and Chern-Simons theory by constructing the anisotropic black D3-brane solution in IIB supergravity. The deformed bulk geometry is obtained by performing a double Wick rotation and dimension reduction which becomes an anisotropic bubble configuration exhibiting confinement in the dual theory. And its anisotropy also reduces to a Chern-Simons term due to the presence of the dissolved D7-branes or the axion field in bulk. Using the bubble geometry, we investigate the ground-state energy density, quark potential, entanglement entropy and the baryon vertex according to the standard methods in the AdS/CFT dictionary. Our calculation shows that the ground-state energy illustrates degenerate to the Chern-Simons coupling coefficient which is in agreement with the properties of the gauge Chern-Simons theory. The behavior of the quark tension, entanglement entropy and the embedding of the baryon vertex further implies strong anisotropy may destroy the confinement. Afterwards, we additionally introduce various D7-branes as flavor and Chern-Simons branes to include the fundamental matter and effective Chern-Simons level in the dual theory. By counting their orientation, we finally obtain the associated topological phase in the dual theory and the critical mass for the phase transition. Interestingly the formula of the critical mass reveals the flavor symmetry, which may relate to the chiral symmetry, would be restored if the anisotropy increases greatly. As all of the analysis is consistent with characteristics of quark-gluon plasma, we therefore believe our framework provides a remarkable way to understand the features of Chern-Simons theory, the strong coupled nuclear matter and its deconfinement condition with anisotropy.
The analytic structure of the fixed charge expansion
Authors: Antipin Oleg , Bersini Jahmall , Sannino Francesco , Torres Matías
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We investigate the analytic properties of the fixed charge expansion for a number of conformal field theories in different space-time dimensions. The models investigated here are O(N) and QED3. We show that in d = 3 − ϵ dimensions the contribution to the O(N) fixed charge Q conformal dimensions obtained in the double scaling limit of large charge and vanishing ϵ is non-Borel summable, doubly factorial divergent, and with order $$ \sqrt{Q} $$

Q

optimal truncation order. By using resurgence techniques we show that the singularities in the Borel plane are related to worldline instantons that were discovered in the other double scaling limit of large Q and N of ref. [1]. In d = 4 − ϵ dimensions the story changes since in the same large Q and small E regime the next order corrections to the scaling dimensions lead to a convergent series. The resummed series displays a new branch cut singularity which is relevant for the stability of the O(N) large charge sector for negative ϵ. Although the QED3 model shares the same large charge behaviour of the O(N) model, we discover that at leading order in the large number of matter field expansion the large charge scaling dimensions are Borel summable, single factorial divergent, and with order Q optimal truncation order.
Physics of infinite complex structure limits in eight dimensions
Authors: Lee Seung-Joo , Lerche Wolfgang , Weigand Timo
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We investigate infinite distance limits in the complex structure moduli space of F-theory compactified on K3 to eight dimensions. While this is among the simplest possible arenas to test ideas about the Swampland Distance Conjecture, it is nevertheless non-trivial enough to improve our understanding of the physics for these limiting geometries, including phenomena of emergence. It also provides a perspective on infinite distance limits from the viewpoint of open strings. The paper has two quite independent themes. In the main part we show that all degenerations of elliptic K3 surfaces at infinite distance as analysed in the companion paper [1] can be interpreted as (partial) decompactification or emergent string limits in F-theory, in agreement with the Emergent String Conjecture. We present a unified geometric picture of the possible towers of states that can become light and illustrate our general claims via the connection between Kulikov models of degenerating K3 surfaces and the dual heterotic string. As an application we classify the possible maximal non-abelian Lie algebras and their Kac-Moody and loop extensions that can arise in the infinite distance limits. In the second part we discuss the infinite distance behaviour of certain exact quartic gauge couplings. We encounter a tension with the hypothesis that effective couplings should be fully generated by integrating out massive states. We show that by appropriately renormalizing the string coupling, at least partial emergence can be achieved.
The $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 prepotential and the sphere free energy
Authors: Zan Bernardo , Freedman Daniel Z. , Pufu Silviu S.
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We study the mass-deformed sphere free energy of three-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal field theories with holographic duals. Building on previous observations, we conjecture a proportionality relation between the sphere free energy on the boundary and the prepotential of the four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supergravity theory in the bulk. We verify this formula by explicit computation in several examples of supergravity theories with vector multiplets and hypermultiplets.
Fairness & friends in the data science era
Authors: Catania Barbara , Guerrini Giovanna , Accinelli Chiara
Published: June 2022

The data science era is characterized by data-driven automated decision systems (ADS) enabling, through data analytics and machine learning, automated decisions in many contexts, deeply impacting our lives. As such, their downsides and potential risks are becoming more and more evident: technical solutions, alone, are not sufficient and an interdisciplinary approach is needed. Consequently, ADS should evolve into data-informed ADS, which take humans in the loop in all the data processing steps. Data-informed ADS should deal with data responsibly, guaranteeing nondiscrimination with respect to protected groups of individuals. Nondiscrimination can be characterized in terms of different types of properties, like fairness and diversity. While fairness, i.e., absence of bias against minorities, has been widely investigated in machine learning, only more recently this issue has been tackled by considering all the steps of data processing pipelines at the basis of ADS, from data acquisition to analysis. Additionally, fairness is just one point of view of nondiscrimination to be considered for guaranteeing equity: other issues, like diversity, are raising interest from the scientific community due to their relevance in society. This paper aims at critically surveying how nondiscrimination has been investigated in the context of complex data science pipelines at the basis of data-informed ADS, by focusing on the specific data processing tasks for which nondiscrimination solutions have been proposed.
Mental rotation of hands and objects in ageing and Parkinson’s disease: differentiating motor imagery and visuospatial ability
Authors: Bek Judith , Humphries Stacey , Poliakoff Ellen , Brady Nuala
Published: June 2022

Motor imagery supports motor learning and performance and has the potential to be a useful strategy for neurorehabilitation. However, motor imagery ability may be impacted by ageing and neurodegeneration, which could limit its therapeutic effectiveness. Motor imagery can be assessed implicitly using a hand laterality task (HLT), whereby laterality judgements are slower for stimuli corresponding to physically more difficult postures, as indicated by a “biomechanical constraint” effect. Performance is also found to differ between back and palm views of the hand, which may differentially recruit visual and sensorimotor processes. Older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have shown altered performance on the HLT; however, the effects of both ageing and PD on laterality judgements for the different hand views (back and palm) have not been directly examined. The present study compared healthy younger, healthy older, and PD groups on the HLT, an object-based mental rotation task, and an explicit motor imagery measure. The older and PD groups were slower than the younger group on the HLT, particularly when judging laterality from the back view, and exhibited increased biomechanical constraint effects for the palm. While response times were generally similar between older and PD groups, the PD group showed reduced accuracy for the back view. Letter rotation was slower and less accurate only in the PD group, while explicit motor imagery ratings did not differ significantly between groups. These results suggest that motor imagery may be slowed but relatively preserved in both typical ageing and neurodegeneration, while a PD-specific impairment in visuospatial processing may influence task performance. The findings have implications for the use of motor imagery in rehabilitation protocols.
Note on axiomatic properties of apportionment methods for proportional representation systems
Authors: Palomares Antonio , Pukelsheim Friedrich , Ramírez Victoriano
Published: June 2022

Apportionment methods are used in proportional representation systems for the apportionment of parliamentary seats among political parties proportionately to their vote counts, or for the allocation of parliamentary seats between geographical districts proportionately to their population figures. From an axiomatic viewpoint apportionment methods ought to satisfy six basic principles: anonymity, balancedness, concordance, decency, exactness, and fairness. It is well-known that the first two principles are implied by the last four. In this note it is shown that the last four principles are logically independent of each other.
Novel high capacity model for copper binary ion exchange on e-waste derived adsorbent resin
Authors: Mariyam Sabah , Zuhara Shifa , Al-Ansari Tareq , Mackey Hamish , McKay Gordon
Published: June 2022

Heavy metal water pollution is a global concern in recent years. Copper is a toxic metal at higher concentrations (> 20 μg /g) and needs to be removed using ion exchanger systems. This study investigates the removal efficiencies of copper by the non-metallic fraction (NMF) waste printed circuit boards (PCBs). The high maximum adsorption capacity of copper by the PCB-derived material after activation with KOH was 2.65 mmol/g, and the experimental isotherm was best correlated by the Temkin model. Finally, this study presents a novel dual site adsorption/ion exchange mechanism, wherein the potassium (from the activation) and calcium (present in the structure) served as ion exchange sites for the copper in the solution. Therefore, this recycling study, focusing on cyclic environmental management, converts a major waste material to an activated ion exchange resin (high capacity) for the removal of copper from wastewater solutions and successfully regenerates the resin for re-use while producing an acidic copper solution for recovery by electrolysius or chemical salt precipitation.
On the Extension-Closed Property for the Subcategory Tr(Ω2(mod −A))
Authors: Böhmler Bernhard , Marczinzik René
Published: June 2022

We present a monomial quiver algebra A having the property that the subcategory Tr(Ω2(mod −A)) is not extension-closed. This answers a question raised by Idun Reiten.
A radio continuum study of NGC 2082
Authors: Balzan J. C. F. , Filipović M. D. , Dai S. , Alsaberi R. Z. E. , Barnes L.
Published: June 2022

We present radio continuum observations of NGC 2082 using ASKAP, ATCA and Parkes telescopes from 888 MHz to 9000 MHz. Some 20 arcsec from the centre of this nearby spiral galaxy, we discovered a bright and compact radio source, J054149.24–641813.7, of unknown origin. To constrain the nature of J054149.24–641813.7, we searched for transient events with the Ultra-Wideband Low Parkes receiver, and compare its luminosity and spectral index to various nearby supernova remnants (SNRs), and fast radio burst (FRB) local environments. Its radio spectral index is flat ($\alpha = 0.02 \pm 0.09$
α
=
0.02
±
0.09
), which is unlikely to be either an SNR or pulsar. No transient events were detected with the Parkes telescope over three days of observations, and our calculations show J054149.24–641813.7 is two orders of magnitude less luminous than the persistent radio sources associated with FRB 121102 and 190520B. We find that the probability of finding such a source behind NGC 2082 is $P = 1.2\%$
P
=
1.2
%
, and conclude that the most likely origin for J054149.24–641813.7 is a background quasar or radio galaxy.
Birefringent properties of aqueous cellulose nanocrystal suspensions
Authors: Lane Connor , Rode David , Rösgen Thomas
Published: June 2022

Birefringence measurements of aqueous cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions are reported. Seven suspensions with concentrations between 0.7 and 1.3% per weight are sheared in a Taylor-Couette type setting and characterized using a birefringent measurement technique based on linear polarized light and acquisition with a polarization camera. Steady state measurements with shear rates up to 31 1/s show extinction angles of 23°–40° and birefringence in the order of 1e–5. The findings demonstrate the utility of CNC suspensions for flow birefringence studies.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder for Adolescents (BDD-YBOCS-A)
Authors: Monzani Benedetta , Fallah Deanna , Rautio Daniel , Gumpert Martina , Jassi Amita , Fernández de la Cruz Lorena , Mataix-Cols David , Krebs Georgina
Published: June 2022

The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder for Adolescents (BDD-YBOCS-A) is a clinician-rated measure of BDD symptom severity in youth. Despite widespread use in both research and clinical practice, its psychometric properties have not been formally evaluated. The current study examined the factor structure, reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the BDD-YBOCS-A in 251 youths with BDD attending two specialist clinics. A principal component analysis identified two factors, explaining 56% of the variance. The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87) and adequate convergent and divergent validity. In a subgroup of participants receiving BDD treatment (n = 175), BDD-YBOCS-A scores significantly decreased over time, demonstrating sensitivity to change. BDD-YBOCS-A change scores over treatment were highly correlated with severity changes measured by the Clinical Global Impression – Severity scale (r = .84). The study provides empirical support for the use of the BDD-YBOCS-A in children and adolescents with BDD.
Detection and prevalence of Rosellinia necatrix in South African avocado orchards
Authors: Hartley Jesse , Engelbrecht Juanita , van den Berg Noëlani
Published: June 2022

Rosellinia necatrixis an ascomycete that causes white root rot (WRR) of several plant host species resulting in economic losses to affected agricultural and forestry industries in various regions. This study aimed to identify and monitor the prevalence ofR. necatrixin avocado orchards in South Africa. We used both morphological and molecular methods to isolate and identifyR. necatrixfrom diseased plant material and soil. Results showed thatR. necatrixwas present on avocado in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Additionally, a semi-selective medium, containing Rose Bengal, nystatin, cycloheximide, chlorothalonil and 2-phenylphenol, was developed to improve isolation ofR. necatrix. We also tested an already establishedR. necatrix-specific TaqMan qPCR protocol to determine if it can reliably detect the pathogen isolatesin plantain the South African samples. Based on our results the technique had a detection rate of 91.3% in artificially infected roots and 100% in artificially inoculated soil. We tested natural infected plant and soil samples and detectedR. necatrixin 86% of the plant samples and in 70% of the soil samples. Using a selective medium or anin plantamolecular detection method streamlines isolation and detection ofR. necatrix, which will help prevent further spread of the pathogen. Moreover, additional information on the prevalence of WRR will create awareness among growers and provide a basis for management of the disease.
Life-Course Trajectories of Childless Women: Country-Specific or Universal?
Authors: Tocchioni Valentina , Rybińska Anna , Mynarska Monika , Matysiak Anna , Vignoli Daniele
Published: June 2022

While existing research has documented complexities in biographies of childless women, few studies to date have systematically examined the life-course pathways of the childless from a comparative, cross-country perspective. In this paper, we analyse biographies of childless women in four countries—Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United States—in order to investigate whether pathways into childlessness are country-specific or commonly shared across institutional, cultural, and geographical settings. Partnership, education, and employment histories are examined using sequence analysis with dynamic Hamming distance and cluster analysis. Discrepancy analysis indicates a country-effect in women’s biographies although life-course patterns identified in each country share similarities. Overall, seven life-course trajectories have been identified, with the most numerous cluster comprising single, working women who completed their education at a relatively young age. The results highlight a marked variation in the life-courses of childless women. Put together, these findings provide descriptive evidence for both country-specificity and cross-country similarity in the pathways to childlessness.
Resource availability for the mosquito Aedes aegypti affects the transmission mode evolution of a microsporidian parasite
Authors: Zilio Giacomo , Kaltz Oliver , Koella Jacob C.
Published: June 2022

Ecological conditions may greatly affect the relative importance of vertical and horizontal transmission, in particular for parasites with a mixed mode of transmission. Resource availability is one important environmental factor, affecting host growth and fecundity, but also the parasite’s own development. The consequences for the potential of vertical and horizontal transmission and for the evolution of transmission mode are largely unknown. We let the mixed-mode microsporidian parasite Edhazardia aedis evolve on its mosquito host Aedes aegypti under high-food or low-food conditions, representing permissive and restricted conditions. These alter the timing of development of infected larvae and thereby the probabilities for the parasites to enter the vertical or horizontal transmission pathways. After 10 generations, evolved parasites were assayed under the two food levels. There was an ecological trade-off between transmission modes, mediated by nutrient effects on host development, resulting in a higher vertical transmission (VT) potential under high-food and a higher horizontal transmission (HT) potential under low-food test conditions. Evolution under high food increased the VT potential of the parasite, particularly if it was tested at low food. This involved higher probability of carrying binucleate spores for the emerging females, greater fecundity and a longer life compared to parasites that were tested in the same conditions but had evolved under low food. The changes are related to the developmental regulation and switch in the production of two spore types, affecting investment in VT or HT. In contrast, the HT potential remained relatively unaffected by the parasite’s evolutionary history, suggesting that, within our experiential design, the VT mode evolved independently of the HT mode. Our work illustrates the possible links between resource availability, within-host developmental processes and the evolution of parasite transmission investment. Future work, theoretical and experimental, should scale up from within-host to between-host levels, including eco-evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics.
“Ok—I Need Help from Somewhere”: ‘The Educational Value of Multiplex Student Relationships in a Commuter College’
Authors: Fjelkner-Pihl Annika
Published: June 2022

The present mixed-methods study provides insight into how students in higher education describe and form multiplex relationships in a cohort of students attending a commuter college, thereby improving our understanding of the complex relationships within student groups and their relation to learning. The main aim was to understand the student experience of networking with other students, particularly how commuter students perceive their academic multiplex relationships. Relational data were collected in a cohort of students (n = 109), complemented by 15 semi-structured interviews. One main finding was that students perceived that their largely homophilous multiplex relationships were central to academic achievement, but if students also had limited friendship relations these multiplex relationships could limit students’ academic experience. Another finding was how orientation week and group work done during the first semester mainly supported the formation of multiplex networks but were also perceived as barriers by some students. Likewise, commuting both scaffolded network building and became a barrier, especially for students with an immigrant background. One important implication for curriculum development is that faculty cannot leave relationship building to the students alone. A strategic model is discussed that supports emerging multiplex relationships, which can lead to gains in learning, retention, and integration.
Thermal Fluctuations and Electromagnetic Noise Spectra in Quantum Statistical Mechanics
Authors: Bányai Ladislaus Alexander , Bundaru Mircea , Gartner Paul
Published: June 2022

We derive the thermal noise spectrum of the longitudinal and transverse electric field operator of a given wave vector starting from the quantum-statistical definitions and relate it to the frequency and wave vector dependent complex conductivity in a homogeneous, isotropic system of electromagnetic interacting charged particles in the frame of the non-relativistic QED. No additional assumptions except the validity of linear response are used in the proof. The Nyquist formula for vanishing frequency, as well as the noise spectral density of Callen-Welton follow as byproduct. Furthermore we discuss also the noise of the photon occupation numbers.
Chronicle of a forecast flood: exposure and vulnerability on the south-east coast of Spain
Authors: Giménez-García Rubén , Ruiz-Álvarez Víctor , García-Marín Ramón
Published: June 2022

In recent years, floods have become one of the natural hazards that generate the greatest economic and human losses on the planet. As is well known, torrential rainfall events are the triggering factor for flooding processes; nevertheless, it is worth examining the responsibility of the human factor, such as urban development, in the occurrence of these potential natural disasters. To this end, rainfall observations obtained during different precipitation events have been analysed. The evolution and urban development from the growth of the number of buildings was also examined. The information obtained has been crossed with the digital cartography of flooded areas (National System of Flood Zones Cartography, SNCZI in Spanish acronym). The results obtained show that the last two extraordinary rainfall events (December 2016 and September 2019) that occurred in the municipalities of Los Alcázares and San Javier (Region of Murcia, SE Spain) exceeded 200 mm, and quantified very high hourly intensities (> 50 mm/h). On the other hand, the number of buildings constructed and the built-up area in both municipalities has increased notably, with an evolution between 1950 and 2019 from 1057 to 15,969 buildings constructed, increasing from 16.09 ha. to 450.06 ha. occupied. This real estate development has caused the number of buildings exposed to flooding to reach 3840 in 2019 for a 10-year RP (return period) and 5941 for a 500-year RP. It can be concluded by indicating the clear influence of territorial transformation on the increase of exposure and economic losses generated by flood events.
Assessing the construct validity of the Quality-of-Life-Aged Care Consumers (QOL-ACC): an aged care-specific quality-of-life measure
Authors: Khadka J. , Ratcliffe J. , Hutchinson C. , Cleland J. , Mulhern B. , Lancsar E. , Milte R.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the construct (convergent and known group) validity of the Quality-of-Life-Aged Care Consumer (QOL-ACC), an older-person-specific quality-of-life measure designed for application in quality assessment and economic evaluation in aged care.

Methods

Convergent validity was assessed by examining relationships with other validated preference-based measures (EQ-5D-5L, ASCOT), quality of aged care experience (QCE-ACC) and life satisfaction (PWI) through an online survey. Known-group validity was assessed by testing the ability to discriminate varying levels of care needs, self-reported health and quality of life.

Results

Older people (aged ≥ 65 years) receiving community-aged care (N = 313) responded; 54.6% were female, 41.8% were living alone and 56.8% were receiving higher-level care. The QOL-ACC and its six dimensions were low to moderately and significantly correlated with the EQ-5D-5L (correlation co-efficient range, ρ = 0.39–0.56). The QOL-ACC demonstrated moderate and statistically significant correlations with ASCOT (ρ = 0.61), the QCE-ACC (ρ = 0.51) and the PWI (ρ = 0.70). Respondents with poorer self-reported health status, quality of life and/or higher-level care needs demonstrated lower QOL-ACC scores (P < 0.001), providing evidence of known-group validity.

Conclusions

The study provides evidence of the construct validity of the QOL-ACC descriptive system. A preference-weighted value set is currently being developed for the QOL-ACC, which when finalised will be subjected to further validation assessments.
The Role of Birthplace Diversity in Shaping Education Gradients in Trust: Country and Regional Level Mediation-Moderation Analyses
Authors: Borgonovi Francesca , Pokropek Artur
Published: June 2022

This paper examines between-country differences in why education promotes trust using data from 29 countries (and 146 regions) participating in the OECD’s Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC). Results indicate that education is strongly associated with trust and that individuals’ literacy, income, and occupational prestige are important mediators of this association. Contrary to previous studies we do not find that country level or regional level birthplace diversity is associated with average levels of trust. However, education gradients in trust and the extent to which these are due to social stratification or cognitive mechanisms vary both at the country and regional level depending on birthplace diversity. Multilevel mediation-moderation analyses reveal that in countries and regions with greater birthplace diversity there is a greater polarization in levels of trust between individuals with different educational qualifications. This polarization is primarily due to cognitive mechanisms.
School connection through engagement associated with grade scores and emotions of adolescents: four factors to build engagement in schools
Authors: Bowles Terence , Scull Janet , Jimerson Shane R.
Published: June 2022

This study investigated school connectedness, student engagement, academic grades, and student affect. Factor analyses of 331 adolescent students (Years 7, 9, and 11 in Australia), validated a four-factor model of school engagement. The factors revealed in the analyses were described as (1) future and task focus, (2) planning and motivation, (3) positive roles and models, and (4) positive social engagement. Cluster analyses revealed two typologies of students: a thriving group scoring significantly higher on all four factors than a striving group. There was a consistent number of students in each group across Years 7, 9 and 11. Compared to students in the striving group, on average, students in the thriving group scored significantly higher on grades (i.e., mathematics and English). Moreover, students in the thriving group were significantly higher on content and excited affects, and significantly less depressed and distressed compared to the students in the striving group. Limitations and implications for research and practice are discussed.
In-Situ Observation of the Effect of the Tribofilm Growth on Scuffing in Rolling-Sliding Contact
Authors: Ueda Mao , Spikes Hugh , Kadiric Amir
Published: June 2022

General reductions in lubricant viscosities in many machine components mean that the role of lubricant additives in forming tribofilms has become increasingly important to provide adequate surface protection against scuffing. However, the relationship between scuffing and the formation and removal of tribofilms has not been systematically demonstrated. In this study, a step-sliding speed scuffing test based on contra-rotation using MTM-SLIM and ETM-SLIM has been employed to observe concurrently tribofilm thickness and the onset of scuffing. The initial sliding speed used was found to significantly affect scuffing performance since it determines the extent to which a tribofilm can form before critical sliding speed conditions are reached. In general, additives that formed thicker tribofilms, especially ZDDPs and triphenyl phosphate, gave effective protection against scuffing, though their protective tribofilms were progressively removed at higher sliding speeds, eventually resulting in scuffing.

Graphical Abstract