bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive accuracy of post‐fire conifer death declines over time in models based on crown and bole injury
Authors: Shearman Timothy M. , Varner J. Morgan , Hood Sharon M. , van Mantgem Phillip J. , Cansler C. Alina , Wright Micah
Published: October 2022

A key uncertainty of empirical models of post‐fire tree mortality is understanding the drivers of elevated post‐fire mortality several years following fire, known as delayed mortality. Delayed mortality can represent a substantial fraction of mortality, particularly for large trees that are a conservation focus in western US coniferous forests. Current post‐fire tree mortality models have undergone limited evaluation of how injury level and time since fire interact to influence model accuracy and predictor variable importance. Less severe injuries potentially serve as an indicator for vulnerability to additional stressors such as bark beetle attack or moisture stress. We used a collection of 164,293 individual tree records to examine post‐fire tree mortality in eight western USA conifers:Abies concolor,Abies grandis,Calocedrus decurrens,Larix occidentalis,Pinus contorta,Pinus lambertiana,Pinus ponderosa, andPseudotsuga menziesii. We evaluated the importance of fire injury predictors on discriminating between surviving trees versus immediate and delayed post‐fire mortality. We fit balanced random forest models for each species using cumulative tree mortality from 1 to 5‐years post‐fire. We compared these results to multi‐class random forest models using first‐year mortality, 2–5‐year mortality, and survival 5‐years post‐fire as a response variable. Crown volume scorched, diameter at breast height, and relative bark char height, were used as predictor variables. The cumulative mortality models all predicted trees that died within 1‐year of fire with high accuracy but failed to predict 2–5‐year mortality. The multi‐class models were an improvement but had lower accuracy for predicting 2–5‐year mortality. Multi‐class model accuracies ranged from 85% to 95% across all species for predicting 1‐year post‐fire mortality, 42%–71% for predicting 2–5‐year mortality, and 64%–85% for predicting trees that lived past 5‐years. Our study highlights the differences in tree species tolerance to fire injury and suggests that including second‐order predictors such as beetle attack or climatic water stress before and after fire will be critical to improve accuracy and better understand the mechanisms and patterns of fire‐caused tree death. Random forest models have potential for management applications such as post‐fire harvesting and simulating future stand dynamics.
Review examples of international higher education collaboration and innovation
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: October 2022

“At a time of crisis, the need for international partnership and collaboration are all the greater to address common challenges.”

— Jan Wopking, Managing Director of German U15
Make your career work for you
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: October 2022

Deborah L. Anderson was finishing her Ph.D. and serving as Vice Chancellor for Student Success at Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville, Indiana, when a series of life events launched her career in a direction she couldn't have predicted. Her husband was diagnosed with early‐onset Alzheimer's disease in 2018. She completed the degree in 2019, and then the COVID‐19 pandemic hit.
The role of experience in parenting beliefs of British and Italian women during pregnancy
Authors: Mascheroni Eleonora , Grassi Maria , Bonanomi Andrea , Sperotto Rebecca , Deeg Sita , Hung San , Xia Ruixue , Ionio Chiara , Kit‐fong Au Terry , Gattis Merideth
Published: October 2022

To understand the role of experience in parenting beliefs about caring for infants, we examined the parenting beliefs of pregnant women who were expecting their first child with those of pregnant women who already had at least one other child. A culturally diverse sample of 550 British and Italian women completed self‐report measures evaluating their beliefs about the value of attunement and structure in caregiving, parenting self‐efficacy, and home chaos. Psychometric evaluation confirmed the two‐factor structure of the Baby Care Questionnaire (BCQ) for measuring attunement and structure but did not support configural invariance across the different samples. Beliefs about attunement and structure were related to parenting experience: pregnant women who already had at least one other child reported stronger beliefs in attunement, whereas pregnant women expecting their first child reported stronger beliefs in structure. Regression analyses revealed that the associations between parenting beliefs and experience remained when controlling for country, age, and education. Despite the limitations imposed by the lack of configural invariance, this cross‐sectional, cross‐cultural study constitutes an important first step in examining the relations between parenting experience and parenting beliefs during pregnancy.
Multimodality imaging in cardiac amyloidosis: State‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Timóteo Ana Teresa , Rosa Silvia Aguiar , Brás Pedro Garcia , Ferreira Maria João Vidigal , Bettencourt Nuno
Published: October 2022

Amyloidosis is a systemic disease, characterized by deposition of amyloid fibrils in various organs, including the heart. For the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) it is required a high level of clinical suspicion and in the presence of clinical, laboratorial, and electrocardiographic red flags, a comprehensive multimodality imaging evaluation is warranted, including echocardiography, magnetic resonance, scintigraphy, and computed tomography, that will confirm diagnosis and define the CA subtype, which is of the utmost importance to plan a treatment strategy. We will review the use of multimodality imaging in the evaluation of CA, including the latest applications, and a practical flow‐chart will sum‐up this evidence.
On the use of a zoom lens for remote Raman measurements: Application in cultural heritage research
Authors: Vandenabeele Peter , Pereira Miguel Catarina , Rousaki Anastasia , Bottura Scardina Silvia , Larsson‐Coutinho Mathilda , Pressato Miriam , Candeias António
Published: October 2022

Raman spectroscopy is frequently implemented in the analysis of art objects. Especially its non‐destructive character and the advent of mobile instruments, often equipped with fibre optics probe heads, have opened the doors for many direct investigations of artworks. However, Raman spectroscopy usually requires stable positioning of the objective lens, close to the paint surface. Consequently, and despite the use of an extensive range of positioning equipment, it is not possible to reach every spot of a large artefact. Positioning, and as a consequence measuring, is becoming even more critical for 3D objects. Therefore, we examine the characteristics and explore the opportunities for the investigation of art objects that can be obtained by using a zoom lens, which is suitable for the Raman investigation at working distances between 6 and 60 cm.
Computer‐Generated Holographic Nanoprinting
Authors: Chen Kuixian , Guan Zhiqiang , Li Zile , Yang Yan , He Zhixue , Yu Shaohua , Zheng Guoxing
Published: October 2022

Metasurface‐assisted nanoprinting is usually enabled by spectrum‐modulation and/or polarization‐modulation at the subwavelength scale. The spectrum‐modulated nanoprint works under unpolarized white‐light and requires the minimalist observation conditions, but it can hardly modulate light brightness; the polarization‐modulated nanoprint can continuously control light brightness, but it requires complex and precise polarization control both at the input and output ends to decode a nanoprinting image. In this study, computer‐generated holographic nanoprinting is designed and experimentally demonstrated, enabled by Pancharatnam–Berry phase modulation of light, which has both the advantages of the two types of nanoprintings while avoiding their disadvantages. Specifically, a general platform is built to implement single‐channel/multichannel/color nanoprinting in a holography way, which presents its unique characteristics like incoherent light illumination, arbitrary brightness modulation, polarization insensitivity, and zero‐dispersion. A periodic phase is further attached to the target object wave during the holographic interference pattern generation, and the reconstructed nanoprinting image only appears in the zero‐order diffraction direction, thus making the information delivery safer. This study can empower advanced research on metasurface‐based nanoprinting, which can find its markets in ultracompact image‐display, data storage, information multiplexing, and many other related fields.
Well‐posedness of second order differential equations with memory
Authors: Ponce Rodrigo
Published: October 2022

In this paper we give characterizations of the existence and uniqueness of Hölder continuous solutions of certain abstract integro‐differential equation with memory in terms of a resolvent operator. Moreover, we give necessary conditions in order to ensure the existence and uniqueness of mild solutions on the real line.
The Concise Health Risk Tracking ‐ Self‐Report (CHRT‐SR)—A measure of suicidal risk: Performance in adolescent outpatients
Authors: Nandy Karabi , Rush A. John , Carmody Thomas J. , Kulikova Alexandra , Mayes Taryn L. , Emslie Graham , Trivedi Madhukar H.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The Concise Health Risk Tracking Self‐Report (CHRT‐SR) assesses the risk of suicidal behavior. We report its psychometric properties in a representative sample of adolescent outpatients.

Methods

A sample (n = 657) of adolescents (<18 years of age) in primary or psychiatric care completed the 14‐item version of CHRT‐SR at both baseline and within 3 months. To identify an optimal brief solution for the scale, we evaluated the factor structure of CHRT‐SR using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, and testing measurement invariance across age and gender. The item response theory and classical test theory characteristics of the optimal solution were evaluated. Concurrent validity (both cross‐sectional and as a change measure over time) of the optimal solution was assessed by comparing it to another suicide measure.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis identified the 9‐item CHRT‐SR (CHRT‐SR9) as the optimal solution. Classical test theory and item response theory indicated excellent fit. Concurrent validity analyses revealed that it can measure both improvement/worsening of suicidality over time.

Conclusion

The CHRT‐SR9 is a brief self‐report with excellent psychometric properties in a sample of adolescents that is sensitive to changes in suicidality over time. Its performance in other populations and ability to predict future suicidal events deserves study.
What outcomes in community mental health research are important to caregivers of people with schizophrenia? An exploratory qualitative analysis of an online survey
Authors: Yasuma Naonori , Shiozawa Takuma , Ogawa Makoto , Abe Makiko , Igarashi Momoka , Kawaguchi Takayuki , Sato Sayaka , Nishi Daisuke , Kawakami Norito , Yamaguchi Sosei , Fujii Chiyo
Published: October 2022

Aims

This study investigated outcomes in community mental health research that were important to caregivers of people with schizophrenia.

Methods

Using an online survey conducted from August 1 to 31, 2020, data were collected from caregivers belonging to the LINE Schizophrenia Family Association. Caregivers identified outcomes important in community mental health research. Two researchers categorized caregivers' statements into research outcomes.

Results

A total of 132 caregivers completed the online selfreported questionnaire, and 296 caregiver statements were identified. Qualitative analysis identified 17 outcome categories. The caregivers tended to value having more free time, maintaining an appropriate relationship with people with schizophrenia, and being able to cope with their symptoms.

Conclusions

This exploratory study newly demonstrates the outcomes that caregivers of people with schizophrenia consider important in community mental health research. The findings may be useful in selecting outcomes for future studies of caregivers.
Prenatal diagnosis of PERCHING syndrome caused by homozygous loss of function variant in the KLHL7 gene
Authors: Horton‐Bell Megan , Hamilton Sue , Keelagher Rebecca , Allen Stephanie , De Burca Anna , Ioannou Christos , Impey Lawrence , Cilliers Deirdre
Published: October 2022

Aims

A couple were referred for prenatal genetic testing at 31 weeks' gestation due to the presence of mild polyhydramnios and multiple central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities, including borderline ventriculomegaly, possible delayed sulcation, an enlarged cisterna magna and a small area of calcification around the posterior horns. Testing was initiated to identify any underlying genetic cause.

Materials and Methods

Rapid trio exome sequencing (ES) was performed on DNA extracted from parental blood samples and amniotic fluid.

Results

A pathogenic homozygous nonsense variant in KLHL7 (NM_001031710.2) associated with PERCHING syndrome (#617055) was identified.

Conclusion

Whilst there are detailed descriptions of the many postnatal phenotypes seen in these patients, there are few reports of features identified during pregnancy. This report is the first published prenatal diagnosis of PERCHING syndrome and provides further information on the associated fetal phenotypes.
ARGET ATRP of ethylene glycol dicyclopentenyl ether methacrylate with vegetable oil and terpene‐derived methacrylic monomers
Authors: Alrefai Masa , Meola Victoria , Maric Milan
Published: October 2022

Homo and statistical copolymerization reactions of ethylene glycol dicyclopentenyl ether methacrylate (EGDEMA) and a vegetable‐oil based methacrylic ester C13MA (average alkyl chain length = 13) are studied via activator regenerated electron transfer polymerization (ARGET ATRP) using only trace amounts of copper catalyst. Poly(EGDEMA) and poly(C13MA) homopolymers and statistical poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐C13MA) copolymers are cleanly synthesized with monomodal molecular weight distribution and dispersities Đ = Mw/Mn = 1.39–1.76 and Mn ~ 12 kg/mol. Chain end fidelity is confirmed by chain extension from poly(C13MA) macroinitiator with EGDEMA to make poly(C13MA‐b‐EGDEMA) diblock copolymers, which exhibit two distinct glass transition temperatures (Tgs), one for the poly(C13MA) block (−39°C) and the other for the poly(EGDEMA) block (23.9°C), suggesting microphase separation. Due to the relatively low Tg of poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐C13MA), terpene‐derived isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA) is copolymerized with EGDEMA forming poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐IBOMA) statistical copolymers with Tgs ranging from 22.9–113°C. Additionally, crosslinking of the poly(EGDEMA) homopolymer and poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐C13MA) and poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐IBOMA) copolymers is achieved by UV thiol‐ene clicking of the pendent double bonds of EGDEMA units with suitable dithiols at 365 nm. For poly(EGDEMA), conversion of the thiol‐ene click reaction reaches 70%; where as the conversion of the clicking reactions is higher in the copolymers with a conversion up to 92% for poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐C13MA) and 97% for poly(EGDEMA‐stat‐IBOMA).
An integrated modelling framework for complex systems safety analysis
Authors: Tolo Silvia , Andrews John
Published: October 2022

The ever‐increasing complexity of engineering systems has fuelled the need for novel and efficient computational tools able to enhance the accuracy of current modelling strategies for industrial systems. Indeed, traditional Fault and Event Tree techniques still monopolize the reliability analysis of complex systems despite their limitations, such as the inability to capture underlying dependencies between components or to include degradation processes and complex maintenance strategies into the analysis. However, the lack of alternative solutions able to tackle large‐scale modelling efficiently has contributed to the continued use of such methodologies, together with their robustness and familiarity well rooted in engineering practice. The current paper defines a novel modelling framework for safety system performance which retains the capabilities of both fault and event tree methods, but also overcomes their limitations. The ambition is to provide a technique for application to real‐world systems preserving a familiar user–model interface and grounding the novel approach in well‐known and established reliability techniques. In order to describe the methodology developed and demonstrate its validity, five case‐studies referring to a simplified industrial plant cooling system are analysed and discussed. Further discussion regarding the scalability of the proposed approach is provided, outlining the advantages of the current implementation and its computational cost.
Improved Power Conversion Efficiencies of Dye‐Capped and Sensitized ZnO Solar Cells
Authors: Singh Satbir , Raj Tilak , Bahadur Indra , Singh Harpreet , Varma Rajender S.
Published: October 2022

This article describes the synthesis, characterization and photo‐physical studies of ZnO nanoparticles capped with monomer and polymer dyes D1 and D2, respectively; these dyes were synthesized by an easy and inexpensive condensation method by reacting Indole‐3‐carboxaldehyde with N,N‐dimethylethylenediamine and polyamine. The optoelectronic properties of these dyes were investigated by UV‐Vis spectroscopy. Further, these dyes D1 and D2 were decorated with ZnO nanoparticles and labelled as samples S1 and S2. The structural properties of dyes capped ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X‐ray diffractogram, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering studies. Further, S1 and S2 were deployed to fabricate photo‐anodes for ZnO solar cells, labelled as SC1and SC2, respectively. The results of investigations revealed that polymer dye molecules enhanced the photo‐harvesting capability of ZnO nanoparticles within the ZnO solar cell SC1. Maximum photo‐energy conversion efficiencyη =5.42 % was attained with solar cell SC2 under AM 1.5 solar irradiations. Comparatively, it has been observed that the recorded photovoltaic efficiency of solar cell SC2 was enhanced by 1.49 % comparative to the solar cell SC1. The IPCE spectra studies revealed a significant improvement of (15–19)% in the photo efficiency of solar cell SC2 than SC1.
Self‐Assemblies of DNA ‐ Amphiphiles Nanostructures for New Design Strategies of Varied Morphologies
Authors: Mathew Shilpa Sarah , Ahamed A A Subuhan , Abraham Ignatious , Prabhu Deepak D , John Franklin , George Jinu
Published: October 2022

This review throws light upon the functionalization of DNA amphiphiles which upon self‐assembly give rise to nanostructures of varied morphology and novelty. Such nanostructures comprising of micelles, vesicles, sheets or ribbons find a multitude of applications in medical field, specially in drug delivery. Emphasis has been laid upon the self‐assembly process of DNA based amphiphiles which prove excellent drug carriers by making use of the unique structural features of DNA. Further insights may also aid in developing modified nanostructures based on DNA out of subsequent derivatization.
Schiff Bases Derived from 2‐Amino‐6‐methylbenzothiazole, 2‐Amino‐5‐chloropyridine and 4‐Chlorobenzaldehyde: Structure, Computational Studies and Evaluation of Biological Activity
Authors: Hanif Muhammad , Kosar Naveen , Mahmood Tariq , Muhammad Mian , Ullah Farhat , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Ribeiro Alany Ingrid , Khan Ezzat
Published: October 2022

Molecular structure of (E)‐N‐(4‐chlorobenzylidene)‐6‐methylbenzo[d]thiazol‐2‐amine, (E)‐N‐(4‐chlorobenzylidene)‐5‐chloropyridin‐2‐amine was determined in solution and solid states by various techniques such as UV/Vis, FT‐IR, NMR spectroscopy, HRMS and X‐ray diffraction. Both the Schiff base compounds crystallize as monoclinic system with identical space group P21/c. Supramolecular interactions observed in X‐ray structure are validated via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Further, the reactivities of both compounds (ligands) are analysed with the help of frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) analysis. They were treated with Cu and Ag salts to obtain corresponding coordination complexes. Both the ligands contain three possible coordination sites namely, endocyclic nitrogen, sulfur and the imine nitrogen. Among these nucleophilic centres, imine nitrogen is more basic and readily coordinates with Cu and Ag metals. The compounds were tested for their fluorescence properties and all the compounds were found to be fluorescence active. The Schiff base ligands and their complexes were also tested for preliminary biological activities such as antibacterial, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition. Molecular docking studies were implemented to compare and validate the enzyme inhibition potentials of ligands. Moderate activities were observed for all compounds. The activities of ligands enhanced by complexation with Cu(II) and Ag(I) metals ions.
Vacuum Pumping System for ITER's Deuterium Tritium Operational Campaign
Authors: Dremel Matthias , Banerjee Indranil , Shaun Hughes , Pearce Robert
Published: October 2022

In the ITER fusion experiment the torus vacuum pumping system is mainly involved in pumping plasma exhaust gases consisting of Deuterium/Tritium (DT) and trace quantity of helium. The currently proposed plasma operation plan for the six torus cryopumps is staggered for all fueling rate and plasma durations and therefore variable tritium inventories need to be handled. The ITER cryopumps and the backing vacuum pumping system are custom made tritium compatible pumping trains. Their compliant matrix not only asks for pumping efficiencies and hydrogen confinement but also respecting the specific tritium and deuterium (DT) inventories for measures on radiation protection and fire safety. In this article, we present a possible operation plan for torus vacuum pumping system in combinations with roughing pump trains for the ITER baseline plasma scenario. The operation of the vacuum system is driven by DT inventories in the different pumps and building sectors.

The primary vacuum pump is torus cryogenic pump (TCP) followed backing roughing pump trains comprise the cryogenic viscous flow compressor (CVC), tritium compatible scroll and Roots pumps. The TCPs are regenerated during timed intervals for an uninterrupted and safe torus operation. Next to the demanding long pulse operation (1 hour) we present an operation plan for inductive short pulse (450 s), hybrid pulse (1000 s) and dwell time vacuum pumping operations [1]. However, the inductive and hybrid pulses are not as critical as long pulse operation pertaining to tritium and hydrogen inventory management.
Vakuumtechnik in der Rechtsmedizin
Authors: Juhnke Christian
Published: October 2022

Bei Leichenöffnungen sind Gerüche ein ständig begleitendes Element. In aller Regel sind diese sehr deutlich, aber selten ist der genaue Ort und die genaue Zusammensetzung bekannt. Erschwerend kommt hinzu, dass die Gasmengen in lokal sehr unterschiedlicher Menge auftreten. Teilweise befinden sich Gasblasen von 1 cm3 beispielsweise im Blutkreislauf. Diese geringen Gasmengen zuverlässig zu analysieren ist dem Labor für Vakuumtechnik der Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences gelungen. Zusätzlich sind sie in der Lage, nachzuweisen, welches Gas ein Mensch vor seinem Tod, als Letztes eingeatmet hat. Beide Methoden sind wichtige Indizien zur Ermittlung der Todesursache von Menschen.
Resolution of HCM phenotype and CHF following CMOP protocol in a cat with large cell lymphoma and suspected cardiac involvement
Authors: Herbert Joe , Todd Johanna , Leeder Damon
Published: October 2022

A 10‐year‐old female desexed domestic shorthair cat was diagnosed by the regular veterinarian with large cell splenic lymphoma in June 2020. A splenectomy was performed; however, complications postoperatively and the owner's willingness to pursue chemotherapy resulted in the patient being referred to the oncology department of a local multidisciplinary specialist hospital. At referral, a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotype was diagnosed post an episode of dyspnea. The patient was treated with CMOP (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy, resulting in remission of the lymphoma and the HCM phenotype. Twenty‐one months out from treatment, the patient was still in remission with no evidence of heart disease.
Material Traces of a Cumbersome Past: The Case of Italian Colonial History
Authors: Leone Giovanna , Licata Laurent , Mastropietro Alessia , Migliorisi Stefano , Sessa Isora
Published: October 2022

Physical daily contexts are replete with traces of the past. A statue in a park, the name of a street, or an old advertisement can all remind people of specific historical moments or periods. Often, they recall glorious episodes, but traces of less glorious pasts also persist. Among them, the most self-censored ones refer to past immoral actions that tarnish the overly idealized moral standard attributed to the group. As a case in point, material traces of the colonial past became the focus of controversies within formerly colonizing countries during the last decade. European anti-racist movements questioned the colonial heritage of European societies in an unprecedented manner and active social minorities also brought to the fore some traces still in the background of physical environments. Part of public opinion reacted by denouncing the “cancel culture” or the danger of “erasing” history. This chapter outlines a social psychological approach about contemporary perceptions and interpretations of still self-censored material traces of Italian colonialism. Results of a qualitative survey on Italian participants’ representations and attitudes toward a candy with a colonial wrapping will illustrate how Italian participants of different generations question this ephemeral trace and take on the challenge of a cumbersome past.
Video Surveillance and Public Space: Surveillance Society Vs. Security State
Authors: Lysova Tatiana
Published: October 2022

Since the end of the last century, the number of video surveillance cameras installed in public spaces has increasingly grown worldwide. Although the installation of video surveillance should allegedly deter crime and improve the fear of crime and the perception of insecurity, the technology collects a vast number of traces of all the members of a population, regardless of their criminal intentions. In the academic literature, two main theoretical approaches have been formed to comprehend the role of video surveillance in public spaces: surveillance society and security state. Interestingly, both of them find their roots in Foucault’s ideas. The first one, surveillance society, is based on Foucault’s perspective on disciplinary power. The latter, the security state, draws on the notions of apparatus of security and governmentality. This chapter is undertaken with the aim of providing an overview of the key features of the two approaches and their comparison. Furthermore, it discusses the possibility of applying both theories to analyze video surveillance in public spaces as it could offer a deeper understanding of a complex interplay of different logics behind an ever-increasing data collection on members of society.
Traces and Their (In)significance
Authors: Rava Gabriella
Published: October 2022

The concept of trace is useful for a semiotic reflection upon what is left behind. Similar to the concepts of index and footprint, traces are traditionally described as already signs, or more precisely as something recognized as a sign (Violi, Riv Ital Filos Linguaggio, 2016, http://www.rifl.unical.it/index.php/rifl/article/view/365; Mazzucchelli, Riv Ital Filos Linguaggio, 2015, http://www.rifl.unical.it/index.php/rifl/article/view/312). This act of recognition is fundamentally dependent on a community’s work of interpretation, in order to actualize a potential narration lying in the trace, but what if the promised sense is not grasped? Adopting the notion of intentionality (Greimas and Courtés, Sémiotique: dictionnaire raisonné de la théorie du langage. Hachette, Paris, 1979) to include partially unconscious traces within the sphere of semiotic investigation, the article considers the possibility to conceive traces as paradoxical signs standing for nothing, i.e., signs of insignificance (Leone, On insignificance. The loss of meaning in the post-material age. Routledge, 2020). Through the analysis of digital traces and trolling, (in)significance is disputed on the basis of a proposed paradigm, within which even such seemingly accidental traces may possess profound significance within a digital network constructed of distributed subjectivity. One conclusion drawn from the example is that strong normative claims about what may qualify as significant often conceal an ideologically charged agenda. For this reason in particular, a detailed account of digital traces should be the highest priority of semiotics today.
Leaving a Trace: Donor Plaques as Material Evidences of Generosity?
Authors: Monier Anne
Published: October 2022

Contemporary philanthropy relies on a gift/counter-gift process: a person making a donation receives benefits for it, mostly financial (tax deductions) or symbolic (recognition). Donor recognition is an important part of philanthropy and comes in many forms. One of them is donor plaques—on walls, signs, or objects/buildings—associated with naming, i.e., the material traces of recognition that have the name of the donor on them. The analysis of donor plaques deepens our understanding of the way the act of giving leaves traces. What are these traces of philanthropy? How long do donor plaques stay on the walls of institutions? How are they negotiated? How do they change the urban landscape at a bigger scale? This chapter aims at understanding the specificity and the symbolic role of donor plaques as traces left voluntarily by philanthropic donors. Focusing on an understudied topic (philanthropic traces) and based on two qualitative research conducted in philanthropic settings, it questions the relationship elite donors have with time and space through the analysis of a concrete object (the plaque). It also examines the meaning of these traces (and the values they convey), as well as the power relations (and resistances) they create.
Rethinking Cultural Probes in Community Research and Design as Ethnographic Practice
Authors: Townsend Scott , Patsarika Maria
Published: October 2022

Understanding social practices as they co-evolve between researcher-community is fundamental in “design and social innovation” where local knowledge, resources, and agency meet to solve wicked problems (Rittel and Webber, Policy Sciences, 4, 155–169, 1973). In this chapter, we seek to explore the traces that researchers and community members leave behind as indexical forms of representation. Contemporary perspectives urge a critical examination of the interplay between design and broader structural and cultural issues (Björgvinsson et al., CoDesign, 8(2–3), 127–144, 2012). Design methods, however, are often chosen arbitrarily reflecting a “toolbox” mentality that potentially misses culturally embedded nuances (Dourish, Implications for design. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 541–550), 2006). Cultural probes as part of this “toolbox” are often associated with ethnographic methods, yet were never intended to generate data, whereas ethnography goes beyond data gathering to analyze socio-cultural meaning and practices (Boehner et al., How HCI interprets the probes. In CHI Proceedings Designing for Specific Cultures, 2007). We present two case studies to discuss the use of cultural probes in participatory design as enablers of dialogue in open-ended conversations with communities. We draw on reflexive practices and Manzini’s concept of “diffuse design” and “expert design.” Working in communities can thus become a form of “public ethnography,” an effort to understand and analyze social practices from multiple knowledge perspectives as an ongoing process.
Retracing Algorithms: How Digital Social Research Methods Can Track Algorithmic Functioning
Authors: Aragona Biagio , Amato Francesco
Published: October 2022

The expanding use of algorithms in society has called for the emergence of “critical algorithm studies” across several fields, ranging from media studies to geography and from sociology to the humanities. In the past 5 years, a consistent literature on the subject has developed. Inspired by these studies, we explored the ways digital traces may be employed for auditing algorithms and find evidence about algorithmic functioning. We focus on the analysis of digital traces through search engines and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). We present four cases of how digital traces may be used for auditing algorithms and testing their quality in terms of data, model, and outcomes. The first example is taken from Noble’s (2018) bookAlgorithms of Oppression. The other three examples are very recent, two of them related to COVID-19 pandemic and about the most controversial type of algorithms: image recognition. Search as research and the analysis of digital traces and footprints within quasi-experimental research designs are useful methods for testing the quality of data, the codes, and the outcomes of algorithms.
Grenzrollen und Grenzsysteme. Zur soziologischen Theorie des Handelns an den Grenzen sozialer Systeme
Authors: Weißmann Martin
Published: October 2022

In diesem Kapitel diskutiere ich mit den Begriffen „Grenzrolle“ und „Grenzsystem“ zwei für dieses Buch zentrale soziologische Konzepte. Die Konzepte zielen auf die Analyse der Aktivitäten solcher Mitglieder eines sozialen Systems, die im Auftrag ihres Entsendesystems, zum Beispiel einer Polizeibehörde, in Kontakt mit Nichtmitgliedern des Systems treten, zum Beispiel mit Bürgern während einer Verkehrskontrolle oder einer Beschuldigtenvernehmung. In Bezug auf formale Organisationen meint der Begriff der „Grenzrolle“ („boundary role“) also Organisationsmitglieder mit regelmäßigem Publikumskontakt, während der Begriff des „Grenzsystems“ den sei es einmaligen, sei es auf Wiederholung angelegten Kontakt der Grenzrolle zu ihrem Gegenüber erfassen soll. Ausgehend von einem Blick zurück auf einige klassische Texte aus der organisationstheoretischen Literatur behandelt das Kapitel die Doppelmitgliedschaft von Grenzrollen in ihrem Entsendesystem und dem Grenzsystem als zentrales Strukturmerkmal von Grenzrollen und die aus Sicht der Grenzrolle problematische Freiheit ihres Publikums zum Verzicht auf Kooperation als zentrales Strukturmerkmal von Grenzsystemen. Anschließend werden vier für Grenzrollen zentrale Funktionen unterschieden, nämlich der Vollzug von Systemleistungen an und vor Nichtmitgliedern sowie Informationsgewinnung, Repräsentation und Vermittlung. Zu den wichtigsten Charakteristika und Handlungsproblemen von Grenzrollen zählen ihre gespaltene Loyalität, ihr oft widerspenstiges oder jedenfalls unberechenbares Publikum, das an sie oft von beiden Seiten gerichtete Misstrauen und die Aussicht auf den Gewinn eines formal nicht vorgesehenen Einflusses innerhalb ihres Entsendesystems.
Thermal emission of gravitational waves from weak to strong coupling
Authors: Castells-Tiestos Lucía , Casalderrey-Solana Jorge
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We study the production of gravitational waves by a thermalized plasma of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
=4 Supersymmetric Yang Mills matter. We focus on the large number of colors limit, Nc → ∞, and compute the spectrum of gravitational waves both for infinitely large and infinitesimally small values of the ‘t Hooft coupling constant λ. In the λ → ∞ limit we employ the gauge/gravity duality to compute the emission rate via the analysis of Energy-Momentum tensor thermal correlators. In the λ → 0 limit we employ state-of-the-art perturbative analyses to calculate the complete leading order emission rate. By comparing these extreme limits, we bracket the magnitude of the spectrum induced by this source of gravitational waves. Embedding our results in a cosmological evolution model, we find qualitative and quantitative similarities between the strong coupling spectrum and the extrapolation of the perturbative results up to an intermediate value of the coupling, after an appropriate re-scaling of the effective number of degrees of freedom. We comment on how our results can help better understand the contribution of thermalized matter to the stochastic spectrum of gravitational waves.
Leigh-Strassler compactified on a spindle
Authors: Arav Igal , Gauntlett Jerome P. , Roberts Matthew M. , Rosen Christopher
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We construct a new class of supersymmetric AdS3 × Y7 solutions of type IIB supergravity, where Y7 is an S5 fibration over a spindle, which are dual to d = 2, $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (0, 2) SCFTs. The solutions are constructed in a sub-truncation of D = 5, SO(6) maximal gauged supergravity and they all lie within the anti-twist class. We show that the central charge computed from the gravity solutions agrees with an anomaly polynomial calculation associated with compactifying the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1, d = 4 Leigh-Strassler SCFT on a spindle.
Improved shrinkage estimators in the beta regression model with application in econometric and educational data
Authors: Arabi Belaghi Reza , Asar Yasin , Larsson Rolf
Published: October 2022

Although beta regression is a very useful tool to model the continuous bounded outcome variable with some explanatory variables, however, in the presence of multicollinearity, the performance of the maximum likelihood estimates for the estimation of the parameters is poor. In this paper, we propose improved shrinkage estimators via Liu estimator to obtain more efficient estimates. Therefore, we defined linear shrinkage, pretest, shrinkage pretest, Stein and positive part Stein estimators to estimate of the parameters in the beta regression model, when some of them have not a significant effect to predict the outcome variable so that a sub-model may be sufficient. We derived the asymptotic distributional biases, variances, and then we conducted extensive Monte Carlo simulation study to obtain the performance of the proposed estimation strategy. Our results showed a great benefit of the new methodologies for practitioners specifically in the applied sciences. We concluded the paper with two real data analysis from economics and education.
Linear Non-Autonomous Heat Flow in $$L_0^1({{\mathbb {R}}}^{d})$$ and Applications to Elliptic Equations in $${{\mathbb {R}}}^{d}$$
Authors: Robinson James C. , Rodríguez-Bernal Aníbal
Published: October 2022

We study solutions of the equation $$u_t-\Delta u+\lambda u=f$$

u
t

-
Δ
u
+
λ
u
=
f

, for initial data that is ‘large at infinity’ as treated in our previous papers on the unforced heat equation. When $$f=0$$

f
=
0

we characterise those $$(u_0,\lambda )$$

(

u
0

,
λ
)

for which solutions converge to 0 as $$t\rightarrow \infty $$

t
→
∞

, as not every $$\lambda >0$$

λ
>
0

is able to achieve that for all initial data. When $$f\ne 0$$

f
≠
0

we give conditions to guarantee that the solution is given by the usual ‘variation of constants formula’ $$u(t)=\mathrm{e}^{-\lambda t}S(t)u_0+\int _0^t\mathrm{e}^{-\lambda (t-s)}S(t-s)f(s)\,\mathrm{d}s$$

u

(
t
)

=

e

-
λ
t

S

(
t
)

u
0

+

∫
0
t

e

-
λ
(
t
-
s
)

S

(
t
-
s
)

f

(
s
)

d
s

, where $$S(\cdot )$$

S
(
·
)

is the heat semigroup. We use these results to treat the elliptic problem $$-\Delta u+\lambda u=f$$

-
Δ
u
+
λ
u
=
f

when f is allowed to be ‘large at infinity’, giving conditions under which a solution exists that is given by convolution with the usual Green’s function for the problem. Many of our results are sharp when $$u_0,f\ge 0$$

u
0

,
f
≥
0

.
Effects of superoxide anion attack on the lipoprotein HDL
Authors: Napolitano Gaetana , Fasciolo Gianluca , Tomajoli Maria Teresa Muscari , Carlucci Alessandro , Ascione Ester , Salvatore Alfonso
Published: October 2022

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is an anti-atherosclerotic lipoprotein. Thanks to the activity of apolipoprotein ApoA1, the principal protein component of HDL, this last is responsible for converting cholesterol into ester form and transporting excessive cholesterol to the liver (“reverse cholesterol transport” RCT). When HDL undergoes oxidation, it becomes dysfunctional and proatherogenic. ApoA1 is a target of oxidation, and its alteration affects RCT and contributes to atherosclerosis development. Until now, the mechanism of HDL oxidation is not fully understood and only hydroxyl radicals seem to induce direct oxidation of protein and lipidic components of lipoproteins. Here we demonstrate that superoxide radical, widely produced in early atherosclerosis, directly oxidizes HDL, and as a consequence, ApoA1 undergoes structural alterations impairing its anti-atherosclerotic functions. Our results highlight in an in vitro system the potential mechanism by which O2·− triggers atherosclerotic pathogenesis in vivo. Our study gets the basis for therapeutic approaches focused on the management of superoxide generation in early atherosclerosis onset.
Auswirkungen der Corona-Unterstützungsmaßnahmen auf die subjektive Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden der Beschäftigten in staatlichen Hochschulen aus Sicht von Expert*innen
Authors: Engelhardt Arne , Hildmann Sarah , Löffler Marlena , Teichmann Leonie , Niederberger Marlen
Published: October 2022

Hintergrund

Die Coronapandemie und die notwendigen Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung des Infektionsgeschehens prägten in den Jahren 2020/2021 die Lebens- und Arbeitssituation aller Menschen. Auch deutsche Hochschulen mussten zur Fortführung der Forschung und Lehre Infektionsschutzmaßnahmen für Beschäftigte ergreifen. Diese hatten positive und negative Auswirkungen auf die subjektive Gesundheit und die Alltagsgestaltung der Beschäftigten. Um mögliche Gefährdungen zukünftig in ähnlich herausfordernden Situationen oder bei der Verstetigung von Maßnahmen zu vermeiden, ist die Kenntnis über gesundheitliche Auswirkungen von großer Bedeutung.

Methode

Durch einen Mixed-Methods-Ansatz wurden Hochschulakteur*innen mit Expertise in den Bereichen Gleichstellung, Inklusion, Gesundheitsmanagement und Hochschulseelsorge mithilfe eines Online-Fragebogens zu den Auswirkungen von beruflichen Unterstützungsmaßnahmen im Zuge der Coronapandemie auf die subjektive Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden der Beschäftigten in Hochschulen befragt.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt nahmen 117 Expert*innen an der quantitativen Befragung teil. Insbesondere die Entgrenzung zwischen Privat- und Berufsleben (71 %) sowie das Gesundheitsverhalten der Beschäftigten während der Pandemie (55 %) beurteilen diese kritisch. Den kollegialen Umgang zwischen Kolleg*innen nehmen die meisten (81 %) positiv wahr. Gleichzeitig sehen die Expert*innen eine Verschlechterung der sozialen Beziehungen (78 %). Ihrer Einschätzung nach ist die Arbeitssituation unter Coronabedingungen für die Beschäftigten überwiegend handhabbar (55 %), verständlich (71 %) und sinnvoll (64 %).

Schlussfolgerung

Insgesamt zeichnen die Expert*innen ein differenziertes Bild über die Situation an den deutschen Hochschulen während der Coronapandemie. Es gibt Hinweise, dass sich die Situation für spezifische Beschäftigtengruppen in der Hochschule als deutlich herausfordernder erweist als für andere. Wird die Online-Lehre und Telearbeit an Hochschulen verstetigt, sind insbesondere Aspekte der sozialen Gesundheit und der Aspekt der Entgrenzung von Arbeit- und Privatleben differenziert nach unterschiedlichen Lebenslagen zu beachten.
Health-related quality of life 15 years after oesophageal cancer surgery: a prospective nationwide cohort study
Authors: SCHANDL Anna , CHENG Zhao , JOHAR Asif , LAGERGREN Pernilla
Published: October 2022

Purpose

We aimed to study oesophageal cancer survivors’ health-related quality of life (HRQL) 15 years after surgery and to identify factors related to reduced HRQL.

Methods

A nationwide, prospective cohort study enrolling 616 patients who underwent open oesophageal cancer surgery in Sweden between April 2, 2001, and December 21, 2005. HRQL was evaluated by questionnaires 15 years after surgery. HRQL data for the 15-year survivors were individually matched for age, sex and comorbidity by using values from a Swedish background population. Multivariable linear regression models provided mean score differences (MSD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each HRQL scale and item.

Results

Among the 616 individuals in the original study group, 70 (11%) survived for 15 years and 52 (74%) responded to the questionnaires. Compared with a matched background population, the survivors reported problems in 10 of 25 HRQL aspects. Most of these were related to symptoms of the digestive tract, such as reflux (MSD 26.4, 95%CI: 18.3 to 34.4), dysphagia (MSD 17.7, 95%CI: 10.0 to 25.4) and eating difficulties (MSD 16.4, 95%CI: 11.3 to 21.4). Major postoperative complications after surgery were related to worse HRQL in 11 of 25 aspects.

Conclusions

This study suggests that surgery for oesophageal cancer entails long-term, possibly life-long, symptoms related to the digestive tract.

Implication for Cancer Survivors.

Comprehensive support from healthcare may be imperative for oesophageal cancer survivors to adapt to and cope with consequences of oesophageal cancer surgery. Prevention, early identification and adequate treatment of postoperative complications may improve patient outcome.
Mobilität einzelner Membranproteine in Mitochondrien
Authors: Busch Karin B.
Published: October 2022

Mitochondria are enveloped by an outer membrane (OM) and possess a highly complex inner membrane (IM) with multiple cristae invaginations. We asked how the dynamics of the receptor Tom20 in the OM and ATP synthase in the IM would be affected by the membrane architecture. Single molecule tracking of fluorescence-labeled single particles revealed striking differences in the mobility patterns and diffusion coefficients: ATP synthase is trapped in cristae, while Tom20 is highly diffusive.
Wie das Membranprotein CD20 humane B-Lymphozyten ruhig hält
Authors: Kläsener Kathrin , Reth Michael
Published: October 2022

The membrane protein CD20 of B lymphocytes is the target of Rituximab (RTX), the first successful therapeutic antibody. The biological function of CD20 was a mystery so far. We found that loss of CD20 leads to the reorganization of a protein/lipid nanodomain on the plasma membrane, the activation of human B cells, and their differentiation into antibody-producing plasma cells. These finding shed new light on the functional membrane organization and the therapeutic mechanism of anti-CD20 antibodies.