bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exercise and Sports Participation in Children with Cardiomyopathy: A Review
Authors: Masood Imran R. , Edelson Jonathan B.
Published: September 2023

Purpose of review

There are numerous health benefits to exercise, including improved cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health. Despite these many benefits, children with cardiomyopathy have been traditionally restricted from engaging in exercise or participating in organized sports. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature regarding the utility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing, discuss the safety and benefits of exercise and sports participation in children with cardiomyopathy, and to identify research gaps in the field.

Recent findings

We highlight relevant literature discussing exercise and sports participation in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy, and those with ventricular assist device support. We discuss recent literature describing methods for risk stratification.

The current literature globally favors promoting exercise and sports participation after appropriate risk stratification. Additionally, we offer guidance for how to safely promote exercise in children with cardiomyopathy.
Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic in Raw Milk Produced in the Vicinity of a Mini Mineral Concentrator in the Central Andes and Health Risk
Authors: Chirinos-Peinado Doris , Castro-Bedriñana Jorge , Ríos-Ríos Elva , Castro-Chirinos Gianfranco , Quispe-Poma Yubaly
Published: September 2023

The bovine milk quality, safety, and security are of great concern mainly due to the dispersion of toxic substances from various anthropogenic activities and poor practices for organophosphates in agriculture use. This study evaluated the potential risk to human health from lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) from the consumption of milk produced in an area of the Central Andes valley near a mini mineral concentrator by estimating the weekly intake (WI), dietary risk quotient (DRC), hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) for the Peruvian population aged 2 to 85 years, in three scenarios of milk consumption by age (minimum, average, and maximum). Toxic element quantification was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry following standardized procedures. The mean amount ± standard deviation of Pb, Cd, and As in soils was 292±60.90, 3.54±1.58, and 5.60±2.20 mg/kg, the order of importance being Pb>As>Cd. The contents of Pb, Cd, and As in pastures were 23.17±10.02, 0.25±0.57, and 0.06±0.09 mg/kg, being from highest to lowest Pb>Cd>As. The means of Pb, Cd, and As content in 19 milk samples were 0.029±0.022, 0.007±0.006, and 0.010±0.004 mg/kg. Pb and Cd exceeded the maximum permissible limits (MPL), and the As was below the MPL. At all ages and milk consumption levels, the WI for Pb and Cd were below the estimated tolerable intake (TWI). The WI for As in < 19 years was higher than the TWI. The DRC for Pb and Cd at all three milk intake levels and all ages was < 1, and for As, it was > 1 in < 19 years, being the risk group. The TQH and HI for Pb and Cd were also > 1, signifying no health risk, and for As, the values were > 1 in < 11 years. Our results are valuable for preventing adverse health impacts from safe and innocuous milk consumption.
Can industry 5.0 technologies overcome supply chain disruptions?—a perspective study on pandemics, war, and climate change issues
Authors: Agrawal Shruti , Agrawal Rohit , Kumar Anil , Luthra Sunil , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo
Published: September 2023

Industry 5.0 (I5.0) is the next industrial revolution that will leverage human intervention in collaboration with intelligent, logical, and smart machines to attain even more user-preferred and resource-efficient manufacturing and supply chain solutions. The main aim of this article is to study I5.0 technologies in supply chains when these are affected by disruptive phenomena such as those created by wars, climate change or pandemics. A systematic literature review methodology was conducted to understand the present knowledge connected with this theme. This study summarises 194 research articles from the period 2009 to 2022 to understand the present knowledge connected with this theme. The research findings show a significant gap related to the adoption of I5.0 technologies to prevent or overcome supply chain disruptions. 194 articles, including journal and review articles, were identified in the literature. The study provides a novel and insightful concept related to I5.0 within the context of supply chain disruptions. The potential applications of I5.0 and Industry 4.0 are elaborately discussed in three areas, namely: (1) disruptions in supply chains due to pandemics; (2) disruptions in supply chains due to war; and (3) disruptions in supply chains due to climate change. Finally, this study highlights research implications and proposes future research avenues that will contribute to further exploring the adoption of I5.0 technologies to prevent, manage and overcome disruptions in supply chains.
“If you know from the start ‘how long’, then you can always adjust to it better”: a qualitative study of adults’ experiences and coping with two years COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
Authors: Schneider Verena , Duden Gesa , Landmann Helen , Rohmann Anette
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to identify positive and negative experiences of adults in Germany, coping strategies, contexts and wellbeing trajectories across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews (n = 14 adults) were conducted during spring 2022 and thematically analysed. Experiences and wellbeing trajectories corresponded to different phases of the pandemic, individuals’ contexts, and coping strategies. Many of the negative and positive experiences were perceived long-term changes, including deteriorated health behaviours, physical and mental health, social withdrawal for some, and improved health behaviours, personal growth, improved working life for others. Experiences, coping and consequently wellbeing were strongly affected by individuals’ contexts. Cognitive adaptation to a long duration of the pandemic and sufficient support appeared key to effective coping. We recommend more structural support for those most affected, preparing the public for long-term disruptions of their lives and addressing social inequalities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four new species of Matelea (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) endemic to Mexico
Authors: González-Martínez César Adrián , Lozada-Pérez Lucio , Alvarado-Cárdenas Leonardo O.
Published: September 2023

Four new species of Matelea, endemic to Mexico, are proposed and described: M. balrog, M. cornuta, M. jaimesiae and M. lokii. These taxa differ from each other and M. gonoloboides, M. medusae and M. porphyrantha (the Matelea gonoloboides species complex) in their corolla shapes and gynostegial corona ornamentation. Descriptions, illustrations, morphological comparisons and geographic distributions of these species, as well as their conservation status, are provided. A lectotypification for the name M. gonoloboides is also included. These discoveries highlight Mexico as a centre of diversity and endemism for the genus, with 69 species currently known from the country, of which 66% are restricted to it.
Reproductive Responses to Increased Shoot Density and Global Change Drivers in a Widespread Clonal Wetland Species, Schoenoplectus americanus
Authors: Kudoh Aoi , Megonigal J. Patrick , Langley J. Adam , Noyce Genevieve L. , Sakai Toshiyuki , Whigham Dennis F.
Published: September 2023

The expansion of many wetland species is a function of both clonal propagation and sexual reproduction. The production of ramets through clonal propagation enables plants to move and occupy space near parent ramets, while seeds produced by sexual reproduction enable species to disperse and colonize open or disturbed sites both near and far from parents. The balance between clonal propagation and sexual reproduction is known to vary with plant density but few studies have focused on reproductive allocation with density changes in response to global climate change. Schoenoplectus americanus is a widespread clonal wetland species in North America and a dominant species in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal wetlands. Long-term experiments on responses of S. americanus to global change provided the opportunity to compare the two modes of propagation under different treatments. Seed production increased with increasing shoot density, supporting the hypothesis that factors causing increased clonal reproduction (e.g., higher shoot density) stimulate sexual reproduction and dispersal of genets. The increase in allocation to sexual reproduction was mainly the result of an increase in the number of ramets that flowered and not an increase in the number of seeds per reproductive shoot, or the ratio between the number of flowers produced per inflorescence and the number of flowers that developed into seeds. Seed production increased in response to increasing temperatures and decreased or did not change in response to increased CO2 or nitrogen. Results from this comparative study demonstrate that plant responses to global change treatments affect resource allocation and can alter the ability of species to produce seeds.
Online Signature Recognition: A Biologically Inspired Feature Vector Splitting Approach
Authors: Faundez-Zanuy Marcos , Diaz Moises , Ferrer Miguel Angel
Published: September 2023

This research introduces an innovative approach to explore the cognitive and biologically inspired underpinnings of feature vector splitting for analyzing the significance of different attributes in e-security biometric signature recognition applications. Departing from traditional methods of concatenating features into an extended set, we employ multiple splitting strategies, aligning with cognitive principles, to preserve control over the relative importance of each feature subset. Our methodology is applied to three diverse databases (MCYT100, MCYT300, and SVC) using two classifiers (vector quantization and dynamic time warping with one and five training samples). Experimentation demonstrates that the fusion of pressure data with spatial coordinates (x and y) consistently enhances performance. However, the inclusion of pen-tip angles in the same feature set yields mixed results, with performance improvements observed in select cases. This work delves into the cognitive aspects of feature fusion, shedding light on the cognitive relevance of feature vector splitting in e-security biometric applications.
An Efficient and Cost- Effective Pretreatment of Rice Straw Using Steam Explosion: A Pilot Scale Experience
Authors: Semwal Surbhi , Sivagurunathan Periyasamy , Satlewal Alok , Kumar Rahul , Gupta Ravi P. , Christopher Jayaraj , Kumar Ravindra
Published: September 2023

Surplus availability of rice straw (RS) presents it as a potential feedstock for ethanol production. Steam explosion (SE) is considered as a green approach to extract fermentable sugars at lower cost. The present study deals with the reaction condition optimization for water and dilute acid assisted steam explosion of rice straw at different temperatures and explores the effect of structural properties of solid residue on enzymatic hydrolysis along with mass balance. SE conditions were optimized at pilot scale, raising the temperature from 170 to 200 °C in water assisted SE resulting in an increased glucan conversion from 21.4 to 42.5% at 15% solid loading using 1.5 FPU of cellulases g–1 biomass. Further, it was improved up to 58.7% by increasing the enzyme dosage to 5 FPU, although it might lead to enhanced enzyme cost by threefold. To reduce costs, small amount of dilute acid (DA) was added during SE and lowering of enzyme consumption i.e. 1.5 FPU/g cellulose has been used to achieve 65.5% glucan conversion. Varying temperature and incorporate dilute acid during pretreatment induced structural alterations in biomass evident by compositional analysis, FT-IR and mass balance. Mass balance study revealed that the overall sugar recovery i.e. 58.7 and 38.8% and theoretical yield of ethanol shall be 222 and 186 L ton–1 RS respectively, with and without DA addition.

Graphical Abstract
Investigations of the effects of two typical jet crushing methods on the atomization and dust reduction performance of nozzles
Authors: Han Han , Wang Hetang , Zhang Qi , Du Yunhe , Wang Haojie , Wang Hui
Published: September 2023

Single-fluid nozzles and dual-fluid nozzles are the two typical jet crushing methods used in spray dust reduction. To distinguish the atomization mechanism of single-fluid and dual-fluid nozzles and improve dust control efficiency at the coal mining faces, the atomization characteristics and dust reduction performance of the two nozzles were quantitatively compared. Results of experiments show that, as water supply pressure increased, the atomization angle of the swirl pressure nozzle reaches a maximum of 62° at 6 MPa and then decreases, but its droplet size shows an opposite trend with a minimum of 41.7 μm. The water supply pressure helps to improve the droplet size and the atomization angle of the internal mixing air–liquid nozzle, while the air supply pressure has a suppressive effect for them. When the water supply pressure is 0.2 MPa and the air supply pressure reaches 0.4 MPa, the nozzle obtains the smallest droplet size which is 10% smaller than the swirl pressure nozzle. Combined with the dust reduction experimental results, when the water consumption at the working surface is not limited, using the swirl pressure nozzle will achieve a better dust reduction effect. However, the internal mixing air–liquid nozzle can achieve better and more economical dust reduction performance in working environments where water consumption is limited.
Pore structure of low-permeability coal and its deformation characteristics during the adsorption–desorption of CH4/N2
Authors: Ji Pengfei , Lin Haifei , Kong Xiangguo , Li Shugang , Hu Biao , Wang Pei , He Di , Yang Songrui
Published: September 2023

The pore structure of coal plays a key role in controlling the storage and migration of CH4/N2. The pore structure of coal is an important indicator to measure the gas extraction capability and the gas displacement effect of N2 injection. The deformation characteristic of coal during adsorption–desorption of CH4/N2 is an important factor affecting CH4 pumpability and N2 injectability. The pore structure characteristics of low-permeability coal were obtained by fluid intrusion method and photoelectric radiation technology. The multistage and connectivity of coal pores were analyzed. Subsequently, a simultaneous test experiment of CH4/N2 adsorption–desorption and coal deformation was carried out. The deformation characteristics of coal were clarified and a coal strain model was constructed. Finally, the applicability of low-permeability coal to N2 injection for CH4 displacement technology was investigated. The results show that the micropores and transition pores of coal samples are relatively developed. The pore morphology of coal is dominated by semi-open pores. The pore structure of coal is highly complex and heterogeneous. Transition pores, mesopores and macropores of coal have good connectivity, while micropores have poor connectivity. Under constant triaxial stress, the adsorption capacity of the coal for CH4 is greater than that for N2, and the deformation capacity of the coal for CH4 adsorption is greater than that for N2 adsorption. The axial strain, circumferential strain, and volumetric strain during the entire process of CH4 and N2 adsorption/desorption in the coal can be divided into three stages. Coal adsorption–desorption deformation has the characteristics of anisotropy and gas-difference. A strain model for the adsorption–desorption of CH4/N2 from coal was established by considering the expansion stress of adsorbed gas on the coal matrix, the compression stress of free gas on the coal matrix, and the expansion stress of free gas on micropore fractures. N2 has good injectability in low-permeability coal seams and has the dual functions of improving coal seam permeability and enhancing gas flow, which can significantly improve the effectiveness of low-permeability coal seam gas control and promote the efficient utilization of gas resources.
Fracture propagation laws of staged hydraulic fracture in fractured geothermal reservoir based on phase field model
Authors: Peng Genbo
Published: September 2023

Hydraulic fracturing is widely used in geothermal resource exploitation, and many natural fractures exist in hot dry rock reservoirs due to in-situ stress and faults. However, the influence of natural fractures on hydraulic fracture propagation is not considered in the current study. In this paper, based on the phase field model, a thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled hydraulic fracture propagation model was established to reveal the influence of injection time, fracturing method, injection flow rate, and natural fracture distribution on the fracture propagation mechanism. The results show that fracture complexity increases with an increase in injection time. The stress disturbance causes the fracture initiation pressure of the second cluster significantly higher than that of the first and third clusters. The zipper-type fracturing method can reduce the degree of stress disturbance and increase fracture complexity by 7.2% compared to simultaneous hydraulic fracturing. Both low and high injection flow rate lead to a decrease in fracture propagation time, which is not conducive to an increase in fracture complexity. An increase in the natural fracture angle leads to hydraulic fracture crossing natural fracture, but has a lesser effect on fracture complexity. In this paper, we analyzed the influence of different factors on initiation pressure and fracture complexity, providing valuable guidance for the exploitation of geothermal resources.
Learning from Japanese Businesses: Ethics in Operational Excellence
Authors: Hennig Alicia , Romar Edward
Published: September 2023

Humanistic management in a non-Western context is underexplored, for example, in Japan. Despite numerous publications especially on Japanese management in the 1980s to 1990s the topic of humanistic management in a Japanese context remains largely unexplored. Using Toyota as a case, this article illustrates how a company has systematically implemented Japanese ethical principles based upon Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shintoism in its corporate ethics and operations. These moral philosophies emphasize self-improvement, social cooperation, and contribution to society as foundations for good behavior regardless of an individual’s social position. We link some of these philosophic elements with humanistic management in an Asian context. In addition, we came to understand that Toyota’s organizational architecture, i.e., production system and product development rely on an integrated ethical system as their fundamental purpose of business activities, including an expectation that all workers collectively contribute to organizational success and harmony. This differs from many Western approaches which see profit as the purpose of the firm and view their ethical responsibilities in an ex-post fashion. These findings are important, as the scope of humanistic management practices globally needs to be expanded.
Constitutive basis of root system architecture: uncovering a promising trait for breeding nutrient- and drought-resilient crops
Authors: Liu Zhigang , Qin Tongfei , Atienza Michaella , Zhao Yang , Nguyen Hanh , Sheng Huajin , Olukayode Toluwase , Song Hao , Panjvani Karim , Magalhaes Jurandir , Lucas William J. , Kochian Leon V.
Published: September 2023

Root system architecture (RSA) plays a pivotal role in efficient uptake of essential nutrients, such as phosphorous (P), nitrogen (N), and water. In soils with heterogeneous nutrient distribution, root plasticity can optimize acquisition and plant growth. Here, we present evidence that a constitutive RSA can confer benefits for sorghum grown under both sufficient and limiting growth conditions. Our studies, using P efficient SC103 and inefficient BTx635 sorghum cultivars, identified significant differences in root traits, with SC103 developing a larger root system with more and longer lateral roots, and enhanced shoot biomass, under both nutrient sufficient and deficient conditions. In addition to this constitutive attribute, under P deficiency, both cultivars exhibited an initial increase in lateral root development; however, SC103 still maintained the larger root biomass. Although N deficiency and drought stress inhibited both root and shoot growth, for both sorghum cultivars, SC103 again maintained the better performance. These findings reveal that SC103, a P efficient sorghum cultivar, also exhibited enhanced growth performance under N deficiency and drought. Our results provide evidence that this constitutive nature of RSA can provide an avenue for breeding nutrient- and drought-resilient crops.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Authors: Banich Marie T. , Compton Rebecca J.
Published: September 2023

Now in its fifth edition, this accessible and comprehensive text highlights the most important theoretical, conceptual and methodological issues in cognitive neuroscience. Written by two experienced researchers who excel at teaching, the consistent narrative ensures that concepts are linked across chapters, and the careful selection of topics enables readers to grasp the big picture without getting distracted by details. Clinical applications such as developmental disorders, brain injuries and dementias are highlighted. In addition, the analogies and examples, opening case studies, and 'In Focus' boxes both engage and demonstrate the relevance of the material to real-world concerns. Revised for even greater clarity, the fifth edition features new and updated artwork, 'Key Questions' to review concepts, and 'Thought Questions' which develop the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate future developments in this fast-moving field. An expanded set of online resources is also available.
Seasonal glacier change revealed from the real-time monitoring platform on Baishui River Glacier No.1 in Yulong Snow Mountain, Southeastern Qinghai–Tibet plateau
Authors: Wang Chuya , Yang Yuande , Wang Shijin , Ai Songtao , Che Yanjun , Wang Junhao , Li Leiyu , Li Fei
Published: September 2023

The mass balance of glaciers requires more detailed and continuous observations to understand their seasonal change in relation to climate. Here, we designed and installed an automated real-time monitoring platform at 4645 m a.s.l. on the Baishui River Glacier No.1 to collect continuous high-resolution observational data, and analyzed the seasonal dynamic from glacier movement and surface mass balance from glacier melting and snow accumulation. The results showed that the platform moved northeastward ~12.9 m at a rate of 0.06 ± 0.02 m d−1 between September 2021 and April 2022. The surface mass balance showed a varied temporal period. July and August were the main ablation periods, while ablation decreased and ceased in September. The glacier neither melted nor accumulated much between October and December, but began to have rapid snow accumulation in January. The glacier surface temperature varied with the air temperature and showed significant inter-seasonal differences among monsoon, post-monsoon and winter seasons. The surface mass balance also exhibited a strong response to the air temperature changes, with an average decrease of 1°C the point mass balance increased by 0.11 m w.e. from monsoon to post-monsoon and 0.22 m w.e. from post-monsoon to winter. Moreover, we found snowfall caused a decrease in the glacier surface temperature by increasing the surface albedo.
Swaying motions of submerged flexible vegetation
Authors: Fu Jiahao , He Guojian , Huang Lei , Dey Subhasish , Fang Hongwei
Published: September 2023

Submerged vegetation plays a subtle role in exchanging the fluid mass and energy in the vegetated flow zone, where the swaying motions of flexible plants are the important source of turbulent kinetic energy production. Flume experiments were conducted to study the modes, characteristics and factors of swaying of individual submerged flexible plants. A modified plant model in a new form, representing the highly flexible vegetation with clustered leaves, was employed. A ‘rigid-like’ synchronous swaying mode and a ‘whip-like’ asynchronous flapping mode are found to appear alternately for the individual plants. The interaction between these modes depends on the resulting local flow structure affected by the plants. Compared with a plant in isolation with the same flow Reynolds number, the swaying motions of a plant within the vegetation patch are less frequent but more prone to the synchronous mode. The eigen frequency of the motions increases linearly with an increase in flow Reynolds number in the range of 2 × 104–5 × 104, but the normalised amplitude reaches a saturation at a high flow Reynolds number. Moreover, the in-line and spanwise motions have a 2 : 1 frequency ratio for an ‘8’ shaped trajectory on the horizontal plane and a 1 : 1 ratio for a ‘0’ shaped circular trajectory, or a combination of both.
What's new under the sun? A corpus linguistic analysis of the 2022 Italian election campaign themes in party manifestos
Authors: Trastulli Federico , Mastroianni Laura
Published: September 2023

In this article, we introduce an innovative approach to examining campaign themes in Italy, by performing an original corpus linguistic analysis of the party manifestos related to the crucial 2022 election. Through its systematicity and flexibility, our approach allows us to gauge theory-driven propositions using a large amount of so far unexplored textual data. As anticipated, the 2022 Italian party manifestos are characterised by a somewhat balanced configuration of emphasis across a variety of themes, of which some are more controversial and others more widely shared among voters and parties. Further, we also corroborate that parties primarily focus on those themes that historically fit them best, ideologically and in terms of perceived competence. Lastly, salient ‘issues of the day’ are differently emphasised by Italian parties, which particularly avoid devoting considerable attention to the highly sensitive Russian-Ukrainian war.
Exploratory Analysis and the Expected Value of Experimentation
Authors: Klein Colin
Published: September 2023

It is increasingly easy to acquire a large amount of data about a problem before formulating a hypothesis. The idea of exploratory data analysis (EDA) predates this situation, but many researchers find themselves appealing to EDA as an explanation of what they are doing with these new resources. Yet there has been relatively little explicit work on what EDA is or why it might be important. I canvass several positions in the literature, find them wanting, and suggest an alternative: exploratory data analysis, when done well, shows the expected value of experimentation for a particular hypothesis.
The Propositional Account of Effective Theories
Authors: Wilhelm Isaac
Published: September 2023

I propose the “Propositional Account” of effective quantum field theories. According to the Propositional Account, each effective quantum field theory expresses propositions about various physical items: fields, interactions, and more. In addition, two effective quantum field theories are physically equivalent just in case they express the same propositions. As I explain, the Propositional Account is scientifically naturalistic, since it invokes terms and principles from the empirical science of linguistics. And the Propositional Account avoids problems faced by other accounts of the physical contents of effective theories.
ON THE N-POINT CORRELATION OF VAN DER CORPUT SEQUENCES
Authors: WEIß CHRISTIAN
Published: September 2023

We derive an explicit formula for the N-point correlation
$F_N(s)$
of the van der Corput sequence in base
$2$
for all
$N \in \mathbb {N}$
and
$s \geq 0$
. The formula can be evaluated without explicit knowledge about the elements of the van der Corput sequence. This constitutes the first example of an exact closed-form expression of
$F_N(s)$
for all
$N \in \mathbb {N}$
and all
$s \geq 0$
which does not require explicit knowledge about the involved sequence. Moreover, it can be immediately read off that
$\lim _{N \to \infty } F_N(s)$
exists only for
$0 \leq s \leq 1/2$
.
Between Mezhep and Minority: Twelver Shiʿism in the Turkish Public Sphere
Authors: Williamson Fa Stefan
Published: September 2023

Despite the growth in scholarship on diverse religious communities in Turkey, little attention has been paid to Twelver Shiʿi Muslims. Since the founding of the Republic, the Turkish state's foundational secularist agenda has attempted to control and promote a single hegemonic form of Islam, and Shiʿa have faced continuous issues practicing their faith in public as a result. While the liberalization of the past three decades has allowed Shiʿism to enter the public sphere, the community has had to continue navigating limitations on their expression of religious difference. Based on fieldwork in Eastern Anatolia, this article deepens understandings of Islam in Turkey by showing how Shiʿa have negotiated their position vis-à-vis both secularist and Sunni-majority actors and policies across various religious and political currents. Rejecting categorization as either mezhep (sect) or minority, Shiʿa have demanded independence from state religious control while also asserting their allegiance to the Republic and nation as Turkish Muslims.
How Authoritarian Governments Decide Who Emigrates: Evidence from East Germany
Authors: Michel Julian , Miller Michael K. , Peters Margaret E.
Published: September 2023

Most autocracies restrict emigration yet still allow some citizens to exit. How do these regimes decide who can leave? We argue that many autocracies strategically target anti-regime actors for emigration, thereby crafting a more loyal population without the drawbacks of persistent co-optation or repression. However, this generates problematic incentives for citizens to join opposition activity to secure exit. In response, autocracies simultaneously punish dissidents for attempting to emigrate, screening out all but the most determined opponents. To test our theory, we examine an original data set coded from over 20,000 pages of declassified emigration applications from East Germany's state archives. In the first individual-level test of an autocracy's emigration decisions, we find that active opposition promoted emigration approval but also punishment for applying. Pensioners were also more likely to secure exit, and professionals were less likely. Our results shed light on global migration's political sources and an overlooked strategy of autocratic resilience.
Dual Use Deception: How Technology Shapes Cooperation in International Relations
Authors: Vaynman Jane , Volpe Tristan A.
Published: September 2023

Almost all technology is dual use to some degree: it has both civilian and military applications. This feature creates a dilemma for cooperation. States can design arms control institutions to curtail costly competition over some military technology. But they also do not want to limit valuable civilian uses. How does the dual use nature of technology shape the prospects for cooperation? We argue that the duality of technology presents a challenge not by its very existence but rather through the ways it alters information constraints on the design of arms control institutions. We characterize variation in technology along two dual use dimensions: (1) the ease of distinguishing military from civilian uses; and (2) the degree of integration within military enterprises and the civilian economy. Distinguishability drives the level of monitoring needed to detect violations. When a weapon is indistinguishable from its civilian counterpart, states must improve detection though intelligence collection or intrusive inspections. Integration sharpens the costs of disclosing information to another state. For highly integrated technology, demonstrating compliance could expose information about other capabilities, increasing the security risks from espionage. Together, these dimensions generate expectations about the specific information problems states face as they try to devise agreements over various technologies. We introduce a new qualitative data set to assess both variables and their impact on cooperation across all modern armament technologies. The findings lend strong support for the theory. Efforts to control emerging technologies should consider how variation in the dual use attributes shapes this tension between detection and disclosure.
Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition and overnutrition among ever-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh: an analysis of national surveys from 2004 to 2017
Authors: Rasul Md. Golam , Fahim Shah Mohammad , Alam Md. Ashraful , Das Subhasish , Mostafa Ishita , Mahfuz Mustafa , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: September 2023

Nutritional impairment during adolescence may result in adverse physical and reproductive health outcomes. We investigated the prevalence and determined the factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity among ever-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh. We used Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys data conducted in 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017. A total of 7040 ever-married adolescent girls aged 15–19 years were included in this analysis. Prevalence of underweight (body mass index [BMI]<18.5 kg/m2) significantly decreased from 39.53% (95% CI = 36.71, 42.43) to 23.62% (95% CI = 21.35, 26.05) during 2004–2017 (p< 0.001). However, prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2) significantly increased from 5.9% (95% CI = 4.67, 7.43) to 22.71% (95% CI = 20.39, 25.20) during the same period (p< 0.001). The girls with higher age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90, 0.99,p= 0.023), higher level of education (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.83,p= 0.002), and richest wealth quintile (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62, 0.98,p= 0.035) had significantly lower risk of being underweight. Adolescent girls having more than one child (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.73,p= 0.001) were more likely to be underweight. Elderly adolescents with better economic status were more at risk of being overweight/obese (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.86, 3.55,p< 0.001). Girls married to skilled/unskilled workers (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.44, 0.77,p< 0.001) and persons involved in small businesses (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.89,p= 0.007) had lower risk of having a high BMI. Using contraceptive (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.94,p= 0.006) was negatively associated with overweight/obese. Although prevalence of undernutrition among ever-married adolescent girls is declining, the proportion of being overweight/obese is increasing in Bangladesh warranting effective strategies to improve adolescent nutrition.
Bycatch in an experimental fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides, Nototheniidae) in Ecuadorian oceanic waters
Authors: Zambrano René , Coello Dialhy , Herrera Marco
Published: September 2023

The objective of this paper was to characterize bycatch in an experimental fishery for Patagonian toothfish in Ecuador during 2017–2021. Diversity was analysed using Shannon, Margalef, Simpson, and Dominance indices. Bycatch representativity was calculated as the difference percentage between the target catch and non-target, in weight. The bycatch comprised 51 taxa and was composed primarily of fish. In addition, 12 species of pelagic habits (i.e. fishes and sharks) were also captured during the deployment/retrieval of fishing gear. The most frequent species (by number of individuals) were chimaeras (Hydrolagus melanophasma), grenadiers (Antimora rostrata, Coryphaenoides delsolari, and Coryphaenoides armatus), and sharks (Etmopterus granulosus and Centroscymnus owstonii). The diversity was medium low, according to the Shannon indices (0.5–1.8), with a negative trend for dominance and a positive trend for equitability.
Cortical paired associative stimulation shows impaired plasticity of inhibition networks as a function of chronic alcohol use
Authors: Sallie Samantha N. , Sonkusare Saurabh , Mandali Alekhya , Casero Violeta , Cui Hailun , Guzman Natalie V. , Allison Michael , Voon Valerie
Published: September 2023

Background

Response inhibition − or the ability to withhold a suboptimal response − relies on the efficacy of fronto-striatal networks, and is impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders including addiction. Cortical paired associative stimulation (cPAS) is a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which can strengthen neuronal connections via spike-timing-dependent plasticity mechanisms. Here, we used cPAS targeting the fronto-striatal inhibitory network to modulate performance on a response inhibition measure in chronic alcohol use.

Methods

Fifty-five participants (20 patients with a formal alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis (26–74 years, 6[30%] females) and 20 matched healthy controls (HCs) (27–73 years, 6[30%] females) within a larger sample of 35 HCs (23–84 years, 11[31.4%] females) underwent two randomized sessions of cPAS 1-week apart: right inferior frontal cortex stimulation preceding right presupplementary motor area stimulation by either 4 ms (excitation condition) or 100 ms (control condition), and were subsequently administered the Stop Signal Task (SST) in both sessions.

Results

HCs showed decreased stop signal reaction time in the excitation condition (t(19) = −3.01, p = 0.007, [CIs]:−35.6 to −6.42); this facilitatory effect was not observed for AUD (F(1,31) = 9.57, p = 0.004, CIs: −68.64 to −14.11). Individually, rates of SST improvement were substantially higher for healthy (72%) relative to AUD (13.6%) groups (OR: 2.33, p = 0.006, CIs:−3.34 to −0.55).

Conclusion

In line with previous findings, cPAS improved response inhibition in healthy adults by strengthening the fronto-striatal network through putative long-term potentiation-like plasticity mechanisms. Furthermore, we identified a possible marker of impaired cortical excitability, and, thus, diminished capacity for cPAS-induced neuroplasticity in AUD with direct implications to a disorder-relevant cognitive process.
In the Philostratus trap: an enactive and embodied perspective on theImaginesand theirenargeia
Authors: Grethlein Jonas
Published: September 2023

In hisImagines, Philostratus the Elder stages a scintillating play with several levels of representation and suggests that his verbal account can give the reader access to the pictures described and even the scenes depicted in the pictures. But does Philostratus actually immerse us in the paintings? This is a claim often made by scholars; however, an embodied and enactive analysis of theImaginesalerts us to various features that, instead of immersing us, highlight Philostratus’ rhetorical brilliance. TheImaginesare not so much an ecphrasis in the sense of theProgymnasmata(that is, defined byenargeia) as a meditation on their ecphrastic practice. In general, the reference to another representation endows the ecphrasis of artwork with a reflexivity that tends to push the goal of making the hearer see something in the background.
A Simulation Model for the Handheld Ultrasound Diagnosis of Pediatric Forearm Fractures
Authors: Eksioglu Merve , Azapoglu Kaymak Burcu
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Handheld ultrasound (HHU) devices have gained prominence in emergency care settings and post-graduate training, but their application in the diagnosis of pediatric fractures remains under-explored. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of an HHU device for diagnosing pediatric forearm fractures using a simulation model.

Methods:

The materials for the basic pediatric fracture model include turkey bones soaked in white vinegar to make them pliable, food-grade gelatine, and plastic containers. Ultrasound analysis of the models was done with an HHU device, Sonosite İViz US (FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc.; Bothell, Washington USA). Four different fracture patterns (transverse fracture, oblique fracture, greenstick fracture, and a torus fracture) and one model without fracture were used in this study. Twenty-six Emergency Medicine residents sonographically evaluated different bone models in order to define the presence and absence of fracture and the fracture subtype. The participants’ ability to obtain adequate images and the time taken to create and recognize the images were evaluated and recorded. After the sonographic examination, the residents were also asked for their opinion on the model as a teaching tool.

Results:

All participants (100%) recognized the normal bone model and the fracture, regardless of the fracture type. The consistency analysis between the practitioners indicated a substantial agreement (weighted kappa value of 0.707). The duration to identify the target pathology in fracture models was significantly longer for the greenstick fracture (78.57 [SD = 30.45] seconds) model compared to other models. The majority of participants (92.3%) agreed that the model used would be a useful teaching tool for learning ultrasound diagnosis of pediatric forearm fractures.

Conclusions:

All participants successfully identified both the normal bone model and the presence of fractures, irrespective of the fracture type. Significantly, the identification of the greenstick fracture took longer compared to other fracture types. Moreover, the majority of participants acknowledged the model’s utility as a teaching tool for learning ultrasound diagnosis of pediatric forearm fractures.
Evaluation of Lac and NGAL on the Condition and Prognosis of Patients with Diquat Poisoning
Authors: Zhu Qianqian , Xu Wenpin , Qi Hongna , Zhu Baoyue , Wang Weizhan
Published: September 2023

Aim:

This study aims to explore the evaluation of lactic acid (Lac) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) on the condition and prognosis of patients with diquat (DQ) poisoning.

Methods:

A total of 79 cases of DQ poisoning treated in one hospital from January 2019 through February 2023 were included: 10 cases of mild poisoning, 49 cases of moderate to severe poisoning, and 20 cases of fulminant poisoning. According to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes-acute kidney injury (KDIGO-AKI) criteria, the patients were divided into 60 cases in the AKI group and 19 cases in the non-acute kidney injury (NAKI) group. According to the AKI diagnostic indicators, AKI patients were divided into Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III. According to prognosis, the patients were divided into survivor group and non-survivor group. During the same period, 30 healthy subjects were selected as the healthy group. The changes of blood Lac, NGAL, cystatin C (CysC), and serum creatinine (Scr) levels of patients were detected, the 28-day survival of patients was recorded, and the correlation between blood Lac, NGAL levels, and renal injury grade in patients with AKI caused by DQ poisoning was analyzed. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value and prognostic value of Lac, NGAL, and their combination in patients with AKI caused by DQ poisoning.

Results:

There were significant differences in AKI grade, Lac, NGAL, CysC, and Scr levels among different degrees of poisoning groups (P < .05). There were significant differences in the levels of Lac, NGAL, CysC, and Scr among patients with different AKI grades (P < .05). The levels of Lac, NGAL, CysC, and Scr in the survivor group were significantly lower than those in the non-survivor group (P < .05). The blood Lac and NGAL levels were positively correlated with AKI grades in patients with DQ poisoning (r = 0.752, 0.836; P = .000, .000). The combined detection of blood Lac and NGAL had higher predictive value for AKI and assessed value for death in DQ poisoning than either of them alone.

Conclusion:

The combined detection of Lac and NGAL have a certain clinical value in AKI grading and evaluating AKI prognosis caused by DQ poisoning.
Technical change, task reallocation, and wage inequality
Authors: Qian Long
Published: September 2023

This paper empirically investigates wage inequality within the group of skilled workers in the recent four decades in the USA using CPS data and finds evidence that the trend of wage growth of the top and bottom 10th percentile of skilled workers significantly diverged starting from 2000. Using a task-based framework of occupation, I find that the changing trend of wage inequality was entirely driven by one category of occupation, namely the nonroutine analytic occupation. Then, I consider in a model task reallocation between two broad task categories, namely the routine and abstract task, induced by an ongoing investment-specific technical change. In my model, the labor in the routine task is replaced by cheaper machines due to investment-specific technical change, then workers that are less productive in the abstract task enter abstract occupations. As a result, the wage inequality in the abstract task widens because of the reallocation of less productive workers from the routine task to the abstract task, that is, the “composition effect.” In addition, since economic agents tend to postpone the investment in machines after the ongoing investment-specific technical change takes place for a while, the expansion path of wage inequality is not linear but features an acceleration of wage dispersion in the middle of the technical change. The quantitative results suggest that the model is able to provide a well-matched timing and magnitude of the nonlinear expansion path in wage inequality that is observed in the data.
Herbicide response and germination behavior of two goosegrass (Eleusine indica) populations in the Australian environment
Authors: Hooda Virender Singh , Chauhan Bhagirath Singh
Published: September 2023

Goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] is one of the most problematic grassy weeds in the world. It is considered to be an important weed in summer fallows and crops grown in the eastern region of Australia. To examine the seed germination ecology of two populations (Gatton and Ingham) of E. indica and their response to postemergence herbicides in Australian conditions, experiments were carried out in the laboratory and screenhouse. Seedling survival, spike production, and plant biomass of both E. indica populations declined markedly with the application of postemergence herbicides such as butroxydim, clethodim, glufosinate, haloxyfop, and propaquizafop, whereas the application of paraquat failed to control the Ingham population. A dose–response study verified the presence of paraquat resistance in the Ingham population. In this regard, it was observed that the paraquat doses required to achieve a 50% reduction in survival and plant biomass were 27 and 21 times greater in the Ingham population compared to the Gatton population, respectively. Higher alternating temperatures (35/25 and 30/20 C) resulted in greater germination of both populations than lower alternating temperatures (20/10 and 25/15 C). At 20/10 C, the Ingham population failed to germinate; however, about 15% germination in the Gatton population was observed. At the lowest alternate temperature range (15/5 C), neither population germinated. The germination of both populations of E. indica was severely reduced under completely dark conditions compared with the alternating light/dark period. Germination was more tolerant of salt and water stress in the Ingham population compared with the Gatton population. Eleusine indica seedling emergence was comparable among populations, and the greatest emergence (83%) was observed for seeds buried at a depth of 2 cm but then declined dramatically, and no seedlings emerged from an 8-cm burial depth. The information acquired from this study could be used in developing effective management strategies for E. indica.