bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population health differences in cross-border regions within the European Union and Schengen area: a protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Stroisch Sophie , Angelini Viola , Schnettler Sebastian , Vogt Tobias
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Along with European integration and the harmonisation of living conditions, improvements in health have been observed over the past decades. However, sociospatial inequalities within and across member states still exist today. While drivers of these health inequalities have been widely researched on a national and regional scale, cross-border regions remain understudied. The removal of border controls within the European Union (EU) member states has facilitated economic convergence and created new opportunities, including cross-border cooperation in the healthcare systems. However, whether and how these developments have influenced the population health in the respective cross-border regions is unclear. Hence, this scoping review aims to examine the empirical literature on the changes in health outcomes over time at the population level in EU cross-border areas. Additionally, we aim to identify the type of evidence and available data sources in those studies. Finally, we will determine the research gaps in the literature.

Methods and analysis

We will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for this scoping review. The ‘Population–Concept–Context’ framework will be used to identify the eligibility criteria. A three-step search strategy will be conducted to find relevant studies in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCOhost (SocIndex). Additionally, we will search on websites of international governmental institutions for further reports and articles. The finalisation of the search is planned for August 2023. The extracted data from the scoping review will be presented in a tabular form. A narrative summary of the selected studies will accompany the tabulated results and describe how they answer the research questions.

Ethics and dissemination

We will exclusively use secondary data from available studies for our analysis. Therefore, this review does not require ethical approval. We aim to publish our findings at (inter-)national conferences and as an open-access, peer-reviewed journal article.
Ultraviolet-C irradiation has no short-term, direct effects on cyclamen mite (Phytonemus pallidus (Banks)) in strawberry
Authors: Renkema Justin M. , Takeda Fumiomi , Janisiewicz Wojciech
Published: August 2023

Cyclamen mite is a nearly global pest of strawberry, inhabiting concealed spaces within folded leaves and flower buds emerging from plant crowns. It feeds on new plant tissue causing leaf discoloration and deformation, stunted plants, fruit bronzing and cracking, and yield losses at high population levels. Because ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is a promising new tool for disease and pest management in strawberry, and because there are few control options for cyclamen mite, we tested the direct, short-term effects of UV-C on cyclamen mite populations in potted strawberry plants in a controlled environment. Results from three experiments showed few differences in cyclamen mite populations on controls versus plants treated with UV-C (0.237 W m−1) for 3 or 4 weeks. In the second experiment, using a different strawberry cultivar and directing the UV-C from above the plant crown only, there was indication of a mild effect that may be due to some direct mortality and/or indirectly to plant defenses. However, longer-term studies will need to be conducted to determine whether pre-infestation exposure to UV-C can enable strawberry plants to better resist or tolerate cyclamen mite populations. Direct mortality did not occur as in previous experiments with pests, like twospotted spider mite, that live primarily on opened leaves.
Research on the Detection and Analysis of Students’ Classroom Behavioral Features Based on Deep CNNs
Authors: Bao Dianqing , Su Wen
Published: August 2023

The continuous development of artificial intelligence technology has caused the traditional education model to begin to change as well. The new educational model of applying intelligent monitoring devices to modern classrooms, thus assisting teachers in teaching students, has been successfully favored by major universities. Based on this, this research attempts to improve the target detection algorithm in the field of deep learning, and proposes a method of detecting and analyzing students' classroom behavior based on deep convolutional neural network, and applies the method to detect students' classroom behavior characteristics, aiming to improve the method of detecting and analyzing students' classroom behavior, assist teachers in student management with intelligent monitoring devices, and thus improve the quality of teaching. The study firstly investigated the core steps of the target detection algorithm, and secondly improved the YOLOv5s algorithm by adding feature fusion layer and reimaging module, and finally obtained the Ghost-4D-YOLOv5s network model. The experimental results show that the Ghost-4D-YOLOv5s model performs well in terms of precision, recall, F1 value and average precision mean. When the number of samples to be tested is 350, the performance of the model achieves 58.2% precision, 59.6% recall, 62.5% F1 value and 62.8% average precision mean value. This indicates that the model constructed in this study has good performance in detecting the behavioral characteristics of students in the classroom. It can be concluded that the model constructed in this study can have a good performance in the detection of students' classroom behavioral characteristics. Through this model, teachers can better manage their students and improve the quality of teaching. In addition, this study highlights the potential of deep learning in the field of education and contributes to the development of intelligent educational models.
Evaluating the Presence of a Stage IV Low-Grade Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Ileocecum: A Case Report with Evaluation of Staging Protocol of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Treatment Options Based on Current Available Evidence
Authors: Madishetty Vineet , Starr Alicia J. , Chu Quyen D. , Starr P. A.-C. Brianna
Published: August 2023

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are rare neoplasms that can originate throughout the human body. An initial treatment option includes upfront surgical resection of the primary tumor (pT) if the tumor can be localized. Current systemic therapy options following resection of the pT or with evidence of metastatic disease include somatostatin analogs, evorlimus, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and interferon alpha among other less common therapy options. We present a case of a patient with a NET that originated in the ileocecal region. The patient underwent upfront surgical resection with a right hemicolectomy due to the location of the tumor. The pT was notable for extensive invasion into the visceral peritoneum and metastasis to nearby lymph nodes. However, despite being diagnosed as a stage IV NET, the Ki67 index was less than 1%, categorizing it as a low-grade well-differentiated tumor. Following resection of the tumor, there was no evidence of metastasis to the liver on the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging and recurrent somatostatin receptor overexpressing neoplasm on the Gallium-68 DOTATE PET/CT scan. Due to the juxtaposition of the low grade of the tumor and the high staging, several different treatment options were discussed with the main distinction being whether to base these options off of the stage or the grade of the tumor in the case. Low-grade well-differentiated NET have a good prognosis. On the other hand, stage IV NET and tumors that have metastasized to nearby lymph nodes and organs have an increased likelihood to reoccur and worse outcomes. Recommendations for NET based on current evidence have a lack of clarity in terms of when to undergo observation versus systemic therapy.
Blood Leukocyte AHRR Methylation and Risk of Non–smoking-associated Cancer: A Case-cohort Study of Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Dahl Christina , Hvidtfeldt Ulla A. , Tjønneland Anne , Guldberg Per , Raaschou-Nielsen Ole
Published: August 2023

Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) hypomethylation in peripheral blood is tightly linked with tobacco smoking and lung cancer. Here, we investigated AHRR methylation in non–Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a non–smoking-associated cancer. In a case-cohort study within the population-based Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort, we measured AHRR (cg23576855) methylation in prediagnostic blood from 161 participants who developed NHL within 13.4 years of follow-up (median: 8.5 years), with a comparison group of 164 randomly chosen participants. We measured DNA-methylation levels using bisulfite pyrosequencing and estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for baseline age, sex, educational level, smoking status, body mass index, alcohol intake, physical activity, and diet score. Global DNA-methylation levels were assessed by long interspersed nucleotide element 1 (LINE-1) analysis. Overall, the IRR for AHRR hypomethylation (lowest vs. other quartiles) was 2.52 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24–5.15]. When stratified according to time between blood draw and diagnosis, low AHRR methylation levels were associated with a future diagnosis of NHL [IRR: 4.50 (95% CI, 1.62–12.50) at 0–<5 years, 7.04 (95% CI, 2.36–21.02) at 5–<10 years, and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.21–1.45) at ≥10 years]. There was no association between global DNA-methylation levels and risk of NHL. Our results show that AHRR hypomethylation in blood leukocytes is associated with a higher risk of NHL in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that it occurs as a response to tumor development.

Significance:

Our population-based study demonstrated that lower AHRR methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocytes were associated with an increased risk of NHL. This association was independent of tobacco smoking, sex, and lifestyle characteristics, but was highly dependent on time to diagnosis. These findings highlight the potential of AHRR methylation as a biomarker for NHL risk, effective up to 10 years after blood draw.
Einzelfallexperimentelle Überprüfung der Wirksamkeit eines Elterntrainings bei ADHS
Authors: Heidrich Mark , Lauth Morena , Lauth Gerhard
Published: August 2023

Hintergrund: Bei Eltern von Kindern mit ADHS liegt vielfach eine erhöhte Belastung vor. Stresstheoretisch resultiert Belastung aus einem Missverhältnis zwischen Anforderungen und Bewältigungsmöglichkeiten. Aus diesem Verständnis werden Elternverhaltenstrainings unternommen, die Belastung als Ziel- statt Störvariable auffassen. Forschungsrationale: Bislang stützt sich die Wirksamkeitsprüfung von Elterntrainings stark auf Zwischengruppenvergleiche generalisierter Eindrücke. Intraindividuelle Belastungsunterschiede im Interventionsverlauf können aber Aufschluss über veränderungswirksame Trainingseinheiten geben. Auch Stabilität und Alltagstransfer der Trainingseffekte verdienen Forschungsaufmerksamkeit. Daraus ergibt sich das Rationale für ein Einzelfallexperiment mit verlaufsbegleitender Messwiederholung und längerem Follow-up-Zeitraum. Patienten und Methode: Insgesamt 25 Mütter von Kindern (Alter 7–12 Jahre) mit einer gesicherten Diagnose auf ADHS erhielten ein individuelles Elterntraining. Es bestand aus sieben Trainingseinheiten (Dauer 60–90 Minuten) und wurde in der Familie durchgeführt. Die Elternbelastung wurde bezogen auf familiäre Standardsituationen fortlaufend in der Grundrate, interventionsbegleitend sowie zu Follow-up nach 6 Wochen bzw. 6 Monaten erhoben. Ergebnisse: Die Effektstärke nach Cohen’s d ist von Trainingseinheit 4 an durchgehend hoch und beträgt zu Follow-up nach 6 Monaten d = 1,61. Bei 22 von insgesamt 42 auswertbaren Veränderungsverläufen belegt der Prozentsatz nicht überlappender Daten eine wahrscheinliche bis große Wirksamkeit; 45,7% aller Verläufe erfüllen das Kriterium einer Normalisierung. Diskussion: Zu Follow-up gibt ein Großteil der Eltern eine verminderte Belastung an. Als Wirksamkeitsbedingung darf der Aufbau des kindlichen Zielverhaltens in familiären Standardsituationen gelten. Schlussfolgerung: Insgesamt erweist sich das Elterntraining als wirksam. Starke und schwankende Belastungen der Eltern weisen auf veränderungshemmende Bedingungen in der Familie hin.
Avaliação da incidência de uso de antidepressivos em estudantes de medicina do estado de Alagoas
Authors: Santos Felipe Manoel de Oliveira , Ribeiro Filho Dennis Cavalcanti , Melo Mônica , Silva Luiz Gustavo Omena Barbosa
Published: August 2023

O presente estudo objetivou determinar a frequência do uso de antidepressivos entre os estudantes de Medicina do Estado de Alagoas, dessa forma, consiste em um estudo prospectivo e transversal, realizado nas instituições de ensino superior do Estado de Alagoas possuidoras da graduação de Medicina. Critérios de inclusão foram estar matriculado e frequentando o curso, cursando do primeiro ao quarto ano e possuir 18 anos ou mais. Já os critérios de exclusão foram ser do quinto ou sexto ano de graduação; possuir idade menor que 18 anos, mesmo que emancipado. Através de questionário autopreenchido (informações sociodemográficas, estilo de vida e inventário de Ansiedade de Beck), foram entrevistados 342 acadêmicos de forma aleatória. Os dados adquiridos foram digitados, tabulados e analisados. Este estudo teve aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Todos os participantes leram e assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido em conformidade aos critérios da resolução 466/12. Dos entrevistados, 15% recorrem a antidepressivo e 85% não fazem uso desse tipo de fármaco. Mesmo dando uma percentagem baixa, ainda é preocupante e bastante importante abordar sempre esse tema e reformular o ensino médico, de modo a diminuir os níveis de estresse e ansiedade dos estudantes.
Melancolia tropical
Authors: Santos Juliano Gouveia dos
Published: August 2023

O artigo procura estabelecer relações que apontam para uma melancolia da paisagem brasileira, sobretudo a partir de uma especificidade temporal de suas ruínas, que parecem condensar um dinamismo que diz respeito não àquilo que persiste (apesar da morte), mas a um indício do que nem mesmo chegou a ser, ou seja, um “esboço incompleto”. As ideias são examinadas, para além de referências textuais, à luz de um conjunto de imagens e trabalhos contemporâneos em fotografia.
Accuracy of yellow fever case definition of epidemiologic surveillance, São Paulo, 2018
Authors: Ribeiro Ana Freitas , Cavalin Roberta Figueiredo , Klimas Aparecida Mei Mingrone , Manfredo Ricardo , Borges Luciana Marques Sansão
Published: August 2023

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of yellow fever (YF) suspected case definitions from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as propose and evaluate new definitions of suspected cases, considering confirmed and discarded cases. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas (IIER), using the Epidemiologic Surveillance Form of YF cases. From the confirmed and discarded cases of YF, a logistic regression model was developed. The independent variables were used in a proposed definition of a suspected case of YF and its accuracy was evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 113 YF suspect cases were reported, with 78 confirmed (69.0%). The definitions by BMH and WHO presented low sensitivity, 59% and 53.8%, and reduced accuracy, 53.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Predictive factors for YF were thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and elevation of transaminases greater than twice normal. The definition including individual with acute onset of fever, followed by elevation of ALT or AST greater than twice the reference value AND leukopenia OR thrombocytopenia presented high sensitivity (88.3%), specificity (62.9%), and the best accuracy (80.4%), as proposed in the model. CONCLUSION: The YF suspected case definitions of the BMH and the WHO have low sensitivity. The inclusion of nonspecific laboratory tests increases the accuracy of YF definition.
“The Yoke Before the Oil” (Isa 10:27d) in the Light of Neo-Assyrian Covenant-Making Rituals
Authors: Marcello Fabrizio
Published: August 2023

Following a study by Robertson (1885), Old Testament scholars have attempted to resolve the difficult reference to oil in Isa 10:27d by means of emendations, generally of a geographical nature. In this way, the verse becomes the opening line of the following war oracle (10:28–32). The study of royal inscriptions from the Neo-Assyrian period reveals instead the existence of covenant-making rituals in which oil was employed, especially as an image of the curse associated with covenant transgressions. Since in Assyrian propaganda, the yoke was an image of the king’s lordship over the conquered peoples, with the prophecy that “the yoke before the oil will be destroyed,” the prophet alludes to the termination of the treaty obligations stipulated through the ritual, as well as any form of curse associated with it.
Machine Learning for Daily Forecasts of Arctic Sea Ice Motion: An Attribution Assessment of Model Predictive Skill
Authors: Hoffman Lauren , Mazloff Matthew R. , Gille Sarah T. , Giglio Donata , Bitz Cecilia M. , Heimbach Patrick , Matsuyoshi Kayli
Published: August 2023

Physics-based simulations of Arctic sea ice are highly complex, involving transport between different phases, length scales, and time scales. Resultantly, numerical simulations of sea ice dynamics have a high computational cost and model uncertainty. We employ data-driven machine learning (ML) to make predictions of sea ice motion. The ML models are built to predict present-day sea ice velocity given present-day wind velocity and previous-day sea ice concentration and velocity. Models are trained using reanalysis winds and satellite-derived sea ice properties. We compare the predictions of three different models: persistence (PS), linear regression (LR), and a convolutional neural network (CNN). We quantify the spatiotemporal variability of the correlation between observations and the statistical model predictions. Additionally, we analyze model performance in comparison to variability in properties related to ice motion (wind velocity, ice velocity, ice concentration, distance from coast, bathymetric depth) to understand the processes related to decreases in model performance. Results indicate that a CNN makes skillful predictions of daily sea ice velocity with a correlation up to 0.81 between predicted and observed sea ice velocity, while the LR and PS implementations exhibit correlations of 0.78 and 0.69, respectively. The correlation varies spatially and seasonally: lower values occur in shallow coastal regions and during times of minimum sea ice extent. LR parameter analysis indicates that wind velocity plays the largest role in predicting sea ice velocity on 1-day time scales, particularly in the central Arctic. Regions where wind velocity has the largest LR parameter are regions where the CNN has higher predictive skill than the LR.

Significance Statement

We build and evaluate different machine learning (ML) models that make 1-day predictions of Arctic sea ice velocity using present-day wind velocity and previous-day ice concentration and ice velocity. We find that models that incorporate nonlinear relationships between inputs (a neural network) capture important information (i.e., have a higher correlation between observations and predictions than do linear and persistence models). This performance enhancement occurs primarily in deeper regions of the central Arctic where wind speed is the dominant predictor of ice motion. Understanding where these models benefit from increased complexity is important because future work will use ML to elucidate physically meaningful relationships within the data, looking at how the relationship between wind and ice velocity is changing as the ice melts.
A Xinderella Story: Turning the Chinese Dream Into China’s Master Narrative
Authors: Gering Tuvia
Published: August 2023

The China Story, also known as Xi Jinping’s Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation, is widely accepted as the central narrative for the leadership’s ideological and political legitimacy-building efforts. Despite its significance and the widespread attention it has received in the decade since its inception, surprisingly little literature has examined the Chinese Dream through the lens of narrative theory. This article seeks to close this gap by offering a structural narratological analysis of the China Story. It illuminates how the narrative comprises policy-oriented rhetorical frames that form overarching themes that direct party-state actions and support Xi Jinping’s status as the ‘core’ leader. The paper argues that as a ‘master narrative’, it seeks to provide a spiritual foundation and a compelling vision of a strong, prosperous, and unified China under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party.
Middle-class responses to climate change: An analysis of the ecological habitus of tech workers
Authors: Dorschel Robert
Published: August 2023

The question of how the digital economy responds to ecological issues has gained salience in recent years. So far, though, social scientists have primarily taken interest in the ecological positionings of tech entrepreneurs. Little attention has been paid to the middle-class fraction of ‘tech workers’ who are responsible for programming, designing, and managing the digital technologies that reconfigure socio-material relations. Based on 52 interviews with data scientists and user experience designers, the article analyzes the ecological habitus of this new professional segment. Four central ecological schemas are identified: (1) managing limited resources, (2) critical techno-optimism, (3) academic concern, and (4) lifestyle struggles. Simultaneously, the article discusses how these four schemas relate to the different forms of capital held by tech workers. This mapping of the ecological habitus of tech workers shows how social relationships with nature are underpinned by class positions. The article thus pursues dual aims, contributing to research on green capitalism as well as to debates on how the middle class relates to climate change.
Conquering precarious work through inclusive leadership: Important roles of structural empowerment and leader political skill
Authors: Lu Jintao , Guo Zijun , Usman Muhammad , Qu Jiaojiao , Fareed Zeeshan
Published: August 2023

Given the prevalence of precarious work in the social fabric of organizations, its negative repercussions for employees and organizations, and the scarcity of research on how organizational leadership can improve working conditions, we suggest inclusive leaders as a remedy to precarious work. Drawing on stakeholder theory, we propose that inclusive leadership is negatively associated with precarious work, both directly and indirectly, via structural empowerment. We also hypothesize that leader political skill moderates the positive relationship between inclusive leadership and structural empowerment and the negative indirect (via structural empowerment) association between inclusive leadership and precarious work. Two-source and time-lagged survey data collected from 311 employees and their supervisors supported our hypotheses. Other than contributions to the literature on inclusive leadership, structural empowerment, and precarious work, this study offers several imperative practical implications that can help organizations counter precarious work and its negative repercussions.
Incentivizing Narcotics Control Through China’s Belt and Road Initiative in South and Southeast Asia
Authors: Wang Chao , Lassi Nicholas
Published: August 2023

The production and distribution of narcotics in many states in South and Southeast Asia present significant challenges for China. Several of these states receive foreign investments and assistance through China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including a division of the BRI called the Health Silk Road (HSR). China has an opportunity to motivate these states to strengthen their narcotics control measures by adding conditionality clauses in the BRI/HSR investment agreements with these states. The suggested clauses could mandate measures such as improving drug enforcement, decommissioning production sites and distributors, increasing harm reduction and rehabilitation services, and establishing citizen complaint systems for narcotics issues. To ensure compliance, disincentives should be activated for states failing to meet narcotics control conditions.
How Scientists from Developing and Developed Countries View International Research Collaboration: A Case Study of the USAID PEER Program
Authors: Lee Sooho , Fonseca Carolyn , Bess Cameron
Published: August 2023

Over the last two decades, international research collaborations have been growing significantly; however, it is unclear whether scientists in developing countries engage in collaboration with the same expectation as their counterparts in more developed countries. Using survey data of the USAID Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Program, this study found that North–South collaboration is a very productive experience for both types of scientists; however, scientists in developing countries perceive positive impact and benefits significantly more than their North partners. There are also significant differences in collaboration motivations, research environment, collaborative network development, and use of research results.
Chronology construction in the borderlands: Bayesian modelling of Potomac Valley settlement histories
Authors: Gallivan Martin , Henshaw John , Borden Matthew
Published: August 2023

Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates to construct detailed chronologies has become a key methodology in North America's ‘historic turn,’ though the Middle Atlantic has seen few efforts to apply these techniques. Drawing from 70 legacy dates and 25 new assays, this study develops Bayesian chronological models for 10 Late Woodland (AD 900-1600) sites in the Potomac Valley. Our goal is to assess how the arrival of Luray communities impacted the region's settlement history. During the Late Woodland period Native communities tied to three cultural traditions established a series of towns in the Potomac Valley, at times close to one another. With evidence of population movements, intergroup violence, and coalescent communities, the Late Woodland Potomac Valley appears to have represented a dynamic borderland during these centuries. The chronology developed in this study points toward a landscape of settlements we have labelled Persistent Places, Unsettled Settlements, and Transitory Towns.
Language testers and their place in the policy web
Authors: Schildt Laura , Deygers Bart , Weideman Albert
Published: August 2023

In the context of policy-driven language testing for citizenship, a growing body of research examines the political justifications and ethical implications of language requirements and test use. However, virtually no studies have looked at the role that language testers play in the evolution of language requirements. Critical gaps remain in our understanding of language testers’ first-hand experiences interacting with policymakers and how they perceive the use of tests in public policy. We examined these questions using an exploratory design and semi-structured interviews with 28 test executives representing 25 exam boards in 20 European countries. The interviews were transcribed and double coded in NVivo (weighted kappa = .83) using a priori and inductive coding. We used a horizontal analysis to evaluate responses by participant and a vertical analysis to identify between-case themes. Findings indicate that language testers may benefit from policy literacy to form part of policy webs wherein they can influence instrumental decisions concerning language in migration policy.
Full-Scale Evaluation of Electrically Conductive Asphalt Pavements for Deicing Applications
Authors: Marath Ashith , Ali Ayman , Saidi Ahmed , Mehta Yusuf , Elshaer Mohamed , Decarlo Christopher
Published: August 2023

Electrically heated pavements are an emerging technology for deicing applications in cold regions. Such pavements usually contain a conductive layer (asphalt or concrete) and electrodes to transmit electricity through the pavement, thus heating it. The goal of this study was to evaluate the heating ability of electrically conductive pavement structures under cold weather conditions. To achieve this goal, three full-scale pavement strips were constructed at Rowan University. Test strip I was a conventional pavement strip without any heating elements, whereas test strips II and III had conductive asphalt layer sandwiched between base and asphalt surface courses. The conductive layer in test strip II consisted of a mixture of asphalt binder and conductive fibers, whereas test strip III contained a modified high-performance thin overlay (HPTO) mixture with graphite and carbon fibers. To provide electric potential across the conductive layers, steel electrodes with different spacings (6 in. and 12 in.) were installed at the bottom of the conductive layers of test strips II and III, and connected to a 24V AC power source. Electrical data showed that test strip II had a power consumption of 19.75 W/ft2, which was nearly four times higher than test strip III. Thermal data showed that the surface temperature of test strip III with 6 in. electrode spacing increased above freezing point with nearly 50% less power consumption than test strip II. Further, electrodes with 6 in. spacing resulted in the highest increase of pavement surface temperature, which was 3°F higher than electrodes with 12 in. spacing.
Improving Law Enforcement and Emergency Response to Disabled Vehicle Crashes Using Waze Crowdsourced Data
Authors: Sandt Adrian , McCombs John , Al-Deek Haitham , Carrick Grady
Published: August 2023

Disabled and abandoned vehicles (DAVs) on limited access freeways are exposure risks that can result in congestion and crashes. Improving law enforcement response to DAVs can reduce their impact and potentially prevent some crashes from occurring. Crowdsourced data, such as Waze user alerts, can provide near real-time information on highway conditions, including the presence of DAVs. The challenge is effectively filtering the data so law enforcement can more efficiently respond to actual DAV incidents. In this paper, over 3.8 million Waze alerts and 329 DAV crashes on Florida limited access roadways from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, were analyzed to determine appropriate matching parameters, characteristics, and potential benefits that could be provided by the Waze alerts. Evaluation of various spatiotemporal buffers to match Waze and crash data showed that buffers of 0.5 km (0.31 mi) and 30 min would provide the best matching. Using these buffers, 41 crashes were found to have matched Waze alerts. Analyses of these matched data showed that DAV Waze alerts would likely provide the most benefits during morning peak hours and on urban interstates. The earlier detection because of Waze alerts could have potentially allowed responders to reach 12 DAVs before a crash occurred. This earlier response could have potentially prevented over US$23 million in comprehensive crash costs. The results from this paper can be used to develop more efficient DAV response strategies using crowdsourced data, allowing law enforcement to better detect DAVs while keeping the number of alerts at a manageable level.
Compositional functional regression and isotemporal substitution analysis: Methods and application in time-use epidemiology
Authors: Jašková Paulína , Palarea-Albaladejo Javier , Gába Aleš , Dumuid Dorothea , Pedišić Željko , Pelclová Jana , Hron Karel
Published: August 2023

The distribution of time that people spend in physical activity of various intensities has important health implications. Physical activity (commonly categorised by the intensity into light, moderate and vigorous physical activity), sedentary behaviour and sleep, should not be analysed separately, because they are parts of a time-use composition with a natural constraint of [Formula: see text] h/day. To find out how are relative reallocations of time between physical activity of various intensities associated with health, herewith we describe compositional scalar-on-function regression and a newly developed compositional functional isotemporal substitution analysis. Physical activity intensity data can be considered as probability density functions, which better reflects the continuous character of their measurement using accelerometers. These probability density functions are characterised by specific properties, such as scale invariance and relative scale, and they are geometrically represented using Bayes spaces with the Hilbert space structure. This makes possible to process them using standard methods of functional data analysis in the [Formula: see text] space, via centred logratio (clr) transformation. The scalar-on-function regression with clr transformation of the explanatory probability density functions and compositional functional isotemporal substitution analysis were applied to a dataset from a cross-sectional study on adiposity conducted among school-aged children in the Czech Republic. Theoretical reallocations of time to physical activity of higher intensities were found to be associated with larger and more progressive expected decreases in adiposity. We obtained a detailed insight into the dose–response relationship between physical activity intensity and adiposity, which was enabled by using the compositional functional approach.
Trends in Intergenerational Education Mobility in Bangladesh
Authors: Murshed Rubaiya , Uddin Mohammad Riaz
Published: August 2023

When children are able to progress beyond their parents’ education level, that is, when there is upward intergenerational education mobility—they are more likely to have better opportunities and access than their parents in terms of jobs and income. For any nation, it is important to understand the trajectory of intergenerational education mobility and ask: Has it been increasing? In the case of Bangladesh, our study is the first to use nationally representative household survey data to explore the trend of intergenerational education mobility. We compute intergenerational education mobility separately for three different years—2005, 2010 and 2016, and find that intergenerational education mobility has, from 2005 to 2016, significantly decreased in terms of fathers’ education. This is surprising given that the expansion of education has been a target both policy-wise and action-wise—for Bangladesh over the last few decades. The finding in terms of mothers’ education—that intergenerational education mobility has significantly increased from 2005 to 2016—makes more sense given the focus on female education expansion in Bangladesh over the years. Moreover, our results indicate that daughters, in general, have been progressing better compared to sons in terms of intergenerational (father–child) education mobility and that children of fathers with higher education levels progressed better than children of fathers with lower education levels. We suggest policies accordingly and emphasize the need to investigate the reasons behind the father–child education immobility over time in Bangladesh.
A practical approach to the sampling, fixation, softening, and sectioning of whole honey bees for histologic evaluation
Authors: Cook Sarah E. , Niño Bernardo D. , Rivera Laura , Alex Charles E. , Seshadri Arathi , Niño Elina L.
Published: August 2023

The Western honey bee ( Apis mellifera) is economically important as the primary managed pollinator of many agricultural crops and for the production of various hive-related commodities. Honey bees are not classically or thoroughly covered in veterinary pathology training programs. Given their unique anatomic and biological differences from the other species more traditionally evaluated by veterinary pathologists, establishing routine and consistent methods for processing samples for histology ensures accurate diagnostic and research conclusions. We developed and tested several field protocols for the sampling of honey bees. We compared the tissue-quality outcomes for worker bees fixed, collected, and/or softened under the following protocols: 1) routine formalin fixation; 2) softening chitin via exposure to Nair for 2 d or 3) 5 d; 4) shortened times between formalin submersion and trimming of body segments to enhance penetration of formalin into internal tissues; 5) ethanol submersion of specimen prior to formalin fixation; 6) indirect dry ice exposure; and 7) prolonged −80°C storage. Routine formalin fixation, exposure to Nair for 2 d, indirect dry ice exposure, and trimming body segments within 2 h of formalin submersion resulted in the highest quality histologic tissue sections. The poorest quality sections resulted from softening of chitin by exposure to Nair for 5 d, submersion in ethanol for 3 d before formalin fixation, and prolonged storage at −80°C. Our results indicate that routine formalin fixation is adequate, and that immobilizing bees with indirect dry ice exposure aids in sample collection without negatively impacting the quality of histologic sections.
An experimental investigation on the matrix dependent rheological properties of MRE
Authors: Poojary Umanath R , Kiran Katari , Hegde Sriharsha , Gangadharan KV
Published: August 2023

The rheological properties of magnetorheological elastomers are influenced by magnetically sensitive fillers and the elastomer matrix. The ability to respond to an external magnetic field is imparted by the fillers, while the load-bearing capability is determined by the matrix type. In this paper, the effect of matrix material on the properties of magnetorhological elastomer is explored experimentally. Carbonyl iron particle content is varied by 0%, 15% and 25% by volume to produce magnetorheological elastomer samples using natural rubber, silicone rubber and nitrile butadiene rubber matrices. Forced transmissibility test approach was employed to evaluate the field induced variations in the dynamic stiffness and loss factor of magnetorheological elastomers. The dynamic stiffness of nitrile butadiene rubber is the highest, while that of silicone rubber is the lowest. Addition of carbonyl iron particles significantly improves stiffness, although these gains depend on the properties of unfilled matrix. The addition of 25% by volume of carbonyl iron particle increased the dynamic stiffness of a silicone rubber matrix based magnetorheological elastomer by 67.78%, while the similar change in magnetorheological elastomer with nitrile butadiene rubber matrix was 38.58%. The field dependent response of magnetorheological elastomers is governed by the matrix and ferromagnetic filler concentration. These qualities are higher in magnetorheological elastomer with a low initial dynamic stiffness matrix and lower in magnetorheological elastomers with a stiffer matrix.
Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Alveolar Cleft Volume and Nasomaxillary Form in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Sehrawat Kirti , Kumar Santosh , Harikrishnan Pandurangan
Published: August 2023

Objective

To evaluate the alveolar cleft volume (ACV) and to study its correlation with the nasomaxillary form in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP)

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

University Academic Hospital.

Patients/Participants

30 patients with UCLP and 30 non-cleft patients.

Interventions

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.

Results

The Maxillary sinus volume (MSV) and Nasal cavity volume (NCV) were significantly reduced on the affected side in patients with UCLP ( P < .001) and also in the cleft group when compared to the noncleft group ( P < .01). The septal deviation measured at anterior, mid and posterior nasal spine were increased in the UCLP group significantly when compared to the non-cleft group ( P < .01) and maximum deviation was seen at the mid-level. The mean ACV was found to be 0.587 + 0.396 cm3.The nasomaxillary complex was affected in UCLP patients irrespective of cleft size and a statistically significant correlation of ACV was found with septal height only (r value = -0.508). Parameters like septal height, anterior and middle maxillary width were significantly reduced ( P < .01) in the cleft group when compared to the non-cleft group.

Conclusion

The patients with UCLP showed significant differences among various parameters within the nasomaxillary complex when compared to the control group. Within the cleft group, the MSV and NCV were significantly decreased on the cleft side and also a significant negative correlation of ACV was found with septal height only.
How Electoral Cycles Shape the Implementation of Public Works Programs: Evidence From India
Authors: Thomas Anjali , Darsey Jonathan
Published: August 2023

Why do public works programs in developing democracies often experience implementation failures at the local level? Building on the literature on political business cycles, our study sheds light on a key explanation. We argue that electoral cycles undermine the completion of public works projects because of incumbents’ difficulties in reaping electoral rewards for following through on projects proposed just prior to an election. Analyses based on project-level data from a nation-wide public program in India supports the argument. We find that projects proposed close to an upcoming election are less likely to be eventually completed than projects proposed at other times. We further find that incumbent turnover exacerbates the effect of electoral cycles and that this modifying effect is plausibly causal. The results suggest that new incumbents have reduced incentives to follow through on projects proposed by their predecessors due to the difficulties involved with claiming credit for such projects.
Active vibration control of inlet piping system with a time-variant secondary path using the mirror modified filtered-x least mean square algorithm
Authors: Wu Muyun , Liu Xueguang , Dai Lu , Zheng Zhaoli , Li Wenke
Published: August 2023

Active vibration control under a time-variant secondary path is a research priority in the field of vibration suppression. To track the varied secondary path, the mirror modified filtered-x least mean square (MMFxLMS) algorithm is proposed. However, due to the expensive computing cost and difficulty to adjust the modeling performance of the primary and secondary paths independently, the application of the MMFxLMS algorithm is limited. The algorithm is studied in this paper. First, the complexity is reduced by simplifying the normalization using an exponential window. The convergence of the overall modeling algorithm using different stepsizes and the influence of the background noise on the overall modeling results are analyzed, respectively. Simulation studies show that the algorithm using different stepsizes reaches a better performance than the classical MMFxLMS algorithm. To illustrate the proposed method is a promising algorithm, experiments on controlling the vibration of the piping system, which is basic cooling equipment on a ship propulsion system, are carried out. As these investigations illustrate, the proposed measures efficiently improve the performances of the MMFxLMS algorithm in convergence speed, control effect, and the property of dealing with time-varying parameters.
Socioeconomic differences in children’s victimization to maternal and paternal violence: a register-based study
Authors: Ellonen Noora , Pitkänen Joonas , Aaltonen Mikko , Remes Hanna , Martikainen Pekka
Published: August 2023

Aims:

To explore the potential of administrative data in assessment of the association between parental socioeconomic position (SEP) and children’s violent victimization by biological parents.

Methods:

A longitudinal register-linkage study based on child–mother and child–father data, including all children born in Finland between 1991 and 2017. The data included 1,535,428 children, 796,335 biological mothers, and 775,966 fathers. We used logistic regression with person-years as observations and cluster-robust standard errors to predict children’s violent victimization in 2009–2018 and assessed effect modification by child’s age and gender.

Results:

For the SEP indicators, lower maternal education (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.90, secondary education OR 1.99) and lower paternal education (OR 2.24, secondary education OR 1.59) were risk factors for violent victimization. Parental social assistance receipt (OR 2.4) and non-employment (OR 1.8–1.9) increased the risk of victimization to maternal and paternal violence. Income was associated with victimization in a gradient-like manner, with ORs ranging from 1.14 to 1.98 among mothers and from 1.29 to 2.56 among fathers. Children with low parental SEP were at the highest risk of parental violence, particularly paternal violence, at ages 3−8 years.

Conclusions:

All indicators of low SEP increased the risk of children experiencing both maternal and paternal physical violence, especially at ages 3–8 years. Longitudinal register data—because of large samples, no nonresponse or self-report bias, and the possibility to analyze violence committed by mother and father and age-groups separately—have great potential for comprehensive research on the risk factors of parental violence that are difficult to reliably assess with other types of data.
A detailed multidimensional simulation for the cold start process of a gasoline direct injection engine using a fractal engine simulation model
Authors: Li Delong , Hu Jinghu , Hall Matthew , Matthews Ron
Published: August 2023

The cold start process for a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine was studied through multidimensional simulations using a Fractal Engine Simulation (FES) model integrated into CONVERGE CFD. The simulations were focused on the very first firing cycle in the cold start process, as most of the hydrocarbon emissions derive from this cycle. The dramatically changing engine speed and low wall temperatures in the cylinder present challenges for simulation. It turned out that the FES model was able to predict the in-cylinder pressure traces for all four cylinders for the first firing cycle, and gave good agreement with the experimental measurements under these extremely transient conditions. More comprehensive analysis demonstrated the causes for the different behavior of the combustion in different cylinders: more injected fuel and a higher induced tumble ratio in cylinder 3, the first to fire, led to a higher average equivalence ratio and better fuel distribution, which resulted in the highest peak pressure; the worse fuel distribution from the lower tumble ratio, together with the lower normalized turbulence, caused weaker combustion in cylinder 4; the peak pressures were similar and on the low side for cylinders 2 and 1, mainly determined by the low average equivalence ratio. An improved strategy with multiple injections was proposed, with the first two in the intake stroke and two later injections in the compression stroke rather than one injection during each stroke. Although the total injected fuel was the same as the baseline strategy, more fuel evaporated due to the enhanced fuel evaporation from both droplets and wall films, resulting in a higher average equivalence ratio in the cylinder. The peak cylinder pressure and IMEP rose by 33.3% and 8.4%, respectively, using the 4-injection strategy compared to the baseline 2-injection strategy, and the 4-injection strategy was verified by the experiments, as well.