bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Subsystems of a Hybrid Finite State Machine
Authors: Meenakshi S. , Muhiuddin G. , Jun Y. B. , Elavarasan B.
Published: September 2023

Humanity’s efforts are manifested in the creation of novel solutions to complex problems in diverse fields. Traditional mathematical methods fail to solve real-world problems due to their complexity. Researchers have come up with new mathematical theories like fuzzy set theory and rough set theory to help them figure out how to model the uncertainty in these fields. Soft set theory is a novel approach to real-world problem solving that does not require the membership function to be specified. This aids in the resolution of a wide range of issues, and significant progress has recently been made. After Jun et al. came up with a hybrid system that combined fuzzy and soft set concepts, many people came up with hybrid ideas in different algebraic structures. In this paper, we introduce the concepts of subsystem and strong subsystem of a hybrid finite state machine (HFSM) and investigate a portion of their significant properties. We also provide an example that shows that every subsystem does not need to be a strong subsystem. Additionally, we study the cyclic subsystem of HFSMs and also obtain their equivalent results and examples. Finally, we define the notions of homomorphism of subsystems and strong subsystems of HFSMs.
A Fuzzy Approach to Sustainability II: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Authors: Doig Margaret I. , Malik D. S.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we use a [Formula: see text]-measure derived from fuzzy logic to evaluate progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations member states. In the first of this two-part series, we examined each of the Sustainable Development Goals individually. We now build a composite index score for 163 countries using the [Formula: see text]-measure to examine their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals as a whole, rank them, and examine the characteristics of highly performing and of poorly performing countries. We also study the impact of income category and region on progress towards the Goals.
An Interactive Weighted Geometric Aggregation Operator on T2IFS
Authors: Annapurna N. , Sireesha V.
Published: September 2023

Type 2 intuitionistic fuzzy sets (T2IFS) appear to be an attractive and potentially useful tool for coping with uncertainty and inaccurate data in today’s uncertain and ambiguous world. Consequently, it is frequently employed in decision-making (DM) issues. In the DM procedure, it is essential to aggregate the information provided by the experts. The Aggregation operators (AOs) are effective information combining tools. Therefore, this study aims on developing geometric and interactive geometric AOs on T2IFSs. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed operator, the optimal e-learning tool selection MCDM problem is solved. The results demonstrate that the proposed interactive AO outperforms existing arithmetic AOs and is applicable to all DM problems.
Some inequalities for convex functions and applications to operator inequalities
Authors: Huy Duong Quoc , Van Doan Thi Thuy
Published: September 2023

In this paper we propose some Heinz-type inequalities for convex functions which provide a very simple proof of the main results of Kittaneh, Moslehian and Sababheh showed in the paper (F. Kittaneh, M. S. Moslehian and M. Sababheh, Quadratic interpolation of the Heinz means, Math. Inequal. Appl. 21(3) (2018) 739–757). We apply these inequalities to infer new inequalities for power means. As an application, we also give operator versions of Heinz-type inequalities for power and Heinz means.
Synthesis, Characterization and in-vitro Biological Studies of Curcumin decorated Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles
Authors: Naaziya M. , Biju Tina Sara , Francis Arul Prakash , Veeraraghavan Vishnu Priya , Gayathri R. , Sankaran Kavitha
Published: September 2023

Selenium nanoparticles have drawn interest recently, due to their distinctive physicochemical characteristics and potential usage in numerous applications, including medicine, electronics and catalysis. In this study, we employed Biancaea sappan (BS), often known as sappan wood or Brazilwood, which is a flowering tree that is endemic to Southeast Asia. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, this tree’s heartwood is frequently used in traditional medicine. Additionally, the wood is used to make natural dyes. In this study, we aim to develop an ecofriendly selenium nanoparticle using BS[Formula: see text] as a natural reducing agent and curcumin as a capping agent. The nanoparticles were synthesized using the green synthesis method and characterized using various techniques. Biocompatibility was evaluated using hemolytic assay and the bioactivity of the nanoparticles was assessed using anti-inflammatory and antioxidant assays. Selenium nanoparticles (BCSeN) were successfully synthesized using BS bark extract and functionalized with curcumin. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, confirming their morphology, crystallinity, functionalization, elemental composition, size and stability. In vitro, bioactivity studies revealed that the BCSeN exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity. They also demonstrated notable antioxidant efficacy against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and were also found to have minimal hemolytic potential. Our findings highlight the potential of BCSeN as a promising candidate for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant applications. However, further in-depth analysis is required to fully understand their efficacy and toxicity.
Distributed Formation Control of Multi-Agent Systems: A Novel Fast-Optimal Balanced Differential Game Approach
Authors: Xue Wenyan , Huang Jie , Chen Nan , Chen Yutao , Lin Dingci
Published: September 2023

This paper proposes an efficient fast-optimal balanced differential game (DG) approach to address the formation control problem in dynamic environments for networked multi-agent systems (MASs). Compared to existing receding horizon distributed differential game (RH-DDG) approaches, the proposed approach employs a two-layer game structure to balance optimality and real-time performance, with a focus on formation control, collision avoidance and obstacle avoidance. In the offline layer, the problem is converted into a distributed differential game (DDG) where each agent computes strategies using distributed information from locally neighboring agents. The strategy of each agent self-enforces a unique global Nash equilibrium (G-NE) with a strongly connected communication topology, providing an optimal reference trajectory for the online game. In the online layer, a receding horizon differential game with an event-trigger mechanism (RH-DGET) is presented to track the G-NE trajectory. Ego players are triggered to update online Nash strategies only when the event-triggering condition is satisfied, ensuring the real-time safety certificate. Rigorous proofs demonstrate that the online Nash strategies converge to the offline G-NE until the trigger ends, and a certain dwell time condition is given to prevent the Zeno behavior. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Important contributions of multidimensional nanoadditives on tribological applications of unitary and binary alloys
Authors: Yang Kang , Tang Jun , Lin Haibo , Xiong Yahui , Zhang Feizhi , Wu Chao , Chen Hao , Zhang Hongliang , Li Zhenjie , Li Boliang
Published: September 2023

Nanomaterials have attracted wide attention due to their great potential in the field of tribology, and have also been widely used in industrial production and manufacturing, aerospace, medical and life fields. Although numerous studies have been conducted on additive-reinforced nanocomposites, the important tribological understandings of nanoadditives associated with size effects ranging from 0D and 2D nanostructures with respect to multicomponent alloys remain comprehensively un-reviewed. Hence, the present situation of nanomaterials as functional additives in multicomponent alloys for friction reduction and wear resistant performances, with underlying friction and wear mechanisms, are summarized in this review. Finally, the development prospect and challenges of nanotribology are concluded, which further provide an in-depth understanding of such field for enriching practical applications.
A nonlocal strain gradient theory for wave propagation analysis in transversely isotropic elastic medium
Authors: Xuan Tung Do
Published: September 2023

This paper has the objective of studying the propagation of surface waves in a transversely isotropic medium based on nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT). A characteristics equation for the existence of surface waves is discussed. This equation could be easily reduced to the ones of the gradient strain theory, nonlocal theory and classical theory. It has also been concluded that there exist escape frequency and cut-off frequency for the wave propagating in size-dependent materials based on the NSGT. Dispersion equation for the propagation of Rayleigh-type waves at the free surface has been derived. The effect of the nonlocal parameter, the strain gradient parameter on the Rayleigh wave propagation is considered through some numerical examples.
Additive Sparsification of CSPs
Authors: Pelleg Eden , Živný Stanislav
Published: September 2023

Multiplicative cut sparsifiers, introduced by Benczúr and Karger [STOC’96], have proved extremely influential and found various applications. Precise characterisations were established for sparsifiability of graphs with other 2-variable predicates on Boolean domains by Filtser and Krauthgamer [SIDMA’17] and non-Boolean domains by Butti and Živný [SIDMA’20].

Bansal, Svensson and Trevisan [FOCS’19] introduced a weaker notion of sparsification termed “additive sparsification”, which does not require weights on the edges of the graph. In particular, Bansal et al. designed algorithms for additive sparsifiers for cuts in graphs and hypergraphs.

As our main result, we establish that
all
Boolean Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) admit an additive sparsifier; that is, for every Boolean predicate
P
:{ 0,1}

k

→ { 0,1} of a fixed arity
k
, we show that CSP(
P
) admits an additive sparsifier. Under our newly introduced notion of all-but-one sparsification for non-Boolean predicates, we show that CSP(
P
) admits an additive sparsifier for
any
predicate
P
:
D

k

→ { 0,1} of a fixed arity
k
on an arbitrary finite domain
D
.
A Survey on Deep Generative 3D-aware Image Synthesis
Authors: Xia Weihao , Xue Jing-Hao
Published: September 2023

Recent years have seen remarkable progress in deep learning powered visual content creation. This includes deep generative 3D-aware image synthesis, which produces high-fidelity images in a 3D-consistent manner while simultaneously capturing compact surfaces of objects from pure image collections without the need for any 3D supervision, thus bridging the gap between 2D imagery and 3D reality. The field of computer vision has been recently captivated by the task of deep generative 3D-aware image synthesis, with hundreds of papers appearing in top-tier journals and conferences over the past few years (mainly the past two years), but there lacks a comprehensive survey of this remarkable and swift progress. Our survey aims to introduce new researchers to this topic, provide a useful reference for related works, and stimulate future research directions through our discussion section. Apart from the presented papers, we aim to constantly update the latest relevant papers along with corresponding implementations at
https://weihaox.github.io/3D-aware-Gen
.
Severe Fontan‐Associated Liver Disease and Its Association With Mortality
Authors: Guerrero‐Chalela Carlos‐Eduardo , Therrien Judith , Grossman Yoni , Guo Liming , Liu Aihua , Marelli Ariane
Published: September 2023

Background

Data are rare about the incidence of severe Fontan‐associated liver disease (FALD) and its association with mortality. We sought to: (1) estimate the probability of developing severe FALD in patients who undergo the Fontan procedure (Fontan patients), compared with severe liver complications in patients with a ventricular septal defect; (2) assess the severe FALD‐mortality association; and (3) identify risk factors for developing severe FALD.

Methods and Results

Using the Quebec Congenital Heart Disease database, a total of 512 Fontan patients and 10 232 patients with a ventricular septal defect were identified. Kaplan‐Meier curves demonstrated significantly higher cumulative risk of severe FALD in Fontan patients (11.95% and 52.24% at 10 and 35 years, respectively), than the risk of severe liver complications in patients with a ventricular septal defect (0.50% and 2.75%, respectively). At 5 years, the cumulative risk of death was 12.60% in patients with severe FALD versus 3.70% in Fontan patients without FALD (log‐rank
P
=0.0171). Cox proportional hazard models identified significant associations between the development of severe FALD and congestive heart failure and supraventricular tachycardia, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.36 (95% CI, 1.38–4.02) and 2.45 (95% CI, 1.37–4.39), respectively. More recent Fontan completion was related to reduced risks of severe FALD, with an HR of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93–0.97) for each more recent year.

Conclusions

This large‐scale population‐based study documents that severe FALD in Fontan patients was associated with a >3‐fold increase in mortality. The risk of FALD is time‐dependent and can reach >50% by 35 years after the Fontan operation. Conditions promoting poor Fontan hemodynamics were associated with severe FALD development.
Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Outcomes in Older Adults
Authors: Hanna Jonathan M. , Wang Stephen Y. , Kochar Ajar , Park Dae Yong , Damluji Abdulla A. , Henry Glen A. , Ahmad Yousif , Curtis Jeptha P. , Nanna Michael G.
Published: September 2023

Background

Complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly performed in older adults (age ≥75 years) with stable ischemic heart disease. However, little is known about clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results

We derived a cohort of older adults undergoing elective PCI for stable ischemic heart disease across a large health system. We compared 12‐month event‐free survival (freedom from all‐cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and major bleeding), all‐cause death, target lesion revascularization, and bleeding events for patients receiving complex versus noncomplex PCI and derived risk estimates with Cox regression models. We included 513 patients (mean age, 81±5 years). Patients receiving complex PCI versus noncomplex PCI did not significantly differ across a host of clinical characteristics including cardiovascular disease features, noncardiac comorbidities, guideline‐directed medical therapy use, and frailty. Patients receiving complex PCI versus noncomplex PCI experienced worse event‐free survival (80.4% versus 86.8%), which was not significant in adjusted analyses (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38 [95% CI, 0.88–2.16]). All‐cause death at 1 year for patients undergoing complex PCI was nearly double that seen for patients receiving noncomplex PCI (10.2% versus 5.9%), and the risk was significant in models adjusted for clinical characteristics (HR, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.02–3.79]). Target lesion revascularization risk was lower for patients receiving complex PCI (2.2% versus 3.5%, adjusted HR), but bleeding events were not statistically different between groups (25.3% versus 20.5%;
P
=0.19).

Conclusions

Complex PCI in older adults with stable ischemic heart disease was associated with lower risk of target lesion revascularization but higher all‐cause death compared with noncomplex PCI.
Identification and reproduction of dagger nematode, Xiphinema americanum, in potato
Authors: Goraya Mankanwal , Yan Guiping , Plaisance Addison , Handoo Zafar A.
Published: September 2023

Plant-parasitic nematodes limit potato production by feeding on roots, reducing tuber yield and quality, and resulting in poor growth. Dagger nematodes (Xiphinema spp.) can pose a significant threat to crop production even in low numbers. Dagger nematodes have been reported in North Dakota, USA, potato fields. In this study, a dagger nematode species was identified and its reproduction potential in 21 potato cultivars was evaluated. The dagger nematode was identified as X. americanum via morphometric measurements and DNA sequence analysis. At the molecular level, D2-D3 of 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-regions of rDNA were targeted. Sequencing data of D2-D3 (749 bp) showed 98.18% similarity with three isolates of X. americanum. ITS sequence (860 bp) analysis showed 97.68% similarity with an isolate of X. americanum but lower similarity with other species of Xiphinema. The phylogenetic analysis of ITS region further confirmed the species of dagger nematode as X. americanum. Using naturally infested soil, two glasshouse experiments were conducted to assess the reproduction rate of X. americanum on 21 potato cultivars belonging to four distinct market potato classes (yellow, red, white and russet). The reproduction rates were found to vary among the potato classes and cultivars. Numerically, X. americanum population density was higher in ‘Soraya’, whereas ‘Ranger Russet’, ‘Manistee’, ‘Kennebec’, ‘Russet Norkotah 278’, ‘Modoc’, ‘Pomerelle Russet’ and ‘Dakota Rose’ reduced nematode reproduction in both trials. This is the first study demonstrating the reproduction of X. americanum in potato cultivars and could be helpful to manage dagger nematodes.
Rational Belief, Reflection, and Undercutting Defeat
Authors: Hofmann Frank
Published: September 2023

Philosophers disagree about the role of reflection for rationality, understood as the capacity to (properly) respond to genuine, normative reasons. Here, ‘reflection’ means the capacity for self-conscious normative meta-cognition. This article develops and rejects a novel argument – the argument from undercutting defeaters – in favor of the ‘one-level view’ that holds that having the concept of a belief (and of a reason) is necessary for responding to reasons. It will be argued that the ‘two-level view’, which allows for rational subjects that can only non-reflectively respond to reasons, is supported by considerations dealing with the role of responding to reasons for rational action. Rationality is not as unified as the one-level view wants to have it. We start with the non-reflective way of rationally forming beliefs and then grow into the reflective way.
Indigenous Geopolitics: Creating Indigenous Spaces of Community Self-Protection and Peace Amid Violent Conflict
Authors: Macaspac Nerve Valerio
Published: September 2023

This article examines the social and spatial dimensions of civilian agency amid violent conflicts, specifically focusing on the daily work required from indigenous community members in the upkeep of a peace zone as a space of peace and self-protection amid insurgency and counterinsurgency. Using the concept of indigenous geopolitics as an analytical framework, it argues that indigenous spaces of self-protection require the simultaneous processes of collective refusal of state or non-state violence toward indigenous peoples and the re-inscription of indigenous sovereignty within the nation-state. Through case study vignettes, it illustrates the agentive capacities and power of indigenous peoples as geopolitical actors. Rather than viewing indigenous communities as ‘passive victims’ of violent conflicts or excluded from state-centric geopolitical discourses and processes, this article reveals that indigenous agency transforms spaces of conflict and violence and generates and creates new or alternative spaces of unarmed civilian protection and peace outside of the purview of state and non-state armed actors. At stake is a re-thinking or destabilizing of dominant state-centric geopolitical processes that govern contemporary understanding of civilian protection, war, conflict, and peace.
Expanding Data on Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping
Authors: Kauffmann Mayeul , Janzen Randy
Published: September 2023

This article presents recent research on the collection and organization of unarmed civilian peacekeeping (ucp) data and proposes a pathway to the creation of a rich, regularly updated database on ucp. The article sets out by giving an overview of the wealth of data on conventional (military) peacekeeping and related research, and raises the question about the need for a similar data wealth for ucp. Secondly, it describes the inventory of current ucp data, to highlight advances in knowledge as well as data collection challenges and critical information gaps. In the main part, the article then sets out what a more comprehensive data collection on ucp would need to take into account and what such a dataset could look like. To do so, it also draws on databases regarding nonviolent campaigns and other fields (health, aviation) to demonstrate the potential for future data collection methodologies and research, and to consider safeguarding issues. Finally, this article suggests four strategies to better structure existing ucp data in order to collect missing information on various research themes. The benefits of the resulting rich database, it argues, would be greater visibility of ucp, the production of data useful for various research programs, and insights to improve field practice.
Current Legal and Economic Problems of Privacy Protection, Data Sharing, and Market-Opening in the Digital Economy
Authors: Schäfer Hans-Bernd
Published: September 2023

This paper is dedicated to my esteemed colleague Richard S. Markovits. It deals with ownership of data and with alternative methods to regulate Internet platform providers. It rejects the view that the subjects of information should have ownership rights over their personal data, which extend beyond what is necessary for privacy protection. Also, data controllers should not have an exclusive ownership right but share anonymized data with competitors. Even though the wealth of data harvested and stored by Internet firms are only weakly protected by trade-secret law, this together with effective encryption technologies develops into an exploitative de facto property over information, if effective market opening rules do not exist. The paper shows that the rule of abuse of dominant position of traditional competition law could not sufficiently check unfair trade practices of platform providers. Its adjudication is information intensive and leads to overly lengthy and costly proceedings. The Digital Markets Act of the European Union drew a radical conclusion from these experiences and regulates the biggest Internet firms with simple per se rules, which are relatively easy to administer but less flexible. Still, the Digital Markets Act should be welcomed as an important step forward.
‘Being old’ and ‘feeling old’ in contemporary Italy: Active ageing and COVID-19
Authors: Cappellato Valeria , Mercuri Eugenia
Published: September 2023

Over the last 20 years, ageing has been studied through the lens of an active ageing perspective, which considers older adults as responsible for their own conditions. However, the COVID-19 health emergency has highlighted its limits. Drawing on a sample of semi-structured interviews – collected before and during the pandemic – with people aged 65 years and above who are self-sufficient and live in Turin, Italy, this article explores the representations and perceptions of ageing, to highlight the possible effects of the COVID-19 emergency. The results show that representations of ageing revolve around two fundamental viewpoints: one considers older adults as a cost for the community because of their unproductiveness; the other overlaps the loss of self-sufficiency with a definition of ‘real’ old age. Furthermore, the interviews introduce a distinction between those who – considered productive despite their age – were called to provide a service to the community during the lockdown, and those who were judged vulnerable because of their age. Such ambiguous messages have raised new questions about an active and successful ageing imperative.
Mindfulness as praeparatio evangelica in the Irish Catholic Primary School
Authors: Carroll Thomas
Published: September 2023

Mindfulness has exploded in popularity across several elements of Irish society, including Catholic primary schools. This growth of the practice is set against the backdrop of a secularized and detraditionalized Irish society. This changed context for religious belief, as explored by Michael Paul Gallagher, Charles Taylor and Lieven Boeve, has challenged the Irish Church’s mission of evangelization. The challenges faced by Irish Catholic schools, as ecclesial entities, in living out this evangelizing mission highlight the growing necessity for pre-evangelization. These issues include a breakdown in the home, school and parish partnership model for faith formation and development, and a contemporary ‘educational emergency.’ This article examines the contribution of mindfulness as praeparatio evangelica in Catholic schools, focusing on it as a contemplative practice and as a means of enflaming sacramental imagination.
Community-Based Teacher Education: The Experiences of Teacher Candidates Learning Alongside Grassroots Youth Organizers
Authors: Popielarz Kaitlin E.
Published: September 2023

This community-based action research (CBAR) project acknowledges and disrupts existing systemic barriers to bring teacher candidates and grassroots youth organizers together through dialogue and reflection for transformative action. The practice of community-based pedagogy is described and utilized to demonstrate how critical understandings of community may imagine new ways of learning in conventional teacher education programs. This process enhances teacher candidates’ understanding and use of community-based pedagogy while supporting youth organizers in social justice initiatives within schools and communities. The findings, which draw from the CBAR project of a white, cis-gender woman who is a teacher educator-scholar-community organizer, provide implications for teacher educators aiming to foster collaborative partnerships with youth-centered grassroots community organizations and intergenerational community members. Teacher educators are invited to engage in paradigm shifts to curate community-based teacher education programs that are stimulated by and benefit local schools and communities.
The well-being correlates of religious commitment amongst South African and Kenyan students
Authors: Khumalo Itumeleng P , Selvam Sahaya G , Wilson Fadiji Angelina
Published: September 2023

Religious commitment is a prominent feature in the lives of many students in Africa. The present study investigated the well-being correlates (emotional well-being, social contribution, and depression) of religious commitment, and compared them across sex. A cross-sectional sample of 471 students from South Africa and Kenya (men = 244; women = 227; with an average age of 22.8 years) completed the Religious Commitment Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, Social Well-being Scale, and Mental Health Continuum Short-Form. Structural equation modelling in Mplus was used to estimate direct effects of religious commitment on emotional well-being, social contribution and depression, and comparison across sex. The results showed significant direct effects, attesting to the association of religious commitment with higher emotional well-being and social contribution, and lower depression, with no significant sex differences. In addition to insight into positive and negative intra- and interpersonal well-being correlates of religious commitment, the absence of sex differences shows uniformity in how religious commitment is related to well-being for male and female students.
Artificial neural network–based modelling of pacemaker and its pace tracking using discrete wavelet transform–based finite dimension repetitive controller
Authors: Dey Rijhi , Dhar Rudra Sankar , Mondal Ujjwal
Published: September 2023

Efficient control of cardiac pacing is a very important aspect as it provides lifesaving regulated cardiac rhythm in this dynamic hostile environment. The foremost control objective is set to design a highly reliable and advanced control strategy to ensure the utmost accuracy in the control effort. A modified artificial neural network (ANN)–based modelling and pace tracking using finite dimension repetitive controller (FDRC) design based on internal model principle (IMP) has been presented here. This controller will not only provide accurate tracking but also minimize the control action time due to less amount of data handling through the deployment of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) in the loop of repetitive controller (RC). Finally, a case study has been propounded considering ANN model using available data sets and software to validate the control strategy and justify the control objective for optimizing the pace tracking in a pacemaker. Result of the experiment showed good accuracy as well as very low error in terms of mean-squared error (MSE), integral absolute error (IAE), integral time absolute error (ITAE) and integral time square error (ITSE). Along with that, it is observed that DWT not only benefits the handling of very less memory but also acts as an additional filter while reconstructing the signal, which serves as an added advantage of this model.
Migrant workers navigating the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK: Resilience, reworking and resistance
Authors: Miles Lilian , Freeman Tim , Polzin Amanda , Reitz Rishab , Croucher Richard
Published: September 2023

Drawing on qualitative data, in this article the authors apply Katz’s conceptual framework of agency as resilience, reworking and resistance practices to theorise UK migrant workers’ responses to worsened employment conditions, stress of unemployment and reduced incomes during the Covid-19 pandemic. The article draws attention to the range of micro practices these workers adopted to survive and rework existing conditions to their advantage – actions which rarely feature in academic writing, yet which recognise those who do not ‘resist’ as conscious agents who exercise power. Meanwhile, although outright oppositional responses to deteriorating employment conditions are rare, the article demonstrates the nature of workplace union representation as a central factor in resisting managerial control. The article extends Katz’s framework by considering the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind migrant workers’ responses, to understand better their dynamic choices of resilience, reworking and resistance practices in the chaotic circumstances of the pandemic.
Marginalized, but not demobilized: Ethnic minority protest activity when facing discrimination
Authors: Bilodeau Antoine , White Stephen E , Ma Clayton , Turgeon Luc , Henderson Ailsa
Published: September 2023

In a context of backlash against diversity in many countries, we know little about how ethnic minorities respond politically when they personally experience discrimination. Moving beyond the study of electoral participation, this research investigates whether experiences of discrimination push ethnic minorities toward an alternate political pathway for those who feel sidelined by the political community: protest activity. The study also examines whether the context of discrimination (i.e. public or private sphere) has different consequences for protest participation, and whether intragroup contact enhances the effects of discrimination on protest participation. Relying on a survey of 1647 respondents from racialized backgrounds in Canada, our findings indicate that discriminatory experiences increase participation in protest activities irrespective of its context, and that the positive relationship between discriminatory experiences and protest activity is stronger among respondents with greater intragroup contact.
Factor Structure and Predictors of Resilience Among Custodial Grandparents
Authors: Li Ke , Tang Fengyan , Rauktis Mary Elizabeth , Jin Guoping , Farmer Elizabeth M. Z.
Published: September 2023

Resilience plays a significant role in buffering the negative effects of parenting stress among custodial grandparents. Using a sample of 76 custodial grandparents, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and to examine the predictors at individual level (demographic characteristics and stress management), interpersonal level (positive social support and negative social support), and community level (formal service use). The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded two factors: adaptability and persistence, and positivity. The findings suggest that low levels of stress management and negative social support may undermine resilience in coping with parenting stress. This study emphasizes the significance of both individual and family interventions in fostering resilience among custodial grandparents by aiding them in building stress management skills and improving the quality of social relationships.
Mother-Father Relationship and Depressive Symptoms Among Pregnant Black Women
Authors: Adaji Rosemary , Wheeler Jenna M. , Misra Dawn P. , Giurgescu Carmen
Published: September 2023

Background:

Black women report higher levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy than white women. A supportive relationship with the father of the baby may be protective and decrease depressive symptoms.

Objective:

We sought to examine the association between mother-father relationship and depressive symptoms among pregnant black women.

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted a secondary data analysis from a subsample of 405 pregnant black women who participated in the Biosocial Impact on Black Births study, a prospective cohort study. Participants completed questionnaires at 19- to 29-week gestation, including 6 measures of their relationship with the father of the baby: (1) contact, (2) involvement, (3) overall relationship, (4) change in relationship from prior to pregnancy to during pregnancy, (5) support, and (6) conflict. Latent class analysis was used to identify and classify the relationship construct. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression (CES-D) scale was used, with scores ≥23 considered high levels of depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed with logistic regression.

Results:

Following adjustment for maternal sociodemographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and health behaviors, women in a conflictual relationship had higher odds of having depressive symptom scores ≥23 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.50, 95% confidence interval: 2.00, 6.12) than those having no relationship (adjusted odds ratio: 2.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.43, 5.52), when compared with those with a good relationship.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that having either a conflictual or no relationship with the father of the baby during pregnancy increases the odds for higher maternal depressive symptoms (CES-D scores ≥ 23) among pregnant black women.
Hierarchical Automated Machine Learning Approach for Self-Optimizable Driving Distraction Recognition Based on Driver’s Lane-Keeping Performance
Authors: Chai Chen , Li Jiaxin , Islam Md Mohaiminul , Feng Rui , Lu Miaojia
Published: September 2023

With the enrichment of smartphone uses, phone-related driving distractions have become a threat to driving safety. One way to mitigate driving distractions is to detect them and provide real-time warnings. However, most existing driving distraction recognition algorithms are pretrained models composed of structures, hyperparameters, and parameters that may not be able to account for drivers’ individual differences and, thus, might result in low model accuracy. This study proposes a domain-specific hierarchical automated machine learning (HAT-ML) model that self-learns personalized optimal models to detect driving distractions from vehicle movement data. The HAT-ML model integrates key modeling steps into auto-optimizable layers, including knowledge-based feature extraction, feature selection by recursive feature elimination, automated algorithm selection, and hyperparameter autotuning by Bayesian optimization. In our eight-degrees-of-freedom driving simulator experiment, we demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed model using three driving distraction tasks: browsing a short message, browsing a long message, and answering a phone call. The HAT-ML model was found to be reliable and robust for predicting phone-related driving distraction, achieving satisfactory results with a predictive accuracy of 80% at the group level and 90% at the individual level. Moreover, the results revealed that each distraction and driver type required different optimized hyperparameter values, which demonstrated the value of utilizing HAT-ML to detect driving distractions. The key elements that dominated the performance of the model have several theoretical and practical implications. The proposed method not only enhanced performance, but also provided data-driven insights about model development.
Traffic Safety Assessment with Integrated Communication System of Connected and Automated Vehicles at Signalized Intersections
Authors: Wang Xu , Jiang Xinguo , Li Haibo , Zhao Xinyu , Hu Zuoan , Xu Chuan
Published: September 2023

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are expected to improve traffic safety effectively at signalized intersections. Considerable studies have been conducted to investigate the benefits of CAVs in improving traffic mobility and efficiency. However, in most previous research, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication have been considered separately rather than concurrently, to study the characteristics of CAVs, resulting in the potential of CAVs not being fully exploited and inconsistency with reality. In this paper, an integrated communication system of CAVs (ICSC), which incorporates V2V and V2I communication, is proposed, to assess traffic safety at signalized intersections. In this study, the intelligent driver model (IDM) is used to approximate V2V communication between a subject CAV and preceding CAVs. A reinforcement learning algorithm is adopted to model V2I communication between a CAV and a traffic light. The traffic safety effect of ICSC, V2V-only, and V2I-only scenarios is evaluated for different market penetration rates (MPRs). The results show that the ICSC scenario significantly reduces traffic conflicts and outperforms V2V-only, V2I-only, and benchmark scenarios when the MPR is equal to or higher than 50% with different surrogate safety measures (SSMs), such as time-exposed deceleration (TED) to avoid crashing, time exposed time-to-collision (TET), and use of a spacing gap (SGAP). Moreover, the mobility effect of the ICSC scenario is studied, and appears to increase average speed and reduce delay time. Finally, the results suggest that the ICSC can improve traffic safety and mobility concurrently and exploit the potentials of CAVs at signalized intersections.
Long-term results of clam enterocystoplasty in non-neurogenic refractory urge incontinence
Authors: Soydaş Türker , Okulu Emrah , Uzundal Halil , Ünal Selman , Özayar Asım , Kutluhan Musab Ali , Kayıgil Önder
Published: September 2023

Objectives:

This study aims to assess the efficacy of Clam enterocystoplasty (CECP) surgery for the treatment of non-neurogenic refractory urgency urinary incontinence (UUI).

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 17 female patients who underwent CECP for non-neurogenic refractory UUI between May 2010 and November 2022.

Results:

The median of ICIQ-SF was 19 (15–21) before treatment, which decreased to a median of 0 (0–5) after treatment ( p = 0.01). The average preoperative pad use among the participants was 4 (3–6), while it became 0 postoperatively ( p < 0.01). The median preoperative cystometric bladder capacity was 251 ml (100–350 ml), increasing to 456 ml (400–650 ml) postoperatively ( p < 0.01). According to the Clavien-Dindo classification system, the majority of patients experienced either no complications (66%) or minor complications (CD I/CD II) (33%) within the initial 90 days following surgery.

Conclusions:

“Clam” iliocystoplasty emerges as a secure and successful treatment option in the patient group whose symptoms persist after first, second, and third-line treatments with the diagnosis of urge incontinence.
Neutral, Non-Disruptive, and Native: Why Do Chinese Nonprofit Scholars Cite English Articles?
Authors: Ma Ji
Published: September 2023

Language shapes diverse cultures and creates natural barriers between human societies. The landscape of nonprofit and philanthropic studies in non-English languages is barely charted, impeding the globalization of this research field. This project (a) describes the topics shared between English and Chinese scholarship on nonprofits and philanthropy and (b) explores why English scholarship is cited in Chinese journal articles from five aspects: rationale of scholarship, novelty, relevance, social network, and reputation. The English articles cited by Chinese scholars tend to: (a) focus on instrumentality but not expressive values, (b) develop rather than disrupt existing paradigms, and (c) be relevant to topics popular in Chinese literature and have authors with Chinese scholarly connections. In general, Chinese scholars tend to cite English articles that are value-neutral, non-disruptive, and native. Theoretical and methodological implications for examining nonprofit studies in other languages are discussed.
Misleading Motives: Incentives for Accounting Bias in Not-for-Profit Pension Plans
Authors: Gupta Anubhav , Matkin David
Published: September 2023

In this study, we examine whether not-for-profit organizations actively manage their pension accounting assumptions and whether their assumptions are, as prior research suggests, more aggressive than those of for-profit organizations. Using a 17-year panel dataset collected from audited financial statements, we compare the accounting assumptions (the expected rate of return and the discount rate) of not-for-profit and for-profit firms. We also examine the not-for-profit sample alone to test for accounting bias motivated by various financial incentives. We model accounting assumptions as levels (between-firms) as well as changes over time (within-firms). Contrary to prior research, we find no evidence that not-for-profits use more aggressive assumptions than for-profits. Furthermore, we find that most of the accounting biases of not-for-profits are explained by between-firm variation rather than within-firm variation, suggesting that although not-for-profits use biased assumptions, they may not actively adjust them to target financial benchmarks.
Mechanisms of mobile bearing dislocation in lateral unicompartmental knee replacement
Authors: Yang Irene , Agustoni Greta , Murray David W , Mellon Stephen J
Published: September 2023

Mobile bearing dislocation occurs in 1– 6% of Oxford Domed Lateral replacements. Dislocations are predominantly medial, but can occur anteriorly or posteriorly. They tend to occur when the knee is flexed. It is not clear how dislocations can be prevented. A previously described mechanical rig for assessing mobile bearing dislocation was updated so as to study dislocation with the knee in flexion. Sub-categories for the description of each type of dislocation were introduced. Dislocation was only possible when the knee was distracted. As the amount of distraction possible in the knee is variable, the risk of dislocation is related to the amount of distraction in the rig necessary for a dislocation. The type of dislocation requiring the least distraction was medial `edge' dislocation in which the edge of the bearing dislocates onto the tibial wall, which is the most common type of dislocation. The amount of distraction necessary decreased the further the bearing was from the wall and with 50% posterior overhang. Rotation of the knee did not influence the amount of distraction. In conclusion dislocation can only occur if the lateral compartment is distracted. To reduce the dislocation risk, surgeons should aim to position the femoral and tibial components so that the bearing is as close as possible to the wall without jamming against it and the tibial component should be positioned flush with the posterior tibial cortex. If, during the surgery, the mobile bearing can easily be dislocated onto the wall the surgeon should consider changing to a fixed bearing. The tibial component should also be positioned flush with the posterior tibial cortex, as if it is too far forward this may contribute to dislocation.
Effect of GO content on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V coating reinforced artificial joint
Authors: Gong Yuling , Cui Chen , Wu Meiping , He Rui , Jie Dadong , Miao Xiaojin
Published: September 2023

In this study, we have innovatively proposed a method of in-situ synthesized TiC hard phase to improve the surface mechanical properties of artificial joint materials (Ti6Al4V). In order to explore the optimum graphene oxide (GO) addition, GO/Ti6Al4V composite powders with different proportions (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt.%) were prepared. The homogeneously dispersed GO/Ti6Al4V composite powder was prepared on Ti6Al4V substrate by laser cladding technology. The microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical behavior of GO/Ti6Al4V composite coatings were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microscope (OM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), tribometer, hardness tester, and surface profiler. The results showed that the addition of GO could significantly improve the mechanical properties of TC4 substrate. During the preparation of the coating, the grain size of in-situ TiC phase was nanoscale and was distributed between acicular martensite, which played a critical role in enhancing the mechanical properties of the coating. The TiC phase distributed between acicular martensite refine the grain size of [Formula: see text] phase and improve the cutting resistance of the coating. Nevertheless, excessive GO decreased the fluidity of the molten pool, and micro holes tended to generate in the coating, which had a negative impact on the mechanical properties of the coating. At the GO content of 0.5 wt.%, the microhardness of the GO/Ti6Al4V coating was 1.325 times that of pure Ti6Al4V. Under the friction environment of simulated body fluid solution, the average friction coefficient was approximately 0.307 and the wear rate decreased to 3.5 × 10−7 mm3/N · m.
Bridge the Gap Between Nursing Theoretical Education and Clinical Training Environment in Al-Makassed Training Hospital in Palestine
Authors: Shqairat Jamil M. A. , Faraj Salim , Sedek Muliati
Published: September 2023

The training of nursing students is essential for the professional development and quality of care. The purpose of this study is to assess the gap between theory and practice among undergraduate nursing students in Al-Makassed nursing college, a cross-sectional survey was used in this study. The questionnaire consists of two parts: socio-demographic information part and questions related to students, instructors, curriculum, practical training field and communication factors. The results of this study show that there is a gap between theoretical education and practice training. There were several factors in nursing students’ training, such as curriculum, communication, practical training field, instructors and instructions. The conclusion of this study shows that nursing education should reconsider current methods of theoretical and practical training learning and looking for ways to prepare the best professional nurses’ future.