bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organised Crime in the Fisheries Sector
Authors: Witbooi Emma , Ali Kamal-Deen , Santosa Mas Achmad , Hurley Gail , Husein Yunus , Maharaj Sarika , Okafor-Yarwood Ifesinachi , Quiroz Inés Arroyo , Salas Omar
Published: May 2023

The fisheries sector, like most economic sectors, is impacted by organised crime. Organised crime deprives states of national revenue and threatens the legitimate fishing industry and the livelihoods of those that rely on it.
Vacuum transitions in two-dimensions and their holographic interpretation
Authors: Pasquarella Veronica , Quevedo Fernando
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We calculate amplitudes for 2D vacuum transitions by means of the Euclidean methods of Coleman-De Luccia (CDL) and Brown-Teitelboim (BT), as well as the Hamiltonian formalism of Fischler, Morgan and Polchinski (FMP). The resulting similarities and differences in between the three approaches are compared with their respective 4D realisations. For CDL, the total bounce can be expressed as the product of relative entropies, whereas, for the case of BT and FMP, the transition rate can be written as the difference of two generalised entropies. By means of holographic arguments, we show that the Euclidean methods, as well as the Lorentzian cases without non-extremal black holes, provide examples of an AdS2/CFT1 ⊂ AdS3/CFT2 correspondence. Such embedding is not possible in the presence of islands for which the setup corresponds to AdS2/CFT1 ⊄ AdS3/CFT2. We find that whenever an island is present, up-tunnelling is possible.
On the 3D Navier–Stokes equations with a linear multiplicative noise and prescribed energy
Authors: Berkemeier Stefanie Elisabeth
Published: May 2023

For a prescribed deterministic kinetic energy, we use convex integration to construct analytically weak and probabilistically strong solutions to the 3D incompressible Navier–Stokes equations driven by a linear multiplicative stochastic forcing. These solutions are defined up to an arbitrarily large stopping time and have deterministic initial values, which are part of the construction. Moreover, by a suitable choice of different kinetic energies which coincide on an interval close to time 0, we obtain non-uniqueness.
Human-centric AI: philosophical and community-centric considerations
Authors: Taylor Randon R. , O’Dell Bessie , Murphy John W.
Published: May 2023

This article provides a course of correction in the discourse surrounding human-centric AI by elucidating the philosophical underpinning that serves to create a view that AI is divorced from human-centric values. Next, we espouse the need to explicitly designate stakeholder- or community-centric values which are needed to resolve the issue of alignment. To achieve this, we present two frameworks, Ubuntu and maximum feasible participation. Finally, we demonstrate how employing the aforementioned frameworks in AI can benefit society by flattening the current top-down social hierarchies as AI is currently being utilized. Implications are discussed.
Non-intersecting Path Constructions for TASEP with Inhomogeneous Rates and the KPZ Fixed Point
Authors: Bisi Elia , Liao Yuchen , Saenz Axel , Zygouras Nikos
Published: May 2023

We consider a discrete-time TASEP, where each particle jumps according to Bernoulli random variables with particle-dependent and time-inhomogeneous parameters. We use the combinatorics of the Robinson–Schensted–Knuth correspondence and certain intertwining relations to express the transition kernel of this interacting particle system in terms of ensembles of weighted, non-intersecting lattice paths and, consequently, as a marginal of a determinantal point process. We next express the joint distribution of the particle positions as a Fredholm determinant, whose correlation kernel is given in terms of a boundary-value problem for a discrete heat equation. The solution to such a problem finally leads us to a representation of the correlation kernel in terms of random walk hitting probabilities, generalizing the formulation of Matetski et al. (Acta Math. 227(1):115–203, 2021) to the case of both particle- and time-inhomogeneous rates. The solution to the boundary value problem in the fully inhomogeneous case appears with a finer structure than in the homogeneous case.
Long-Term Pollution Does Not Inhibit Denitrification and DNRA by Adapted Benthic Microbial Communities
Authors: Broman Elias , Abdelgadir Mohanad , Bonaglia Stefano , Forsberg Sara C. , Wikström Johan , Gunnarsson Jonas S. , Nascimento Francisco J. A. , Sjöling Sara
Published: May 2023

Denitrification in sediments is a key microbial process that removes excess fixed nitrogen, while dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) converts nitrate to ammonium. Although microorganisms are responsible for essential nitrogen (N) cycling, it is not yet fully understood how these microbially mediated processes respond to toxic hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) and metals. In this study, we sampled long-term polluted sediment from the outer harbor of Oskarshamn (Baltic Sea), measured denitrification and DNRA rates, and analyzed taxonomic structure and N-cycling genes of microbial communities using metagenomics. Results showed that denitrification and DNRA rates were within the range of a national reference site and other unpolluted sites in the Baltic Sea, indicating that long-term pollution did not significantly affect these processes. Furthermore, our results indicate an adaptation to metal pollution by the N-cycling microbial community. These findings suggest that denitrification and DNRA rates are affected more by eutrophication and organic enrichment than by historic pollution of metals and organic contaminants.
Einarbeitungskonzept für Mitarbeiter:innen einer Hochschulambulanz: Entwicklung und Evaluation eines strukturierten Einarbeitungskonzeptes
Authors: Lieberum Judith-Lisa , Siegel Helena , Wacker Katrin , Reinhard Thomas
Published: May 2023

Hintergrund

Die Einarbeitung neuer Mitarbeiter:innen ist entscheidend für eine effektive Zusammenarbeit und Bindung.

Ziel der Arbeit

Entwicklung und Evaluation einer strukturierten Einarbeitung in die Prozessabläufe der Hochschulambulanz.

Material und Methoden

Wir entwickelten ein Modell zum Kennenlernen der Mitarbeiter:innen, Räumlichkeiten, Prozessabläufe und Untersuchungen: Teilnehmer:innen durchliefen als fiktive Patient:innen alle Stationen eines Ambulanzbesuchs. Es folgte die Selbsteinschätzung allgemeiner, ablaufbezogener und spezifischer, untersuchungsbezogener Kompetenzen.

Ergebnisse

Es durchliefen 11 Ärzt:innen in Weiterbildung, 8 Operationspflegekräfte und 6 Studierende das Modell. Das Kompetenzlevel und der Kompetenzzugewinn variierten je nach Station und Berufsgruppe. Vor allem erlebten Ärzt:innen und Studierende eine allgemeine Kompetenzsteigerung (je 98 %; Operationspflegekräfte 64 %). Spezifische Kompetenzzugewinne der Ärzt:innen zeigten sich beim Kennenlernen prozessbezogener Schnittstellen, bei Software und Untersuchungstechniken und der Orientierung in der Ambulanz (Kompetenzsteigerung an 83 % der Stationen). Die Operationspflege profitierte von einer verbesserten Kommunikation mit Mitarbeiter:innen (Kompetenzsteigerung an 33 % der Stationen).

Schlussfolgerung

Eine allgemeine Kompetenzsteigerung kann durch ein strukturiertes Einarbeitungskonzept bei allen Berufsgruppen, besonders bei neuen Ärzt:innen, erreicht werden. Ein je nach Wirkungsfeld adaptierter Ambulanzdurchlauf erscheint für einen maximalen Kompetenzzugewinn empfehlenswert.
Malliavin calculus and densities for singular stochastic partial differential equations
Authors: Schönbauer Philipp
Published: May 2023

We study Malliavin differentiability of solutions to sub-critical singular parabolic stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) and we prove the existence of densities for a class of singular SPDEs. Both of these results are implemented in the setting of regularity structures. For this we construct renormalized models in situations where some of the driving noises are replaced by deterministic Cameron–Martin functions, and we show Lipschitz continuity of these models with respect to the Cameron–Martin norm. In particular, in many interesting situations we obtain a convergence and stability result for lifts of$$L^2$$L2-functions to models, which is of independent interest. The proof also involves two separate algebraic extensions of the regularity structure which are carried out in rather large generality.
Towards a geometry deductive database prover
Authors: Baeta Nuno , Quaresma Pedro
Published: May 2023

The Geometry Automated-Theorem-Provers (GATP) based on the deductive database method use a data-based search strategy to improve the efficiency of forward chaining. An implementation of such a method is expected to be able to efficiently prove a large set of geometric conjectures, producing readable proofs. The number of conjectures a given implementation can prove will depend on the set of inference rules chosen, the deductive database method is not a decision procedure. Using an approach based in an SQL database library and using an in-memory database, the implementation described in this paper tries to achieve the following goals. Efficiency in the management of the inference rules, the set of already known facts and the new facts discovered, by the use of the efficient data manipulation techniques of the SQL library. Flexibility, by transforming the inference rules in SQL data manipulation language queries, will open the possibility of meta-development of GATP based on a provided set of rules. Natural language and visual renderings, possible by the use of a synthetic forward chaining method. Implemented as an open source library, that will open its use by third-party programs, e.g. the dynamic geometry systems.
Diabetes risk reduction diet and ovarian cancer risk: an Italian case-control study
Authors: Esposito Giovanna , Turati Federica , Parazzini Fabio , Augustin Livia S. A. , Serraino Diego , Negri Eva , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To investigate the relation between a diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) and ovarian cancer.

Methods

We used data from a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy, including 1031 incident ovarian cancer cases and 2411 controls admitted to hospital centres for acute non-malignant disease. Subjects’ diet prior to hospital admission was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to the DRRD was measured using a score based on 8 dietary components, giving higher scores for greater intakes of cereal fiber, coffee, fruit, nuts, higher polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio, lower glycemic index of diet, and lower intakes of red/processed meat, and sweetened beverages/and fruit juices. Higher scores indicated greater adherence to the DRRD. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to calculate the odds ratios (OR) of ovarian cancer and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for approximate quartiles of the DRRD score.

Results

The DRRD score was inversely related to ovarian cancer, with an OR of 0.76 (95%CI: 0.60–0.95) for the highest versus the lowest quartile of the score (p for trend = 0.022). The exclusion of women with diabetes did not change the results (OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.59–0.95). Inverse associations were observed in strata of age, education, parity, menopausal status, and family history of ovarian/breast cancer.

Conclusion

Higher adherence to a diet aimed at reducing the risk of diabetes was inversely associated with ovarian cancer. Further evidence from prospective investigations will be useful to support our findings.
Effects of a collaborative and gamified online learning methodology on class and test emotions
Authors: Perez-Aranda Javier , Medina-Claros Samuel , Urrestarazu-Capellán Ricardo
Published: May 2023

This study examines the influence of students’ individual attitude and social interactions on participation in collaborative and gamified online learning activities, as well as the influence of participating in those activities on students’ online class- and test-related emotions. Based on a sample of 301 first year Economics and Law university students and using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling approach, all the relationships among first-order and second-order constructs included in the model are validated. The results support all the hypotheses studied, confirming the positive relationship that both students’ individual attitude and social interactions have on participation in collaborative and gamified online learning activities. The results also show that participating in those activities is positively related with class- and test-related emotions. The main contribution of the study is the validation of the effect of collaborative and gamified online learning on university students’ emotional well-being through the analysis of their attitude and social interactions. Moreover, this is the first time in the specialised learning literature that students’ attitude is considered as a second-order construct operationalised by three factors: the perceived usefulness that this digital resource brings to the students, the entertainment that this digital resource brings to the students, and the predisposition to use this digital resource among all those available in online training. Our findings aim to shed light for educators when preparing and designing computer mediated and online teaching programs that seek to generate positive emotions as a motivation for students.
When the political leader is the narrator: the political and policy dimensions of narratives
Authors: Capano Giliberto , Galanti Maria Tullia , Barbato Giovanni
Published: May 2023

There is increasing interest in the role of narratives in policy-making, as evidenced by the consolidation of the Narrative Policy Framework, a theory of the policy process whose overall aim is to explain how policy narratives influence policy outcomes. However, with the focus on only policy narratives, there is a risk of underestimating the relationship between the policy dynamics in a specific subsystem and the pursuit of consent in the political arena. To attract more scholarly attention to this relationship, this paper distinguishes between two types of narratives—the political narrative and the policy narrative. It focuses on how political leaders address the trade-off between the content of their political and policy narratives, not only adding analytical and theoretical leverage to the Narrative Policy Framework but also providing a fine-grained comprehension of the multilayered dynamics of narratives in politics. Our main assumption is that political leaders continuously address relationships and the eventual trade-off between their political narratives (the stories through which they shape the preferences of public opinion by proposing their general political vision) and their policy narratives (the stories they tell to shape the policy process and its outputs). The way leaders decide between these trade-offs can make a significant difference in terms of political and policy outputs. We test this assumption with a comparison of the use of narratives by the same political leader in labour and education policies in Italy.
Gendered Social Perceptions of “The Poor”: Differences in Individualistic Attributions, Stereotypes, and Attitudes Toward Social Protection Policies
Authors: Alcañiz-Colomer Joaquín , Moya Miguel , Valor-Segura Inmaculada
Published: May 2023

Poverty is a phenomenon that affects men and women differently. In the current research, we examined social perceptions of poor men and women across three experiments focusing on attributions for poverty, classist attitudes, and stereotypes about poor people. In Study 1, participants from the general population (N = 484) made more individualistic (dispositional) attributions for men’s poverty compared to women’s poverty, blaming men more for their poverty. Participants also believed that men would manage the assistance they received from the state more poorly than women. These patterns were observed across all three studies. In Study 2 (N = 256), we also found that more individualistic attributions for why men were in poverty predicted more negative attitudes toward social protection policies concerning men. In Study 3 (N = 358), we replicated the results observed in Study 2, and found that women in poverty were described as mor communal and competent than men in poverty. We interpret these results considering the operation of traditional gender roles as well as the parallelism between stereotypes of women and poor people. Our results are relevant to the framing of the proposals by social organizations, political parties, and emancipation movements that advocate for policies and programs to address poverty.
Molecular Mechanisms of Self-mated Hydrogel Friction
Authors: Mees Jan , Simič Rok , O’Connor Thomas C. , Spencer Nicholas D. , Pastewka Lars
Published: May 2023

Hydrogel-like structures are responsible for the low friction experienced by our joints when we walk or by our eyelids when we blink. At low loads, hydrogel contacts show extremely low friction that rises with velocity beyond a threshold speed. Here we combine mesoscopic simulations and experiments to test the polymer-relaxation hypothesis for this velocity dependence, where a velocity-dependent regime emerges when the perturbation of interfacial polymer chains occurs faster than their relaxation at high velocity. Our simulations quantitatively match the experimental findings, with a friction coefficient that rises with velocity to some power of order unity in the velocity-dependent regime. We show that the velocity-dependent regime is characterized by reorientation and stretching of polymer chains in the direction of shear, leading to an entropic stress that can be quantitatively related to the shear response. The detailed exponent of the power law in the velocity-dependent regime depends on how chains interact: We observe a power close to 1/2 for chains that can stretch, while pure reorientation leads to a power of unity. These results show that the friction of hydrogel interfaces can be engineered by tuning the morphology of near-surface chains.
Integrated SUSTAIN-SWMM-MCDM Approach for Optimal Selection of LID Practices in Urban Stormwater Systems
Authors: Nazari Amirhossein , Roozbahani Abbas , Hashemy Shahdany Seied Mehdy
Published: May 2023

Rapid urbanization has increased impervious areas, leading to a higher flood hazard across cities worldwide. Low Impact Development (LID) practices have shown efficacy in reducing urban runoff; nevertheless, choosing the best combinations in terms of implementation cost and performance is of great importance. The present study introduces a framework based on green infrastructure, multi-objective optimization, and decision support tools to determine the most cost-effective LID solutions. The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was employed for rainfall-runoff and hydraulic modeling in Region 1, District 11 of Tehran, Iran. Six scenarios of different combinations of LID practices were developed. The system for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis Integration (SUSTAIN) was used to optimize and evaluate each scenario. The selected solutions were imported to the SWMM to evaluate the stormwater system performance. Then, two multi criteria decision making (MCDM) models, including TOPSIS and COPRAS, were employed to rank the scenarios based on four technical and economic criteria. Results showed that scenario 4, consisting of rain barrels, porous pavements, and vegetated swales, had the best performance under TOPSIS with a 7.68 million USD and reduced the runoff volume and peak flow by 20.77% and 19.2%, respectively. However, Under the COPRAS method, Scenario 2 with a combination of rain barrels, bio-retention cells, and vegetated swales showed higher performance than the other scenarios with 3.25 million USD and led to a 15% reduction in the runoff volume and 4.30% in the peak flow. The COPRAS method was more sensitive to cost weights and chose the most economical scenario as the ideal. However, Scenario 4 concluded to be more feasible due to spatial limitations in the study area. The proposed SWMM—SUSTAIN—MCDM framework could be helpful to decision-makers in the design, performance evaluation, cost estimation, and selection of optimal scenarios.
Analysis of Thermally Grown Oxides on Microperforated Copper Sheets
Authors: Zięba A. , Maj P. , Siwek M. , Spychalski M. , Mizera J. , Mokrzycki Ł. , Woźny K. , Socha R. P.
Published: May 2023

Copper oxides have some interesting photocatalytic properties and reasonably low price which makes them applicable as PN transistors. However, to obtain the best performance it is necessary to increase the specific working surface of materials which plays a key role in many applications. Furthermore, by ordered spacing and heterojunction formation it is possible to fabricate the systems with specific dedicated properties, like for example PN photovoltaic junction. The conducted research analyses the mechanical properties, stress distributions, and thermal stability of metal–oxide structures with such advanced geometries. Micro-perforation of thin Cu sheet was selected for the study, as it can both enhance the free surface of the substrate and decrease the number of sites of thermal stress occurrence. Both Cu-Cu2O and Cu-CuO layers were simulated using finite element analysis. The model based on fixed geometry of square shaped samples of dimensions of 156 × 156 mm was applied to thin metal plates holes-patterned covered on top by 1-3 μm thick oxide layers. On the other hand, the influence of plate thickness was found to be important in terms of structure durability. A good agreement between the simulation and the experimental data was achieved. The critical delamination temperature of c.a. 473-483 K was estimated for both oxide layers. The verification of the simulation/computation model was done by analyzing perforated and non-perforated Cu Electrolytic Tough Pitch (ETP) sheets. Two methods, FIB-TEM and surface scan using a profilometer, were selected. The first verified the decohesion of the oxide coatings from the metal support after exceeding the temperature of 523 K The issue that was also noticed is the susceptibility for peeling in the inner surface of the holes.
Immunotherapy in Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Headed?
Authors: Dixon-Douglas Julia , Loi Sherene
Published: May 2023

Opinion statement

Recently, the addition of PD-1 pathway targeting immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been shown to improve rates of pathological complete response (pCR), as well as event-free survival regardless of attainment of pCR. Recurrent TNBC remains a devastating diagnosis and thus novel treatments that improve chance of cure in early-stage TNBC should be promptly integrated into standard of care paradigms. However, approximately 50% of patients with early TNBC will experience pCR with chemotherapy alone, and the addition of ICI carries the risk of sometimes permanent immune-related toxicities. This raises the critical question whether all early-stage TNBC patients should receive ICI in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. As yet, there is no predictive biomarker to select patients most likely to benefit from ICI; however, it would seem that at least all node positive patients should receive an ICI with their neoadjuvant chemotherapy, on the basis of high clinical risk and potential to increase their pCR rate and ultimately the chance of cure. It is plausible that some lower-risk (stage I/II) TNBC demonstrating strong pre-existing immune activation (high tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and/or PD-L1 expression) may be successfully treated with ICI in combination with less cytotoxic chemotherapy, and this requires further evaluation in clinical trials. The contribution of the adjuvant phase of ICI on clinical benefit is unclear even in patients who do not achieve a pCR and long-term data from ongoing studies without adjuvant ICI component may help inform us on an appropriate strategy in the short term. Similarly, the potential benefit of other adjuvant therapies in patients with poor response to neoadjuvant ICI with chemotherapy, including capecitabine and olaparib with or without ICI, is also unknown, but is rational on the basis of administering a non-cross-resistant anti-tumour agent. In conclusion, the addition of neoadjuvant ICI to chemotherapy significantly improves both the quality and quantity of the anti-tumour T cell response, suggesting that improvements in recurrence-free survival occur through better immune protection from cancer. In the future, development of ICI agents that target tumour-specific T cells may favourably alter the toxicity profile, improving the risk–benefit ratio for survivors.
Solubilization and Hydrolysis of Porcine Coagulated Blood Protein Using Sub-Critical Solvent Extraction
Authors: Marques Bianca , Nunes Rafaela , Araújo-Rodrigues Helena , Pintado Manuela , Pereira Ricardo N. , Teixeira José A. , Rocha Cristina M. R.
Published: May 2023

Pork represents a major fraction of the meat consumed worldwide but only 30% of the blood generated in slaughterhouses is re-used as raw material for food and feed. Innovative technologies and efficient processing strategies capable of generating added-value products from it are now attracting attention. In this study, the hydrolysis of porcine coagulated blood using sub-critical solvent extraction was investigated. Biomass was hydrolyzed using different temperatures (120–210 °C), applying only water (sub-critical water; SCW) or water with a low concentration of alkali (0.1 mol L−1 NaOH) and different reaction times (30–90 min). Resultant hydrolysates were analyzed for crude and soluble protein, peptide profile, and bioactivity by combining protein quantification, antioxidant activity, and fast protein liquid chromatography measurements. Results showed that increasing temperature increases the degree of hydrolysis and that the addition of NaOH enhances the solubilization of peptides with high molecular weights. Also, hydrolysates showed interesting antioxidant activity, being 60 min the time of reaction with best antioxidant activity. Nevertheless, using only water (SCW) as solvent, without chemical additives, allows the delivering of interesting protein-based bioactive fractions. Sub-critical solvent treatment of porcine blood resulted in added-value fractions with potential bioactivities through a simple and environmentally friendly process.
Light response and adsorption interaction of black phosphorus quantum dots and single-layer graphene phototransistor
Authors: Han Qi , Jiang Yadong , Liu Xianchao , Zhang Chaoyi , Wang Jun
Published: May 2023

Black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) are synthesized and combined with graphene sheet. The fabricated BPQDs/graphene devices are capable of detecting visible and near infrared radiation. The adsorption effect of BPQDs in graphene is clarified by the relationship of the photocurrent and the shift of the Dirac point with different substrate. The Dirac point moves toward a neutral point under illumination with both SiO2/Si and Si3N4/Si substrates, indicating an anti-doped feature of photo-excitation. To our knowledge, this provides the first observation of photoresist induced photocurrent in such systems. Without the influence of the photoresist the device can respond to infrared light up to 980 nm wavelength in vacuum in a cryostat, in which the photocurrent is positive and photoconduction effect is believed to dominate the photocurrent. Finally, the adsorption effect is modeled using a first-principle method to give a picture of charge transfer and orbital contribution in the interaction of phosphorus atoms and single-layer graphene.

Graphical Abstract
Antifungal Stewardship Interventions in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Vergidis Paschalis , Stevens Ryan W. , Agrawal Samir G.
Published: May 2023

Purpose of Review

Antifungal stewardship has been recognized as a significant component of any antimicrobial stewardship program. In this article, we aim to provide a review of recommendations and antifungal stewardship interventions in hematologic patients.

Recent Findings

Core elements of antibiotic stewardship programs can be applied to antifungal stewardship practices. Engagement of high-prescribing specialists, timely access to fungal diagnostics, screening for drug-drug interactions, and therapeutic drug monitoring are recommended practices that specifically pertain to antifungal stewardship. Tools recently developed in assessing adherence to guidelines can prove useful in evaluating prescribing practices. The most common longitudinal metrics are likely to hinge on measuring antifungal consumption. However, many of the parameters to measure antifungal stewardship activity and performance are extremely challenging to obtain.

A multifaceted antifungal stewardship approach is required to improve antifungal use among hematologic patients in an efficient and sustainable manner.
How Should a Social Mediator Robot Convey Messages About the Self-Disclosures of Elderly People to Recipients?
Authors: Noguchi Yohei , Kamide Hiroko , Tanaka Fumihide
Published: May 2023

Encouraging the self-disclosure of the elderly is important for preventing their social isolation. In this article, we discuss a use case in which social robots are employed to mediate remote communication between elderly individuals and their family members or friends. This research aims to elaborate design guidelines for social mediator robots concerning how robots should convey messages from elderly individuals to their recipients. We particularly considered human–robot interactions in which elderly individuals can choose the robot’s behavior (i.e., messaging options) based on their preference. If the robot is implemented with effective messaging options, the elderly’s anxiety about self-disclosing information they usually feel reluctant to share with others (e.g., loss experiences) may be mitigated. An online survey of 589 elderly participants showed that the messaging options for the mediator robot should be designed in three types: requesting-support, concealing, and recording. The study results also suggest that each of the messaging options should be chosen according to the relationships between the factors of recipients, disclosers’ personal characteristics, and dialog topics. Furthermore, an empirical human–robot interaction study conducted with 36 elderly participants suggested that the anxiety of elderly disclosers was significantly lower when they could apply their preferable messaging options to self-disclosure than the case when the robot did not provide any messaging options to them. Thus, the effectiveness of the messaging options designed through this study was demonstrated.
A Comprehensive Review of Tandem Solar Cells Integrated on Silicon Substrate: III/V vs Perovskite
Authors: Saif Omar M. , Zekry Abdel Halim , Abouelatta Mohamed , Shaker Ahmed
Published: May 2023

High-efficiency solar cells with low manufacturing costs have been recently accomplished utilizing different technologies. III-V-based tandem solar cells have exhibited performance enhancement with a recent efficiency of greater than 39% under AM1.5G and 47% under concentration. Integration of such III-V materials on a relatively cheap Silicon (Si) substrate is a potential pathway to fabricate high-efficient low-cost tandem solar cells. Besides, perovskite solar cells, as third-generation thin film photovoltaics (PV), have been meteorically developed at a reasonable cost. At present, there are still questions for cost reduction of perovskite materials and solar cell modules because of their limited commercialization. In this review, stacking Si solar cells with III-V material to form Si-based III-V tandem solar cells is presented with different integration technological routes. Also, perovskite/Si tandem solar cells have been reviewed alongside their main engineering challenges introduced through the fabrication of perovskite-based tandem solar cells. Finally, a comparison between III-V tandem solar cells, Si-based III-V tandem solar cells, and perovskite-based tandem solar cells is introduced so that the best technology for a specific application could be determined. The review provides a comprehensive study of two different technologies (III/V and Perovskite) to demonstrate the most valuable cost reduction availability for each.
A Rapid Estimation Method for Post-earthquake Building Losses
Authors: Zhao Dengke , Wang Zifa , Wang Jianming , Wei Dongliang , Zhou Yang , Li Zhaoyan
Published: May 2023

Rapid estimation of post-earthquake building damage and loss is very important in urgent response efforts. The current approach leaves much room for improvement in estimating ground motion and correctly incorporating the uncertainty and spatial correlation of the loss. This study proposed a new approach for rapidly estimating post-earthquake building loss with reasonable accuracy. The proposed method interpolates ground motion based on the observed ground motion using the Ground Motion Prediction Equation (GMPE) as the weight. It samples the building seismic loss quantile considering the spatial loss correlation that is expressed by Gaussian copula, and kriging is applied to reduce the dimension of direct sampling for estimation speed. The proposed approach was validated using three historical earthquake events in Japan with actual loss reports, and was then applied to predict the building loss amount for the March 2022 Fukushima Mw7.3 earthquake. The proposed method has high potential in future emergency efforts such as search, rescue, and evacuation planning.
The Application of Model-Based Systems Engineering to Rural Healthcare System Disaster Planning: A Scoping Review
Authors: Berg Thomas A. , Marino Kelsi N. , Kintziger Kristina W.
Published: May 2023

Disasters and other emergency events have complex effects on human systems, particularly if the events are severe or prolonged. When these types of events happen in rural communities, the resources of the local public health, healthcare, and emergency response organizations can be quickly depleted or overwhelmed. Planning for emergencies can help to mitigate their impact. Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methods, including computer simulations, can provide insight on how best to prepare for these events and to explore the effects of varying approaches and resource utilization. To best apply these methods for improving disaster management in rural settings, a synthesis of the current body of evidence in this field is needed. The objective of this scoping review was to provide a descriptive overview of the application of computer simulation based on MBSE approaches to disaster preparedness and response for rural healthcare systems. Six studies met inclusion criteria, and varied in terms of MBSE method used, healthcare setting, and disaster type and context considered. We identified a gap in the research regarding the application of MBSE approaches to support rural healthcare disaster preparedness planning efforts. Model-based systems engineering and systems thinking, therefore, represent novel methods for developing tools and computational simulations that could assist rural communities better prepare for disasters.
Transferable adversarial masked self-distillation for unsupervised domain adaptation
Authors: Xia Yuelong , Yun Li-Jun , Yang Chengfu
Published: May 2023

Unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) aims to transfer knowledge from a labeled source domain to a related unlabeled target domain. Most existing works focus on minimizing the domain discrepancy to learn global domain-invariant representation using CNN-based architecture while ignoring both transferable and discriminative local representation, e.g, pixel-level and patch-level representation. In this paper, we propose the Transferable Adversarial Masked Self-distillation based on Vision Transformer architecture to enhance the transferability of UDA, named TAMS. Specifically, TAMS jointly optimizes three objectives to learn both task-specific class-level global representation and domain-specific local representation. First, we introduce adversarial masked self-distillation objective to distill representation from a full image to the representation predicted from a masked image, which aims to learn task-specific global class-level representation. Second, we introduce masked image modeling objectives to learn local pixel-level representation. Third, we introduce an adversarial weighted cross-domain adaptation objective to capture discriminative potentials of patch tokens, which aims to learn both transferable and discriminative domain-specific patch-level representation. Extensive studies on four benchmarks and the experimental results show that our proposed method can achieve remarkable improvements compared to previous state-of-the-art UDA methods.
Organic Optoelectronic Synapses for Sound Perception
Authors: Wei Yanan , Liu Youxing , Lin Qijie , Liu Tianhua , Wang Song , Chen Hao , Li Congqi , Gu Xiaobin , Zhang Xin , Huang Hui
Published: May 2023

The neuromorphic systems for sound perception is under highly demanding for the future bioinspired electronics and humanoid robots. However, the sound perception based on volume, tone and timbre remains unknown. Herein, organic optoelectronic synapses (OOSs) are constructed for unprecedented sound recognition. The volume, tone and timbre of sound can be regulated appropriately by the input signal of voltages, frequencies and light intensities of OOSs, according to the amplitude, frequency, and waveform of the sound. The quantitative relation between recognition factor (ζ) and postsynaptic current (I = Ilight − Idark) is established to achieve sound perception. Interestingly, the bell sound for University of Chinese Academy of Sciences is recognized with an accuracy of 99.8%. The mechanism studies reveal that the impedance of the interfacial layers play a critical role in the synaptic performances. This contribution presents unprecedented artificial synapses for sound perception at hardware levels.
On the French Road. Der späte Marx und der relationale Egalitarismus
Authors: Lindner Urs
Published: May 2023

Die Beschäftigung mit der russischen Dorfgemeinde hat Marx in seinem Spätwerk dazu gebracht, frühere geschichtsteleologische Annahmen zu revidieren. Der vorliegende Text macht deutlich, dass diese „Russian Road“ (Theodor Shanin) von einer „French Road“ gekreuzt wird, auf der sich der späte Marx mit der Theorie und Praxis des französischen Sozialismus auseinandersetzt. Gezeigt wird, dass die „French Road“ mit normativen Gehalten gepflastert ist, die in der heutigen politischen Philosophie als relationaler Egalitarismus verhandelt werden. Der Text geht in drei Schritten vor. Zunächst wird die gerechtigkeitstheoretische Debatte um Marx rekapituliert und herausgearbeitet, dass ihr missing link in einer nicht-distributiven Gleichheitskonzeption besteht. Darüber hinaus werden Gründe angeführt, inwiefern der relationale Egalitarismus einen philosophischen Zugang auch zum übrigen marxschen Werk eröffnet. In einem zweiten Schritt wird nachgezeichnet, wie Marx die relationale Gleichheitskonzeption in seiner Schrift über die Pariser Commune demokratie- und politiktheoretisch entwickelt. Drittens und letztens wird das Verhältnis von Produktion und Distribution, das die Kritik des Gothaer Programms behauptet, moralphilosophisch als Primat relationaler Gleichheit über Prinzipien der Verteilungsgerechtigkeit rekonstruiert. Die These lautet: Gerade weil Marx auf der relationalen Ebene kontextübergreifende, egalitär-perfektionistische Standards verwendet, kann er auf der distributiven Ebene kontextualistisch vorgehen und die Gerechtigkeitsprinzipien von rechtmäßiger Aneignung, Leistung und Bedürfnis historisieren.
Advancement in research on genes associated with fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) and diagnostic testing methods
Authors: Xie Junshu , Zhang Kexin , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital malformations, and is a polygenic disease related to some major genes and involved in environmental factors. With the progress of science and technology, the progress was both in the studies of genetic patterns and testing methods. Understanding how each gene participates in normal and pathological anatomy is an important goal of CHD research. We reviewed the development of testing methods and CHD-related genes, to provide some enlightenment for the CHD prenatal diagnosis and hope to realize the intervention and treatment on the gene level of CHD in the future.
Towards erasure studies: Excavating the material conditions of memory and forgetting
Authors: Fredrikzon Johan , Haffenden Chris
Published: May 2023

While the history and practices of collecting have received considerable attention over the past few decades, the notion of erasure – of the deleting, removal or destruction of material, whether deliberate or otherwise – has remained largely in the shadows. We challenge this neglect by placing erasure centre stage and treating it as a productive phenomenon in its own right. Indeed, we suggest that it forms a significant precondition for the very possibility of memory and collections. This article draws upon a recent turn to consider questions of forgetting, ignorance and ending to lay out the grounds for analysing the various roles played by erasure in making and unmaking our world. Inspired by Paul Connerton's discussion of different types of forgetting, we present five distinct forms of erasure that we regard as principally important: (i) repressive erasure, (ii) protective erasure, (iii) operative erasure, (iv) amending erasure and (v) calamitous and neglectful erasure. In each case, we discuss the characteristic logic of the erasure at hand and provide examples of the historical and media-specific forms in which it has been enacted. Our aim in doing so is to provide future researchers with some of the analytical tools and perspectives necessary to engage in furthererasure studies. For if we are interested in making sense of the shifting and complex world we inhabit, then the interdisciplinary study of the compelling yet elusive phenomenon of erasure is an excellent place to start.
Local leaders and the pursuit of growth in US cities: the role of managerial skill
Authors: Carreri Maria , Payson Julia
Published: May 2023

Do the choices of city leaders matter for local economic conditions? While existing literature focuses on how the preferences of local officials influence city policy, we argue that the managerial skill of local leaders should condition their ability to achieve their goals. We conduct an original phone survey of over 300 mayors and city managers across the USA to learn about their management practices. Using a two-way fixed effects design that holds fixed a rich battery of individual and city-level characteristics, we examine how changes in leadership affect economic growth, a common goal for local officials. We find that when local leaders employ the “best practices” of organizational management, their cities grow across a range of indicators. These results are strongest for the subset of leaders who mention a growth-related goal for their time in office, suggesting that managerial skill allows local leaders to more effectively achieve their objectives.
Clinically important estimates of improvement after septoplasty
Authors: Haye Rolf , Døsen Liv Kari , TarAngen Magnus , Gay Caryl , Pripp Are Hugo , Shiryaeva Olga
Published: May 2023

Objective

A statistically significant improvement in nasal obstruction ratings following septoplasty is not necessarily clinically important. This study aimed to establish useful measures of septoplasty success, namely the minimal clinically important difference and the desirable clinically important difference.

Methods

Patients rated nasal obstruction on a 0–100 visual analogue scale pre-operatively and at 5.5 months post-operatively. Global outcome rating (completely, much, or somewhat improved, unchanged or worse) served as the anchor post-operatively. Minimal clinically important difference is the visual analogue scale value between ‘somewhat improved’ and ‘unchanged’, and the desirable clinically important difference is that between ‘much’ and ‘somewhat improved’.

Results

Statistically significant improvement in visual analogue scale scores was not clinically important. The minimal clinically important difference (daytime value of 9.5) represented 15.1 per cent improvement and the desirable clinically important difference (daytime value of 28.5) represented 45.2 per cent, without gender or age differences.

Conclusion

Clinical success can be defined using a minimal clinically important difference of 15 per cent improvement over a patient's baseline value. Other studies’ ratings of ‘satisfactory’ outcome coincided with a desirable clinically important difference of 45 per cent over baseline. These values are suggested as relevant indicators of septoplasty success.
Westward range expansion of the eastern rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi) in Australia
Authors: Linnane Adrian , McLeay Lachlan , Doubell Mark
Published: May 2023

The eastern rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi) inhabits the east coast of Australia from southern Queensland to the South Australian border including Tasmania, with the highest abundances found in New South Wales. Changes in strength, duration, and intensity of the eastern Australian current have expanded the species range southward but until recently, records of the species in western regions of south-eastern Australia were rare. Here, we report the first ever verified records of S. verreauxi in the northern zone rock lobster fishery of South Australia, which are the most westerly records ever documented in terms of overall distribution for this species. We hypothesise that two westward flowing systems, the offshore Flinders current and the inshore coastal current may be possible mechanisms for larval transport.
Early successional habitat supports unique avian communities dominated by wintering migrants in a premontane tropical forest
Authors: Carello Christy A. , Yanco Scott W.
Published: May 2023

Forest succession drives concomitant changes in associated faunal communities. Thus, maintaining landscapes with high successional diversity can be an important consideration in habitat management. We sought to describe avian community characteristics across a successional gradient created by reforestation efforts in a tropical premontane wet forest in Costa Rica. Specifically, we examined the effects of successional stage on overall abundance, species richness, diet niche, migratory status, and community composition. We hypothesised that these metrics of bird abundance, diversity and community composition would differ across successional stages. Using data from transects conducted in 2018, we found that several metrics of avian abundance, diversity and community composition varied as a function of successional stage. Surprisingly, the earliest successional stage exhibited the greatest abundance, species richness and proportion of migrant species. We suggest that an ephemeral vegetation structure present for only a short period (early in succession) creates a unique habitat that results in a distinct avian community. This highlights the potential importance of early successional forests for avian communities, especially neotropical migrants.