bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new species of lava lizard (Iguanidae: Tropidurinae: Microlophus) from the Galápagos
Authors: TORRES-CARVAJAL OMAR
Published: March 2024

Following Darwin’s visit to the Galápagos in 1835, the species of lava lizards inhabiting the archipelago were scientifically described in the remaining decades of the 19th century. Notably, only a single species was found on each of the surveyed islands, with different species on most islands. Many species have also expanded their distributions onto surrounding islets. Based on morphological and genetic evidence, I describe herein a new species of lava lizard from the 0.8 km2 Gardner islet located 8 km east of the southern island of Floreana. The new species is most similar in morphology and coloration to its sister taxon M. grayii from Floreana and nearby Champion, Caldwell, and Enderby islets. Genetic distances, haplotype networks, reciprocal monophyly and differences in scale counts support recognition of specimens from Gardner as a new species. Finally, I discuss a potential biogeographic scenario leading to the evolution of the new species described in this paper.
The dorsal plate is a critical feature in the reassessment of the rotiferan genus Ptygura (Monogononta; Gnesiotrocha; Flosculariidae)
Authors: FRANCH VICENTE , MEKSUWAN PHURIPONG , WALLACE ROBERT L.
Published: March 2024

All species of Flosculariidae (Rotifera; Monogononta; Gnesiotrocha; Flosculariaceae) possess a flexible integument; they are termed illoricate. But species of four genera (Beauchampia, Floscularia, Limnias, and Ptygura) possess a distinctive hardened region on the dorsal side of their anterior end, which unfortunately has received little attention beyond the species level. In our work we study the ultrastructure of these hardened regions. In Beauchampia, Limnias, and some species of Ptygura the hardened zone takes the form of a dorsal plate (hereafter DP) with or without additional protruding processes. The DP has the shape of a ~50 µm diameter disc enfolding the anterior dorsal region of the animal, with a perimetral inward fold, smooth surface, and pores. The DP of Limnias ceratophylli shows three main ultrastructural differences from the rest of the body: (1) type of glycocalyx, (2) absence of small mounds on its surface, and (3) presence of broad cisternae at the base of the pores. In Floscularia and some Ptygura the hardened structures are reduced to a pair of dorsal projections protecting the dorsal antenna: i.e., lacking a full DP. These structures deserve attention because their adaptive importance has not been studied. Here we augment those observations with other characters: i.e., presence/absence of a birefringent body in late-stage embryos and morphology of their trophi and corona. Our goal was to provide information to help develop better taxonomy, as well as advance our understanding of the evolution of sessile taxa in general and of the potentially polyphyletic Ptygura genus in particular.
Comparison of Tornado Damage Characteristics to Low-Altitude WSR-88D Radar Observations and Implications for Tornado Intensity Estimation
Authors: Lyza Anthony W. , Flournoy Matthew D. , Alford A. Addison
Published: March 2024

Given the obvious difficulties in directly sampling tornadic wind fields, ongoing work continues to improve estimates of near-ground wind speeds in tornadoes. This study builds upon a recently proposed empirical relationship between radar-observed velocities in the lowest 150 m above ground level (AGL) and the theoretical peak 15-m AGL wind speed. We create and analyze a dataset of 194 velocity observations within tornadoes in the lowest 150 m AGL. These observations are drawn from 105 individual tornadoes that occurred across a diverse range of EF-scale ratings (EF0–4), convective modes (discrete supercell and quasi-linear convective system), geographical regions, and housing unit densities (HUDs). Comparing the radar-estimated and damage-estimated tornado wind speeds, and corresponding EF- and F-scale ratings, is the primary focus of the ensuing analysis. Consistent with recent work, damage-estimated tornado wind speeds tend to be lower than radar-estimated near-surface wind speeds, especially for stronger tornadoes. Damage- and radar-estimated wind speed differences are not strongly related to the availability of damage indicators (as measured by HUD). While some relationship exists—particularly underestimates of peak wind speeds for strong–violent tornadoes in low HUD areas—the tendency of radar-based strong/violent tornado intensity estimates to be meaningfully higher than EF-scale-based damage estimates exists across the HUD spectrum. The legacy F-scale wind speed ranges may ultimately provide a better estimate of peak tornado wind speeds at 10–15 m AGL for strong–violent tornadoes and a better damage-based intensity rating for all tornadoes. These results are contextualized with regard to ongoing community efforts to improve tornado intensity estimation.

Significance Statement

Due to the numerous difficulties in collecting direct observations of tornado wind speeds, we compare methods that are used to estimate near-ground wind speeds using both radar measurements of wind speeds aloft and damage. Our results show that 1) the damage-estimated intensities of stronger tornadoes are more likely to be underestimates of true wind speeds than weaker tornadoes based on radar observations, 2) this bias is present for tornadoes that occur in more built-up areas as well as more sparsely populated ones, and 3) the legacy Fujita scale may provide better wind speed estimates in stronger tornadoes. These findings contribute to community-wide efforts to improve damage-based estimates of peak tornado wind speeds.
Surface Structural Changes in Silicone Rubber Due to Electrical Tracking
Authors: Kaur Harpreet , Bhuvan Kavin , Padmawar Rajkumar , Hore Dennis K.
Published: March 2024

There is a growing interest in the use of silicone composite insulators for electrical power transmission and distribution applications. However, such materials are susceptible to degradation as they are exposed to electrical and environmental stresses during operating conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a thorough understanding of the degradation mechanism through changes in the material structure that may provide insight into potential failures in the electrical grid. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) were used along with contact angle measurements to characterize changes in silicone rubber samples from actual insulators subjected to tracking wheel testing. The results showed a decrease in absorbance of different infrared bands representing different functional groups, such as Si–O–Si, methyl functional groups, and both Al–O and hydroxyl groups of alumina trihydrate as a function of the number of tracking cycles. The sequence of changes in the functional groups was determined by 2D-COS as Al–O and OH followed by Si–O–Si polymer backbone modes, followed by polymer methyl side chains. An enhancement in the average contact angle with the number of tracking cycles revealed a concomitant increase in surface roughness with electrical tracking.
Implementation of a ketamine programme for treatment-resistant depression in the public health system: Lessons from the first Australian public hospital clinic
Authors: Thornton Nicollette LR , Wright Dean J , Glozier Nick
Published: March 2024

One could argue that we are living through a period of innovation and change in psychiatry unlike that seen before, with repurposed medications emerging as novel treatments. However, despite evidence of enhanced clinical outcomes and potential medium-term savings, delivering these promising interventions is resource-intensive and perceived as difficult in the public sector. Consequently, they are generally only available in the private sector, often at great cost, effectively making them inaccessible to the ‘Have Nots’. The arrival of these paradigm-shifting treatments has inadvertently highlighted a growing mental health inequity. The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Ketamine Treatment Clinic was the first public-sector ketamine treatment clinic for complex mood disorders in Australia. Based on 3 years’ experience establishing, developing and running a public-sector ketamine treatment service, we review the progress, perils and pitfalls for clinicians and health services contemplating establishing a public-sector ketamine treatment service of their own.
Respiratory Health and Air Pollution in Opencast Coal Mining Region: A Study in Mahanadi Coalfield, Odisha, India
Authors: Chowdhury Indrani Roy , Paul Anusree
Published: March 2024

The present study is based on the remote opencast coal mining region of a mineral-rich Indian state, Odisha. Our estimation confirms our primary hypothesis that proximity to opencast mining, triggers the likelihood of respiratory illness (RI). Moreover, our investigation affirms the presence of selection bias possibly due to underreporting in the self-reported RI episodes.

We try to address the above causality through the pathways of both exogeneity and endogeneity of RI. After controlling for the endogeneity of RI episodes, it is evident that the effect of RI reporting on related health expenditure is grossly overestimated under the assumption of exogeneity. In the regressions, the variable of prime importance, that is, the distance from mine, treatment dummy and per capita income are statistically significant, indicating the high likelihood of RI episodes in closer proximity to the mining region, in the treatment villages over control villages. The positive significance of per capita income also supports the presence of selection bias possibly associated with self-reported RI episodes. Both estimation methods indicate that the proximity to the pollution source increases the health expenditure on RI. For treatment villages, a higher distance to healthcare facilities reduces health expenditure. The pollution load and healthcare inaccessibility are implicated through a latent burden of disease which warrants a serious policy intervention towards partial correction of the externalities for achieving sustainable and equitable development.

JEL Codes: C36, I15, Q53
Relocation of public institutions and local public finance: Evidence from South Korea
Authors: Jung Hoyong
Published: March 2024

An extensive, large-scale relocation of public institutions occurred in South Korea in the 2010s. The local policy governing this relocation was implemented to mitigate metropolitan concentration and advance equitable regional development. The policy's ultimate goal was to bolster the fiscal foundations of local governments to facilitate regional economic self-sufficiency. This study employs a synthetic differences-in-differences methodology to analyze the repercussions of public institution relocation on local government revenue. Ultimately, our findings fail to provide unequivocal evidence of a significant impact on various local revenue streams; in fact, they indicate a decrease in total revenue per capita. This study intimates that, from a local fiscal perspective, the efficacy of local reinvigoration policies via the relocation of public institutions may be limited, underscoring the importance of implementing a range of supplementary measures to facilitate the transformation of these urban centers into self-sustaining entities.

Points for practitioners

This study highlights the limitations of relying solely on large-scale relocation of public institutions to stimulate local economies in South Korea. Despite policy intentions, our findings indicate a decrease in total revenue per capita, suggesting a need for supplementary measures to foster sustainable urban development. Practitioners should consider diverse strategies beyond relocation, emphasizing holistic approaches to bolster regional economic self-sufficiency and mitigate metropolitan concentration for equitable growth.
Do People From Different Cultures Vary in How Much Positive Emotions Resonate in Day-to-Day Social Interactions? Examining the Role of Relational Mobility
Authors: Zhou Jieni , West Taylor N. , Lee Sung-Ha , Choi Incheol , Hitokoto Hidefumi , Otake Keiko , Fredrickson Barbara L. , Salvador Cristina E.
Published: March 2024

Positivity resonance, defined as a co-experienced kind-hearted positive emotion, is commonly observed to strengthen relationships in the United States. However, it is unclear whether levels of positivity resonance differ across cultures. Prior research suggests that in cultures that are perceived as offering more freedom and choice in social ties (defined as high relational mobility cultures), individuals more frequently engage in adaptive strategies to build relationships. We hypothesized that positivity resonance, achieved via such adaptive strategies, might be similarly linked to cultural variation in relational mobility. Across two studies ( N = 5,711) we found supportive evidence for our prediction that, compared with European American participants, East Asian participants showed lower levels of positivity resonance with strong social ties. Such differences were in part explained by lower levels of perceived relational mobility among East Asian participants. Comparable effects were not present for weak social ties. Implications for theories of culture and emotion are discussed.
Earthquake Experiences of Nursing Students Residing in Earthquake Zone, the Disaster of the Century: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Arslan Nurten , Topan Aysel , Kurtuncu Meltem
Published: March 2024

This study was carried out to examine the experiences of nursing department students regarding earthquakes with a phenomenological approach. The type of research is phenomenological research, one of the qualitative research methods. The research was carried out with 22 nursing students who experienced the earthquake in the Turkey earthquake on February 6, 2023. The data were collected using the “Semi-Structured Interview Form”. In this study, “earthquake experience” was discussed as a phenomenon, and the data obtained from the phenomenon after content analysis were evaluated in five themes as follows: Experiences during the earthquake, experiences after the earthquake, search-rescue operations, social support and daily life after the earthquake. It was seen that they acted with the instinct of protection during the earthquake and then tried to shelter and communicate. The study reveal that the disaster preparedness and competencies of nursing students should be increased.
The Affordable Care Act and Racial Disparities in Healthcare Utilization: New Evidence From Employer Mandate
Authors: Osmani Ahmad Reshad , Khudri Md Mohsan
Published: March 2024

The 2010 United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates small and mid-size firms to provide health insurance for full-time workers. This study investigates whether a key provision of the ACA employer mandate has reduced racial disparities in health services use among uterine cancer (UC) survivors. Employing a nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2008 to 2017 and the Difference-in-Differences empirical model, we find that the ACA employer mandate increases the utilization of pap smear tests among all groups of UC survivors. Additionally, our results suggest a rise in physician's office visits among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic UC survivors driven by the announcement of the employer mandate in the post-ACA period. Our results further suggest a reduction in out-of-pocket prescription drug expenditure among UC survivors of racial and ethnic minorities. Study findings have implications for improving ethnic minority female population health outcomes.
Rejecting resistance: Everyday resistance and harmony in Chinese hip-hop
Authors: Wang Yehan
Published: March 2024

In power systems where opportunities for overt expression are limited, the requirements for recognition and intentionality behind acts of resistance risk overlooking the struggles of individuals who must find unpatterned and creative ways to express desires and discontent. Based on 42 interviews with Chinese hip-hop fans and artists and drawing on Scott’s and De Certeau’s theories of everyday resistance, this article shows that resistant acts in China can take transient, unintentional, seemingly apolitical forms disguised by a superficial rejection of resistance. This strategy protects resisters from potential consequences of openly challenging power, enabling the quiet expression of individual visions and dissatisfaction with power and contemporary society through hip-hop. Moving beyond dichotomous conceptions of power and resistance, this article advocates for de-emphasising the requirement of expressed, or expressible, intentionality behind acts of resistance and recognises the significance of ordinary actions of everyday resistance in their potential to catalyse change, shape social spaces and transform cultural patterns.
Reimagining the municipal economy: The emancipatory politics of the people’s budget movement
Authors: Barrett Emily , Safransky Sara
Published: March 2024

Budgets are often thought of as boring, invoking the tedium of bookkeeping. The summer of 2020 suggested otherwise. As America’s plague of police brutality combined with the death-dealing blows of the COVID-19 pandemic and a wave of urban uprising gripped US cities, activists turned their organising attention to municipal budgeting. From Seattle to Atlanta, demands rang out for cities to #defund the police, rethink public safety and adopt budgets for the people. Since then, the people’s budget movement has grown in strength at the municipal level, including in Los Angeles, Chicago, Louisville, Jacksonville, Minneapolis and Nashville, among other cities. What should urban studies scholars make of these struggles and from the aspirations and visions that impel them? This paper uses a case study of the Nashville People’s Budget Coalition (NPBC) to examine how municipal budgeting processes and public financing have become new sites of theorisation, debate and political intervention. We demonstrate how the people’s budget movement offers a new calculus for municipal budgeting that radically reconceptualises the logics of value and care that underpin economic thought and public accounting practices. We conclude by considering avenues through which a scholarly agenda for economic democracy in solidarity with movement organisers could be expanded.
The Good, The Bad, and the Balanced: A Typology of State Merit-Aid Programs for Community College Students
Authors: Hu Xiaodan , Fernandez Frank , Qiu Yuxi , Capaldi Matt
Published: March 2024

Objective/Research Question: States have increasingly used merit-based criteria to distribute scholarships and grants, and the dominant conversation on merit-aid programs centers on students attending 4-year colleges and universities. This study examines the characteristics of state-funded merit-aid programs for community college students and provides implications for policymaking to promote educational equity. Methods: With a newly collected dataset capturing a variety of program-level features of state-funded merit-aid policies between 2003 and 2021, we used latent class analysis to identify different types of merit-aid programs for community college students. We present a 3-class model based on model fit indices and practical interpretation of policy designs. Results: Findings indicate three classes of merit-aid programs that extended support to community college students: The Community College Marginalizing Programs ( n = 47), The Community College Targeted Programs ( n = 4), and The Balanced Programs ( n = 17). Conclusions/Contributions: Drawing on Mettler’s notion of the policyscape, we discuss the characteristics of the three types of merit-aid programs and provide implications for designing merit-aid programs to better support community college students and promote educational equity.
Preparation and performance study of a novel radiant panel for thermal and cooling storage with phase change materials
Authors: Li Zhen , Xia Xueying , Wan Xiaoxi , Liu Yuhan , Xie Ying
Published: March 2024

Phase change radiant panels (PCRPs) with thermal storage can enhance the heat capacity of buildings, and reduce building energy consumption. In this paper, a composite phase change material (CPCM) was prepared by paraffin wax-lauric acid/expanded graphite (PW-LA/EG) and applied to radiant panels. This CPCM exhibits a broad temperature range for phase change (10°C - 40°C), with EG at the optimal mass fraction of 14% and PW-LA at the optimal ratio of 1:1. It has a moderate latent heat capacity, a thermal conductivity of 1.692 W/mK, and excellent thermal stability. Furthermore, the simulations were performed in this paper, and the year-round comfort, thermal storage/release characteristics, and the influencing factors of PCRPs were evaluated by TRNSYS software. The results show that the PCRP can enhance indoor comfort throughout the year and exhibit excellent thermal storage and release properties. The analysis of influencing factors indicates that the thickness of the PCM has a small impact on the PCRP. It is recommended that a radiant panel coverage rate of at least 70% and a water supply time of 10 h in summer and 8 h in winter. These optimized parameter values can offer valuable guidance for the design and practical application of PCRPs.

Practical application

Phase change materials have been widely studied as materials used for thermal energy storage. The radiant panel with phase change materials can enhance the heat capacity of buildings, and reduce building energy consumption. This paper proposes a phase change radiant panel that can be used to solve the problem of year-round energy storage of radiant panels in hot summer and cold winter areas. Furthermore, this paper uses TRNSYS software to study the performance of the phase change radiant panels and offers valuable guidance for the design and practical application of PCM radiant panels.
Setting Appropriateness and Romantic Relationship Initiation Success
Authors: Adams Katie N. , Gillath Omri
Published: March 2024

Does the setting in which a relationship initiation attempt occurs matter to its success? Identical initiations could yield differential success if enacted in different settings. Data from five independent samples highlight the role settings play in the perception of (hypothetical) relationship initiation attempts and (expectations of) their success. Study 1a sourced a wide variety of settings for real-world relationship initiations. A separate sample rated the identified settings on initiation appropriateness (Study 1b). Study 2 tested the appropriateness and associated outcomes of initiation settings while varying aspects of the interpersonal context (initiator attractiveness, Study 2a; initiator familiarity, Study 2b; sexual nature of proposition, Study 2c). Irrespective of initiator attractiveness, familiarity, or type of proposal, perceptions of initiations’ success were impacted by the settings’ appropriateness. This work is the first to empirically test whether perceptions and outcomes of initiation attempts differ as a function of the setting in which they occur.
Islands and Beaches in Science and Technology Studies
Authors: Anderson Warwick
Published: March 2024

The Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) annually awards the John Desmond Bernal Prize to one or more individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the field of Science and Technology Studies. Past winners have included founders of the field, along with outstanding scholars who have devoted their careers to the understanding of the social dimensions of science and technology. This article is the revised text of Warwick Anderson's 2023 Bernal Lecture.
A comparative analysis of the differences in how small organizations adapted to the covid-19 pandemic in Japan and the United States of America
Authors: Daimon Hiroaki , Cox Zachary , Matsubara Yu
Published: March 2024

This study examines the differences in business continuity of Japanese and American small organizations during the Covid-19 pandemic since early 2020 in terms of organizational adaptation empowered by loans, grants, and aid and created through processes of visioning, and relationship building. The 28 Japanese and 21 American small organizations collected through snowball sampling were asked about their level of preparedness, the types of aid earned, the vision that an organization developed, and how they used their organization to advance community life. We used semi-structured interviews in the participants’ native languages for 40 min to 1.5 h. Coding results identified 36 codes, nine subcategories, and three broad categories common among small organizations in Japan and the United States. A comparison of the coding results showed three results that we focus on in our comparative analysis. First, loans, grants, and aid provided by the government were effectively used as a business continuity resource in both countries. Second, visioning, a process of setting goals and understanding purpose, was observed in Japan and the United States. Lastly, Japanese organizations emphasized maintaining relationships with business partners, even providing monetary support to them. Conversely, in the United States, new relationships were observed but organizations did not provide as much mutual support. Thus, the study clarified two different types of resilience among small organizations: trust-based resilience seen frequently in Japan, which seeks to maintain relationships with employees and business partners rather than investing in the organization, and the change-based resilience in the United States, which aims to change the organization and build new relationships.
Spindle cell embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate in an adult patient: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Luo Hanwen , Weng Xiangtao , Zhong Zibin , Shan Xiongwei , Lin Wenli , Li Siyi , Gu Chiming
Published: March 2024

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is a rare mesenchymal tumor that originates from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma is a variant of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. The vast majority of these two pathological types occur in children, with only a few adult cases reported to date, and both are associated with poor clinical outcomes. We herein report a case involving a man in his early 40s with spindle cell embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate. His chief complaint was difficult urination. The diagnosis was confirmed by puncture biopsy of the prostate, and pelvic lymph node metastasis was already present at the time of diagnosis. The patient underwent three courses of chemotherapy. However, his response to the treatment was very poor, and he died of the disease 4 months after diagnosis.
Persistent hypernatremia secondary to adipsic central diabetes insipidus in a patient with herpes-induced meningoencephalitis and COVID-19 infection: a case report
Authors: Cherchir Faten , Oueslati Ibtissem , Salhi Salma , Ben Hamida Asma , Yazidi Meriem , Chihaoui Melika
Published: March 2024

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) typically manifests as a polyuria–polydipsia syndrome, in which normonatremia is generally maintained through the polydipsia. A 53-year-old woman presented with diabetic ketosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome. Her medical history included herpes meningoencephalitis, which was associated with confusion and amnesia. On physical examination, she was apyretic, confused, and had signs of extracellular dehydration. Her capillary glucose concentration was high and her urine was positive for ketones. Laboratory investigations revealed severe hyperglycemia, hypernatremia (plasma hyperosmolarity of 393.6 mOsm/L), and mild acute renal failure. In addition, she had a paucisymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Intravenous rehydration with isotonic saline solution and insulin therapy were effective at controlling the ketosis and ameliorating the hyperglycemia, but failed to normalize the hypernatremia and hyperosmolarity. She was not thirsty and had a urine output of 1 L/day, with urinary hypotonicity. Desmopressin administration reduced the hypernatremia and hyperosmolarity to within their normal ranges, and the patient’s urinary osmolarity increased to 743 mOsm/L. Therefore, adipsic CDI was diagnosed. Endocrine investigations revealed isolated central hypothyroidism. The results of pituitary magnetic resonance imaging were normal. Thus, patients with impaired thirst may have an atypical presentation of CDI. In addition, the diagnosis of adipsic CDI is particularly challenging.
Major Depressive Disorder as a Driver of Dual Systems Model Development During Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood Among Justice-Involved Youth: Is Salience Age-Graded?
Authors: Wojciechowski Thomas W. , Krupa Julie M.
Published: March 2024

The dual systems model is a psychological framework centered on differential development of sensation-seeking and impulse control during adolescence and emerging adulthood with implications for understanding antisocial behavior. However, there is a dearth of research which has examined mental illness as a driver of differential development of these constructs. This study examined major depressive disorder as a risk factor for elevated sensation-seeking and diminished impulse control and tested to determine whether the salience differed by age. The Pathways to Desistance data were analyzed. Mixed effects models examined the direct effect of major depressive disorder on dual systems outcomes and test for moderation by age. Findings indicated that major depressive disorder at baseline was associated with increased sensation-seeking and diminished impulse control. Relationships did not differ in salience based on age. Results suggest that treatment effective for addressing depression may have relevance for mitigating the impact of the disorder on cognition.
Parents’ and carers’ attitudes to the use of digital technology and its role in the care of children with complex needs
Authors: Apps Joanna , Webb Stephen , Hutton Eve
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

Parent/carers of disabled children want timely and personalized support. Research suggests that technology may address some limitations associated with traditional methods of communication with therapists (e.g. letter, telephone). This exploratory study examined United Kingdom (UK) parents and carers views on the use of digital technology (i.e. computers/phones) in supporting their child and the potential for its greater use in the care of children with complex needs.

Methods:

An online survey was distributed via special schools and support forums/networks. Questions explored use of and attitudes to digital technology in the care of children with complex needs. Descriptive statistical analyses and content analyses were undertaken on the data.

Results:

Respondents were 43 parents/carers whose children used rehabilitation services prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority used digital technology frequently to support their child and saw the potential for greater use in rehabilitation services – provided this was not at the expense of in-person therapist contact.

Conclusion:

Parents and carers held positive views of digital technology as a tool to support their child and enhance rehabilitation services. Recommendations include regular service consultation on parental/child attitudes to digital service delivery and longitudinal studies to assess related health outcomes.
Towards circular economy indicators: Evidence from the European Union
Authors: D’Adamo Idiano , Favari Daniele , Gastaldi Massimo , Kirchherr Julian
Published: March 2024

The European Union (EU) is moving towards sustainable development, and a key role is played by circular economy (CE) models geared towards reducing pressure on natural resources, generating jobs and fostering economic opportunities. Indicators are able to aggregate a variety of information and their use, through the use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), allows the performance of alternatives to be monitored. This work aims to calculate the performance of the EU27 in the years 2019 and 2020 according to 15 CE indicators available on Eurostat. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy process show that the greatest impact on circularity is determined by the category ‘competitiveness and innovation’, which together with the category ‘global sustainability and resilience’ accounts for two thirds of the overall weight. The MCDA results show that Belgium prevails in both the baseline and alternative scenarios, ahead of Italy and the Netherlands respectively. In general, circular policies see western European countries excel, while the performance of eastern European countries is weaker. The implications of this work highlight the three main barriers to the development of CE models: (i) illegal waste management; (ii) lack of knowledge and low level of investment in circular technologies and (iii) low distribution of value among stakeholders. In this way, resource management based on circularity will enable Europe to meet the challenges of sustainability with less dependence on imported raw materials.
Fundamental drying and agglomeration experiments with bio-fraction and refuse derived fuel for the development of pyrolysis reactor feed
Authors: Faitli József , Abdulfattah Zainab Nassr , Kioko Daniel , Nagy Sándor
Published: March 2024

The EU’s circular economy concept necessitates increasing the recycling ratio of municipal solid wastes. There are many existing mechanical–biological processing plants in Hungary for the preparation of residual municipal solid wastes (RMSWs). The two most important products of these plants are the bio-fraction and the refuse derived fuel (RDF). Currently, there are problems with both of these material streams in Hungary, since most of the bio-fraction is still landfilled, and the local thermal utilisation of the RDF has not been implemented yet. The high moisture content of the produced bio-fraction and RDF causes difficulties for the downstream operations; therefore, there is recent engineering interest in drying and agglomeration of these materials. The authors have carried out systematic and parallel drying and briquetting experimental series to study the effect of the material, material composition, mass (volume or surface) of the material, particle size distribution and pre-treatment with a cutting mill on drying intensity in a 1 m3 oven and their effect on briquettability by a laboratory briquette press. The initial slope of the relative moisture loss as function of time was determined. Process engineering design methods of convective hot air-drying can be further developed taking into account the research results. Results can be used for the design of the feed of a pyrolysis reactor once reactor experiments have provided the optimal feed requirements.
Development and validation of a questionnaire for assessing the determinants that predict household recycling (ReDom Questionnaire)
Authors: Fernandez-Alvarez María del Mar , Cuesta Marcelino , Cachero-Rodriguez Judit , Gardner Benjamin , Lana Alberto , Martin-Payo Ruben
Published: March 2024

The growing tendency towards ‘urbanization’ is promoting an increase in resource consumption and waste generation, which requires proper waste separation management with active participation of the population. To this end, it is essential to know the personal modifiable factors that predict recycling. The primary aim of the present study is to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a Spanish language questionnaire designed to measure determinants of household waste separation for recycling purposes (ReDom Questionnaire). A cross-cultural adaptation, translation and psychometric evaluation was undertaken of an extant questionnaire originally developed in Swedish, and the resultant Spanish questionnaire was then subjected to reliability and validity testing. The questionnaire was developed using survey data from 759 respondents and 33 participants performed the retest to assess reliability. The resultant ‘ReDom Questionnaire’ is composed of three factors that draw on relevant elements of the COM-B framework: motivation (seven items), physical opportunity (three items) and social opportunity (three items). The accuracy of the scores is adequate both in terms of internal consistency (factorial weights >0.60; comparative fit index = 0.994; root mean square error of approximation = 0.049; root mean square residual (RMSR) = 0.053) and reliability (Pearson correlation >0.65; Cronbach’s alpha >0.75). In conclusion, the Spanish ReDom Questionnaire showed adequate psychometric properties and appears useful for assessing the determinants of household waste separation.
Perfectionism, Self-Image Goals and Compassionate Goals in Health and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Nepon Taryn , Flett Gordon L. , Hewitt Paul L.
Published: March 2024

This research focuses on ego-focused self-image goals as central to understanding the vulnerability inherent in perfectionism and the link that perfectionism has with poorer health and emotional well-being. The present study expands theory and research on perfectionism from a unique motivational perspective through a longitudinal investigation of perfectionism, the pursuit of self-image goals related to self-improvement, and mental and physical health among 187 university students. Our central finding was that trait and self-presentational perfectionism were associated longitudinally with self-image goals and poorer mental and physical health. Longitudinal analyses showed that perfectionistic self-presentation predicted subsequent self-image goals, controlling for initial self-image goals. Additionally, self-image goals were associated with worse mental and physical health and greater loneliness and social anxiety. Collectively, our results illustrate the benefits of assessing problematic personal goals in perfectionism and the need to revise existing motivational accounts by recognizing the important role ego-involved goals play in guiding much of what perfectionists do and how they act in their daily lives.
Perspectives on the Public Interest and Social Justice in Planning
Authors: Dadashpoor Hashem , Sheydayi Ailin , Esmaeili Mohsen
Published: March 2024

“Social justice” and “public interest” have traditionally been fundamental concepts for most planning theories. The planning literature about these concepts has become a complex set of interpretations that make it difficult to explain the relationship between the two concepts. The current article attempts to shed light on this conceptual confusion about the relationship between these concepts by using the meta-synthesis method. This meta-synthesis leads to the identification of four distinct perspectives “Utilitarians,” “Democratic Proceduralists,” “Structuralists,” and “Post-structuralists.” Each of which places them in different positions from each other according to their distinct definitions of these concepts.
If you were happy and you know it, clap your hands! Testing the peak-end rule for retrospective judgments of well-being in everyday life
Authors: Scharbert Julian , Utesch Katharina , Reiter Thomas , ter Horst Julian , van Zalk Maarten , Back Mitja D , Rau Richard
Published: March 2024

The experience sampling method (ESM) and comparable assessment approaches are increasingly becoming popular tools for well-being research. In part, they are so popular because they represent more direct approaches for assessing individuals’ experienced well-being during a specified period, whereas one-time, retrospective evaluations of that episode are believed to introduce systematic biases. Along these lines, the peak-end rule states that the most extreme and recent sensations of an episode disproportionally influence retrospective well-being judgments. However, it has yet to be determined whether such systematic effects found in experimental laboratory studies generalize to retrospective judgments of well-being in everyday life as captured in ESM studies. Across four ESM samples (overall N = 1,889, total measurements = 131,575), we found that retrospective well-being judgments were disproportionately influenced by the peak and end experiences from the assessment period. However, these effects depended on the item framing of the retrospective judgment (global vs. more specific framings) and broad versus narrow conceptualizations of peaks and ends (states, days, and weeks), pointing toward potential ways to mitigate peak/end effects. Our findings emphasize the importance of differentiating between momentary and retrospective well-being assessments and selecting an appropriate measurement approach on the basis of these conceptual considerations.
Effects of chemical treatment and gamma-ray irradiation on the structure-properties of sunn hemp and okra hessian cloth reinforced high-density polyethylene composites: A comparative study
Authors: Shohrawardy Mohammed Hossan Shahid , Mina Md Forhad , Alam AKM Moshiul , Khan Ruhul Amin , Hossain Md Mokter
Published: March 2024

Okra hessian cloth and Sunn hemp hessian cloth were prepared and treated with 5, 10, and 15 wt% alkali solutions for 1 h. The optimized concentration of alkali is 10 wt%. The untreated and treated hessian cloths reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were then prepared using the compression molding method. Alkali-treated, and 55 wt% fiber contents reinforced composites showed improved mechanical properties among 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65 wt% fiber contents composites. 55 wt% fiber contents reinforced composites were then irradiated under gamma-ray at doses 2.5–7.5 kGy at the rate of 6 kGy/h. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis results, only alkali-treated Okra reinforced, and Sunn hemp-reinforced HDPE composites had higher crystallinity values than untreated and irradiated composites. Surface micrographs showed that the Okra-HDPE and Sunn hemp-HDPE had better matrix and fiber attachment. Cross-linking between the two varieties of fibers and matrix was seen using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Both irradiated composites exhibited greater hydrophobicity in their water intake characteristics compared to untreated and alkali-treated composites. The tensile strength ( TS) value of Sunn hemp composite for 5 kGy gamma-ray irradiation dose is 68 MPa, which is 14% and 42% higher than that of treated and untreated composites, respectively. For comparison, the TS value for 5 kGy dose irradiated Okra composite is 66 MPa, which is 17% and 44% higher than that of treated and untreated composites, respectively. Young’s modulus ( Y) values of irradiated Okra composite and irradiated Sunn hemp composite showed higher values than that of other composites. Both irradiated composites have better thermal and structural characteristics than untreated and alkali-treated composites.
International variations in serum PTH and calcium levels and their mortality associations in peritoneal dialysis patients: Results from PDOPPS
Authors: Nitta Kosaku , Bieber Brian , Karaboyas Angelo , Johnson David W , Kanjanabuch Talerngsak , Kim Yong-Lim , Lambie Mark , Hartman John , Shen Jenny I , Naljayan Mihran , Pecoits-Filho Roberto , Robinson Bruce M , Pisoni Ronald L , Perl Jeffrey , Kawanishi Hideki
Published: March 2024

Background:

Mineral bone disorder (MBD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with high symptom burden, fractures, vascular calcification, cardiovascular disease and increased morbidity and mortality. CKD-MBD studies have been limited in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Here, we describe calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) control, related treatments and mortality associations in PD patients.

Methods:

We used data from eight countries (Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ), Canada, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States (US)) participating in the prospective cohort Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (2014–2022) among patients receiving PD for >3 months. We analysed the association of baseline PTH and albumin-adjusted calcium (calciumAlb) with all-cause mortality using Cox regression, adjusted for potential confounders, including serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase.

Results:

Mean age ranged from 54.6 years in South Korea to 63.5 years in Japan. PTH and serum calciumAlb were measured at baseline in 12,642 and 14,244 patients, respectively. Median PTH ranged from 161 (Japan) to 363 pg/mL (US); mean calciumAlb ranged from 9.1 (South Korea, US) to 9.8 mg/dL (A/NZ). The PTH/mortality relationship was U-shaped, with the lowest risk at PTH 300–599 pg/mL. Mortality was nearly 20% higher at serum calciumAlb 9.6+ mg/dL versus 8.4–<9.6 mg/dL. MBD therapy prescriptions varied substantially across countries.

Conclusions:

A large proportion of PD patients in this multi-national study have calcium and/or PTH levels in ranges associated with substantially higher mortality. These observations point to the need to substantially improve MBD management in PD to optimise patient outcomes.

Lay Summary

Chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (MBD) is a systemic condition, common in dialysis patients, that results in abnormalities in parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D metabolism. A large proportion of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients in this current multi-national study had calcium and/or PTH levels in ranges associated with substantially higher risks of death. Our observational study design limits our ability to determine whether these abnormal calcium and PTH levels cause more death due to possible confounding that was not accounted for in our analysis. However, our findings, along with other recent work showing 48–75% higher risk of death for the one-third of PD patients having high phosphorus levels (>5.5 mg/dL), should raise strong concerns for a greater focus on improving MBD management in PD patients.
Two chironomid-inferred mean July air temperature reconstructions in the South Carpathian Mountains over the last 2000 years
Authors: Szabó Zoltán , Buczkó Krisztina , Korponai János L , Luoto Tomi , Begy Róbert-Csaba , Haliuc Artitina , Veres Daniel , Hamerlík Ladislav , Csorba Réka , Zsigmond Andreea Rebeka , Darabos Gabriella , Méhes Nikoletta , Kövér Csilla , Magyari Enikő Katalin
Published: March 2024

We present chironomid-based reconstructions of mean July air temperature changes over the last 2000 years from Lake Latoriței (1530 m a.s.l.) in the Southern Carpathians. A multi-proxy analysis was performed along a 58 cm long sediment core and two training sets were used for quantitative July air temperature reconstructions: the Eastern-European (EE, 212 lakes) and the Finnish-Polish-Carpathian (FPC, 273 lakes). The transfer functions had a coefficient of determination ( r2) 0.88 and 0.91 with a root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) 0.88°C and 1.02°C. Despite possible biases resulting from methodological problems and the ecological complexity of the chironomid response to both climatic and environmental changes, the agreement of the temperature reconstruction of Lake Latoriței with other alpine records suggests that the transfer function successfully reconstructed past summer temperatures between 750 and 1830 CE. Biases in the temperature reconstruction in the period before 750 and after 1830 CE were likely caused by increased abundance of rheophilic and semi-terrestrial chironomid species related to increased inflow activity before 750 CE and local land use changes after 1830 CE, which was also indicated by increasing deforestation and increasing lake productivity in the pollen and diatom records. Our results suggest that the region experienced a warm period between 750 and 1360 CE, and a cold period between 1360 and 1600 CE followed by fluctuating summer temperatures until 1830 CE. These events were associated with the so-called ‘Mediaeval Warm Period’ (MWP) and the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA), respectively. The inference models reconstructed a decrease in July air temperatures by 0.7°C–1.1°C during the LIA relative to the warmer MWP. We also demonstrated that the FPC training set gives better results, supporting that local/continental training sets are efficient to detect weak amplitude summer temperature changes in the Late-Holocene.