bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dyadic Partition-Based Training Schemes for TV/TGV Denoising
Authors: Davoli Elisa , Ferreira Rita , Fonseca Irene , Iglesias José A.
Published: October 2024

Due to their ability to handle discontinuous images while having a well-understood behavior, regularizations with total variation (TV) and total generalized variation (TGV) are some of the best-known methods in image denoising. However, like other variational models including a fidelity term, they crucially depend on the choice of their tuning parameters. A remedy is to choose these automatically through multilevel approaches, for example by optimizing performance on noisy/clean image pairs. In this work, we consider such methods with space-dependent parameters which are piecewise constant on dyadic grids, with the grid itself being part of the minimization. We prove existence of minimizers for fixed discontinuous parameters under mild assumptions on the data, which lead to existence of finite optimal partitions. We further establish that these assumptions are equivalent to the commonly used box constraints on the parameters. On the numerical side, we consider a simple subdivision scheme for optimal partitions built on top of any other bilevel optimization method for scalar parameters, and demonstrate its improved performance on some representative test images when compared with constant optimized parameters.
Objectivity and truth in Ernst Cassirer’s ethics
Authors: Widmer Elisabeth Theresia
Published: October 2024

Cassirer’s view on ethical objectivity is puzzling. In his scarce comments on Kantian ethics, he defines the “pure will” as a “function of consciousness,” which he considers a prerequisite for the possibility of objective ethical normativity embedded in empirical reality. In the existing body of literature, we find two different interpretations of Cassirer’s account of ethical objectivity. The “meta-philosophical” interpretation takes objectivity as a telos that humanity gradually approaches, thereby emphasizing the historically relative truth standards to which the teleologically-evolving symbolic forms respond. The “Kantian” interpretation takes objectivity as a concept inherent to the conduct of the moral law, highlighting the evaluative and prescriptive aspects of his philosophical method. In this paper, I defend the thesis that, by interpreting Cassirer’s ethics through the lens of Hermann Cohen’s mature ethical theory, we can see that ethical deliberation in Cassirer involves a notion of universality that is a priori and depends on a substantiated concept susceptible to change. The proposed “contingent conception of universality” thesis accounts for both: the evaluative and teleological features of Cassirer’s ethical theory, grounding an a priori account of ethical objectivity conceptualized relative to contingent truth standards that gradually improve.
Second law and Liu relations: the no-reversible-direction axiom—revisited
Authors: Muschik W.
Published: October 2024

A thermodynamic process is governed by balance equations in field-formulated thermodynamics. Especially the balance equation of entropy takes a prominent role: it introduces the Second Law in the form of a dissipation inequality via the non-negative entropy production. Balance equations and dissipation inequality are independent of the considered material which is described by additional constitutive equations which need the introduction of a state space which is spanned by the state space variables. Inserting these constitutive equations into the balance equations results in the balance equations on state space which include the first order time and position derivatives of the state space variables, called “higher derivatives” wich are directional derivatives in a mathematicle sense. Why do not appear the latter in the Liu Relations which pretend to describe material as well as the equations on state space do ? The answer is that the Liu Relations describe materials whose entropy production does not depend on the higher derivatives. Consequently, the Liu Relations are more specific than the balance equations on state space. A toy example concerning heat conduction in compressible fluids is in two different versions added for elucidation.
Ignorance, Impairment and Quality of Will
Authors: Hartford Anna , Stein Dan J.
Published: October 2024

A variety of mental disorders—including ASD, ADHD, major depression, and anxiety disorder, among others—may directly impact what an agent notices or fails to notice. A recent debate has emphasised the potential significance of such “impairment-derived ignorance,” and argued that failure to account for certain compelling cases would seriously undermine theories which intend to establish the conditions for blameworthy ignorance. In this comment we argue, contra a recent challenge, that Quality of Will (QW) accounts are able to explain the normative significance of impairment-derived ignorance. The plausible, ambivalent results QW accounts yield in difficult cases of impairment-derived ignorance further reveals the explanatory power of such accounts when it comes to blameworthy ignorance.
Risk of osteoporotic fractures in menopausal women with common mental health diagnoses prescribed SSRIs/SNRIs: cohort and self-controlled case series analyses
Authors: Alsugeir Dana , Adesuyan Matthew , Avgerinou Christina , Talaulikar Vikram , Wei Li , Brauer Ruth
Published: October 2024

Summary

In a population-based cohort study of menopausal women with common mental health diagnoses, SSRIs/SNRIs were associated with a 32% increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. The risk of osteoporotic fractures was particularly increased for longer periods of treatment with SSRIs/SNRIs (> 5 years) and in younger menopausal women (< 50 years old).

Purpose

To investigate the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and the risk of osteoporotic fractures (OF) in menopausal women with common mental health diagnoses (CMHD).

Methods

We conducted the study with two designs (cohort and self-controlled case series [SCCS]), using the IQVIA Medical Research Database (IMRD) UK. The source population comprised women aged ≥ 50 years and women with a record indicating menopause (< 50 years). All women had a recorded CMHD. For the cohort analysis, the risk of OFs was estimated by comparing women prescribed SSRIs/SNRIs (exposed) to those not exposed. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For the SCCS, women acted as their own controls; periods of exposure to SSRIs/SNRIs were compared to periods of non-exposure using conditional Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CIs.

Results

We identified 292,848 women, of whom 35,222 experienced OFs within a median follow-up of 6.01 years. We found strong evidence of an association between SSRIs/SNRIs and the risk of OFs (adjusted HR = 1.32, 95% CI:1.29–1.35). Compared to periods of no exposure, SSRIs/SNRIs increased the risk of OFs during the first 30 days (IRR = 1.38, 95% CI:1.26–1.51), during the first 90 days (IRR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.48–1.69), and the remaining exposure (IRR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.37–1.48).

Conclusions

In a population of menopausal women with CMHDs, the prescribing of SSRIs/SNRIs antidepressants was associated with a higher risk of OFs. Careful assessment of osteoporosis risk needs to be considered when treating menopausal women with SSRIs/SNRIs antidepressants.
On the Origin of Enhanced Tempering Resistance of the Laser Additively Manufactured Hot Work Tool Steel in the As-Built Condition
Authors: Deirmina Faraz , Amirabdollahian Sasan , Lindwall Greta , Molinari Alberto , Tiwari Jitendar Kumar , Hryha Eduard , Pellizzari Massimo
Published: October 2024

In laser additive manufacturing (AM) of hot work tool steels, direct tempering (DT) of the tool from as-built (AB) condition without prior conventional austenitization and quenching results in enhanced tempering resistance. To date, intercellular retained austenite (RA) decomposition, leading to a shift in secondary hardening peak temperature, and finer martensite substructure are reported to be responsible for such a behavior. In this work, authors aimed at studying the strengthening contributions by performing isothermal tempering tests for long times (up to 40 hours) at elevated temperatures (up to 650 °C) on DT and quenched and tempered (QT) specimens. The thermal softening kinetics and the microstructural evolution were evaluated with the support of computational thermodynamics. The results suggest that the main contributor to enhanced temper resistance in DT condition is the larger fraction of thermally stable and extremely fine (~ 20 nm) secondary (tempering) V(C,N) compared with QT. This could be explained by the reduction of available V and C in austenitized and quenched martensite for a later secondary V(C,N) precipitation during tempering, because of equilibrium precipitation of relatively large (up to 500 nm) vanadium-rich carbonitrides during the austenitization process. A complementary effect of the substructure refinement (i.e., martensite block width) in rapidly solidified highly supersaturated martensite was also quantified in terms of Hall–Petch strengthening mechanism. The significant effect of secondary V(C,N) was successfully validated by assessing a laser AM processed vanadium-free hot work tool steel in QT and DT condition, where no significant differences in strength and temper resistance between the two conditions were evident.

Graphical Abstract
Al-Doped ZnO/SiO2 Nano-glass Ceramic System: A New Composite System for Improvement in Thermal Stability and Mechanical Properties of Dental Resins
Authors: Torkian Peyman , Najafabadi SayedMohsen Mortazavi , Szuławska-Mroczek Agata , Grzelczyk Dariusz , Ghashang Majid
Published: October 2024

This study aims to enhance dental resins' mechanical and thermal properties by reinforcing them with Al-doped ZnO/SiO2 nano-glass ceramic. The synthesis of the nano-glass ceramic involved the addition of Al-doped ZnO nano-powders to a diluted aqueous solution of liquid glass (25 mL) in ethanol (50 mL) at room temperature. The synthesized samples were characterized using TEM, EDS, FE-SEM, and XRD techniques. Various concentrations of the nano-glass ceramic (2, 5, 8, 10, and 15 wt.%) were then integrated with Bis-GMA and TEGDMA. The mechanical properties, including flexural strength (FS), compressive strength (CS), diameter tensile strength (DTS), and flexural modulus (FM), were evaluated. Thermal stability was assessed through TGA analysis, which indicated polymer degradation occurring between 300 and 450 °C. An increase in filler content correlated with enhanced thermal stability. The optimal mechanical properties were observed at a 7.5 wt.% filler content, showing significant improvements in FS (124.652 MPa), FM (9.87GPa), DTS (33.87 MPa), and CS (178.47 MPa).
Developments in Advance Care Planning in Australia: Potential Opportunities and Roadblocks for an Increasingly Digital World
Authors: Haining Casey M.
Published: October 2024

Australia is committed to looking at ways to modernize its healthcare delivery further by integrating digital health. Advance Care Planning (ACP) is an area of healthcare that would likely benefit from further digitalization. However, while greater integration of technology in the delivery of ACP could help improve practices and lead to increased uptake, the extent to which this is achievable will be influenced, in part, by current approaches to ACP regulation. This article canvasses recent developments and trends in Australian law relevant to ACP and reflects on how these developments may impact the further digitalization of ACP.
Evidence of anthropogenic subsidisation of red foxes in a national park important for breeding wading birds
Authors: Williams Nathan F. , Porteus Tom A. , Hardouin Emilie A. , Case Jodie , Rivers Elli , Andreou Demetra , Hoodless Andrew N. , Stillman Richard A. , Short Mike J.
Published: October 2024

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a generalist mesopredator found throughout the UK. It has been linked to national declines in native wildlife, especially ground-nesting birds such as waders. In the New Forest National Park, nest predation and poor chick survival is primarily responsible for low breeding success of Eurasian curlew (Numenius arguata), a species of high conservation concern. To reduce predation losses, foxes are lethally controlled by wildlife managers. Here, we identified the major food resources that are being exploited by foxes in the New Forest area and examined temporal and spatial patterns in the presence of specific food categories, with special reference to anthropogenic food. Stomachs from foxes culled in curlew breeding areas were collected from April 2021 - July 2022 and the contents of these stomachs were quantified. Foxes exhibited a highly varied diet with no single food category predominating. Anthropogenic food comprised 14% of the overall diet, with its presence predicted by proximity to human settlements and other infrastructure. We also estimated the total annual volume of anthropogenic food consumed by the fox population and by extension how many individual foxes this volume of food could support in isolation. According to these calculations, at present the number of foxes subsidised by anthropogenic food is approximately 64.8% (50.2–79.7%) of those removed by culling per year. Our findings highlight that better local food sanitation and education should become important parts of a more holistic management approach to reduce the burden of fox predation experienced by breeding waders.
Use of Standard Operating Procedures for Supporting Cross-Organizational Emergency Management: Challenges and Opportunities Identified from a Tabletop Exercise
Authors: Steen-Tveit Kristine , Munkvold Bjørn Erik , Rustenberg Kjetil
Published: October 2024

This study investigated the crucial role of formulating and applying standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the context of emergency planning and response. The effective application of SOPs during operations is essential in order to address challenges that surpass individual organizational capacities. A specific focus on fostering efficient information sharing and executing specified actions maximizes the prospect of success. To explore the collective functionality of SOPs across organizations, we conducted a comprehensive tabletop exercise involving 10 organizations spanning tactical, operational, and strategic levels. Our analysis identified six key challenges, primarily related to the structures for information sharing, communication pathways, and the complex integration and application of common SOPs within these diverse organizational contexts. This research contributes insights into the use of SOPs in large-scale, cross-organizational scenarios.
A Decision Support Framework for Resilient and Sustainable Service Design
Authors: Chowdhury Md. Maruf Hossan , Aliahmadi Seyed Zeinab , Quaddus Mohammed A. , Ansaripoor Amir H. , Mirjalili Seyedali
Published: October 2024

Resilient and sustainable service design is essential for ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of service systems. However, existing literature often neglects key aspects such as articulating resilience attributes and integrating sustainability dimensions. This study proposes a decision support model for a “resilient-sustainable service design” that merges service design principles with resilient system attributes and organizational sustainability goals. The framework incorporates a multi-objective mathematical programming model and a multi-phased Quality Function Deployment (QFD) approach to derive Pareto optimal solutions using the Brute Force algorithm. Applied in the m-health service sector in Bangladesh, the study reveals significant challenges, including limited awareness of services and logistical inefficiencies. To address these issues, flexible strategies such as demand planning and service innovation are implemented. The findings have direct implications for the improvement of service delivery processes and underscore the importance of considering both resilience and sustainability. While focusing on Bangladesh’s m-health sector, the insights gained have broader relevance globally. The integration of resilience and sustainability principles into service design is crucial for addressing complex challenges across sectors and regions. Future research could involve longitudinal studies to capture evolving resilience strategies and explore resilient-sustainable service systems from a broader perspective. This entails examining various factors such as technological advancements and socio-economic dynamics shaping resilient and sustainable service ecosystems.
Solution-Processed Thin Film Transparent Photovoltaics: Present Challenges and Future Development
Authors: Liu Tianle , Almutairi Munerah M. S. , Ma Jie , Stewart Aisling , Xing Zhaohui , Liu Mengxia , Hou Bo , Cho Yuljae
Published: October 2024

Electrical energy is essential for modern society to sustain economic growths. The soaring demand for the electrical energy, together with an awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels, has been driving a shift towards the utilization of solar energy. However, traditional solar energy solutions often require extensive spaces for a panel installation, limiting their practicality in a dense urban environment. To overcome the spatial constraint, researchers have developed transparent photovoltaics (TPV), enabling windows and facades in vehicles and buildings to generate electric energy. Current TPV advancements are focused on improving both transparency and power output to rival commercially available silicon solar panels. In this review, we first briefly introduce wavelength- and non-wavelength-selective strategies to achieve transparency. Figures of merit and theoretical limits of TPVs are discussed to comprehensively understand the status of current TPV technology. Then we highlight recent progress in different types of TPVs, with a particular focus on solution-processed thin-film photovoltaics (PVs), including colloidal quantum dot PVs, metal halide perovskite PVs and organic PVs. The applications of TPVs are also reviewed, with emphasis on agrivoltaics, smart windows and facades. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities in TPV research are pointed out.
Diabetologische Notfälle: hyperglykämische Krisen
Authors: Treiber Gerlies
Published: October 2024

Die diabetische Ketoazidose (DKA) und das hyperglykämische hyperosmolare Syndrom (HHS) sind die zwei schwerwiegendsten, akut lebensbedrohlichen hyperglykämischen Notfälle in Patient*innen mit Diabetes Typ 1 und Diabetes Typ 2. Weltweit zeigt sich in den letzten 10 Jahren eine Zunahme der stationären Aufnahmen aufgrund dieser hyperglykämischen Krisen. Die DKA ist gekennzeichnet durch eine Hyperglykämie, Ketonämie sowie metabolische Azidose mit erhöhter Anionenlücke, während es beim HHS zu einer ausgeprägten Hyperglykämie, Hyperosmolarität und Dehydration ohne Azidose kommt. Die frühzeitige Diagnose und die Kenntnisse der Therapiemodalitäten sind notwendig, um Komplikationen zu vermeiden. Die Therapiesäulen beruhen auf dem Flüssigkeitsersatz, Insulintherapie und Elektrolytausgleich sowie der Behandlung der auslösenden Ursache. Ohne eine entsprechende Behandlung sind hyperglykämischen Krisen mit einer erheblichen, wenn auch weitgehend vermeidbaren Morbidität und Mortalität verbunden. Die Verwendung von DKA-/HHS-Protokollen in den Krankenhäusern ist zu empfehlen. Wiederholte Schulungen der Patient*innen sowie der behandelnden Teams inklusive der „sick day rules“ sind in der Prävention und Therapie der hyperglykämischen Krisen entscheidend.
Biofabrication and biomanufacturing in Ireland and the UK
Authors: Murphy Jack F. , Lavelle Martha , Asciak Lisa , Burdis Ross , Levis Hannah J. , Ligorio Cosimo , McGuire Jamie , Polleres Marlene , Smith Poppy O. , Tullie Lucinda , Uribe-Gomez Juan , Chen Biqiong , Dawson Jonathan I. , Gautrot Julien E. , Hooper Nigel M. , Kelly Daniel J. , Li Vivian S. W. , Mata Alvaro , Pandit Abhay , Phillips James B. , Shu Wenmiao , Stevens Molly M. , Williams Rachel L. , Armstrong James P. K. , Huang Yan Yan Shery
Published: October 2024

随着我们从第四次工业革命向第五次工业革命的过渡，生物制造领域的兴起正在改变生命科学和医疗保健。3D生物打印、组织工程、定向组装和自组装等先进技术在创建仿生支架、组织类器官、医疗设备和生物系统方面发挥着重要作用。英国和爱尔兰的生物制造领域成为生物科学和医疗保健的关键力量，得益于尖端的研究和发展。这些地区的研究专注于药物输送、体外模型, 类器官,和组织工程的生物功能产品，致力于创新符合伦理标准的医疗保健解决方案，同时支持环保和有效的医疗保健系统。
An optimal global biochar application strategy based on matching biochar and soil properties to reduce global cropland greenhouse gas emissions: findings from a global meta-analysis and density functional theory calculation
Authors: He Debo , Dong Zhixin , Zhu Bo
Published: October 2024

Biochar has been extensively utilized to amend soil and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from croplands. However, the effectiveness of biochar application in reducing cropland GHG emissions remains uncertain due to variations in soil properties and environmental conditions across regions. In this study, the impact of biochar surface functional groups on soil GHG emissions was investigated using molecular model calculation. Machine learning (ML) technology was applied to predict the responses of soil GHG emissions and crop yields under different biochar feedstocks and application rates, aiming to determine the optimum biochar application strategies based on specific soil properties and environmental conditions on a global scale. The findings suggest that the functional groups play an essential role in determining biochar surface activity and the soil’s capacity for adsorbing GHGs. ML was an effective method in predicting the changes in soil GHG emissions and crop yield following biochar application. Moreover, poor-fertility soils exhibited greater changes in GHG emissions compared to fertile soil. Implementing an optimized global strategy for biochar application may result in a substantial reduction of 684.25 Tg year−1 CO2 equivalent (equivalent to 7.87% of global cropland GHG emissions) while simultaneously improving crop yields. This study improves our understanding of the interaction between biochar surface properties and soil GHG, confirming the potential of global biochar application strategies in mitigating cropland GHG emissions and addressing global climate degradation. Further research efforts are required to optimize such strategies.

Graphical Abstract
Infrared-A to improve mood: an exploratory study of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) exposure
Authors: Häggqvist Iina-Maria , Kärhä Petri , Kautiainen Hannu , Snellman Erna , Pasternack Rafael , Partonen Timo
Published: October 2024

Diurnal preference to eveningness might predispose to depression. There is preliminary evidence of infrared-A (IR-A) induced whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) in the treatment of depression. In this exploratory study with 19 adults, we investigated the effects of a 20-min exposure of water-filtered IR-A (wIRA) to the skin of back and buttock area, without inducing WBH, on mood and assessed the outcome by diurnal preference (#R19047, approval on 7 May 2019). The skin received irradiation with an integrated power of 102.4 W in the wavelength region of 550–1350 nm and a total dose of 123 kJ over the total area of 0.0483 m2. The diurnal preference was assessed with a 6-item version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (mMEQ). The 40-item Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire was used to assess total mood disturbance (TMD). Core temperature was measured 30 min before, during and 30 min after the irradiation. Skin surface temperature was measured on baseline and every two minutes during the irradiation. The TMD improved immediately after the exposure, and this positive effect lasted for 24 h (p = 0.001) as well as for 2 weeks (p = 0.02). Concerning the diurnal preference, the positive effect on mood was immediate and lasted for 24 h in evening types (p = 0.02) and for 2 weeks in morning types (p = 0.04). During the exposure, core body temperature was constantly lower in morning types compared to evening types. This study gives us new information on the effects of near-infrared radiation, without inducing WBH, through the skin on mood.

Graphical abstract
From urban clusters to megaregions: mapping Australia’s evolving urban regions
Authors: Ng Matthew Kok Ming , Shabrina Zahratu , Sarkar Somwrita , Han Hoon , Pettit Christopher
Published: October 2024

This study employs percolation theory to investigate the hierarchical organisation of Australian urban centres through the connectivity of their road networks. The analysis demonstrates how discrete urban clusters have developed into integrated regional entities, delineating the pivotal distance thresholds that regulate these urban transitions. The study reveals the interconnections between disparate urban clusters, shaped by their functional differentiation and historical development. Furthermore, the study identifies a dichotomy of urban agglomeration forces and a persistent spatial disconnection between Australia’s wider urban landscape. This highlights the interplay between urban densification and peripheral growth. It suggests the need for new thinking on potential integrated governance structures that bridge urban development with broader social and economic policies across regional and national scales. Additionally, the study emphasises the growing importance of national coordination in Australian urban development planning to ensure regional consistency, equity, and productivity.
Infrastructure development, inequality, and employment in Sub-Saharan Africa from the professional perspectives of Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania
Authors: Zreik Mohamad , Iqbal Badar Alam , Hassan Munir , Syed Marzuki Sharifah Zannierah
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the challenges and opportunities in infrastructure development, inequality, and employment in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a critical gap between infrastructure planning and execution, exacerbated by inadequate funding, bureaucratic hurdles, and a lack of technical expertise, leading to profound inequality in infrastructure and employment opportunities, particularly affecting rural and marginalized communities. The study aims to identify the mismatch between current job market needs and the workforce's skills, analyse the impact of rapid population growth and insufficient educational initiatives, and propose solutions for integrated infrastructure planning and equitable policy development. This research employs qualitative semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis using NVivo to gain in-depth insights into the institutional characteristics influencing infrastructure development, inequality, and employment. Findings reveal significant disparities in infrastructure and employment opportunities, with rural and marginalized communities being disproportionately affected. There is a notable mismatch between job market needs and the available workforce skills, further complicated by rapid population growth and inadequate educational initiatives. The study recommends an integrated approach to infrastructure planning that encompasses sustainability, accessibility, and equitable distribution. Policies should address inequality, ensure equitable access to infrastructure benefits, and align education and skill development with the evolving job market. Leveraging public–private partnerships is also suggested to accelerate infrastructure development efficiently. This paper contributes to the discourse on infrastructure, inequality, and employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing a roadmap for addressing these intertwined challenges through integrated policy initiatives.
Paul and Judaism at the End of History
Authors: Novenson Matthew V.
Published: October 2024

The apostle Paul was a Jew. He was born, lived, undertook his apostolic work, and died within the milieu of ancient Judaism. And yet, many readers have found, and continue to find, Paul's thought so radical, so Christian, even so anti-Jewish – despite the fact that it, too, is Jewish through and through. This paradox, and the question how we are to explain it, are the foci of Matthew Novenson's groundbreaking book. The solution, says the author, lies in Paul's particular understanding of time. This too is altogether Jewish, with the twist that Paul sees the end of history as present, not future. In the wake of Christ's resurrection, Jews are perfected in righteousness and – like the angels – enabled to live forever, in fulfilment of God's ancient promises to the patriarchs. What is more, gentiles are included in the same pneumatic existence promised to the Jews. This peculiar combination of ethnicity and eschatology yields something that looks not quite like Judaism or Christianity as we are used to thinking of them.
Good Governing
Authors: Rodriguez Daniel B.
Published: October 2024

Good Governing: The Police Power in the American States is a deep historical and legal analysis of state police power, examining its origins in the founding period of the American public through the 20th century. The book reveals how American police power was intended to be a broad, but not unlimited, charter of regulatory governance, designed to implement key constitutional objectives and advance the general welfare. It explores police power's promise as a mechanism for implementing successful regulatory governance and tackling societal ills, while considering key structural issues like separation of powers and individual rights. This insightful book will shape understanding of the neglected state police power, a key part of constitutional governance in the U.S. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
An integrated framework for importance-performance analysis of product attributes and validation from online reviews and maintenance records
Authors: Shen Mengyuan , Cheng Aoxiang , Bi Youyi
Published: October 2024

Importance-performance analysis (IPA) is widely used for needs analysis, product positioning, and strategic planning in product design. Previous research on IPA often employs single-source data such as customer surveys or online reviews with unavoidable subjective bias. In contrast, product maintenance records provide objective information on product quality and failure patterns, which can be cross-validated with customers’ personal experiences from surveys or online reviews. In this paper, we propose an integrated framework for conducting IPA from online reviews and product maintenance records jointly. An attribute-keyword dictionary is first established using keyword extraction and clustering methods. Then, semantic groups, including product attributes and associated descriptions, are extracted using dependency parsing analysis. The sentiment scores of identified product attributes are determined by a voting mechanism using two pre-trained sentiment analysis models. The importance of product attributes in IPA is estimated from the impact of sentiments of each product attribute on product ratings with the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model, while the performance is estimated from the sentiment scores of online reviews or the quality statistics from product maintenance records. In addition, we propose two methods to validate the IPA results, in which the IPA results are compared with the actual product improvements on the market or compared with the analysis of customer reviews from different time periods, respectively. The validated IPA results from online reviews and maintenance records are then integrated to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of customer needs. A case study of passenger vehicles is used to demonstrate the framework. The proposed framework enables automatic data processing and can support companies in making efficient design decisions with more comprehensive perspectives from multisource data.
An Introduction to Radical Biocracy: A relational, autonomous approach to decision-making towards emergent and symbiotic design
Authors: Udoewa Victor
Published: October 2024

Any system health work must look at decision-making because decisions propagate throughout a system, shaping system dynamics. Usually, human decision-making is conducted from an individualist, objectivist perspective. What happens when we use an approach based on the radical relationality of Radical Participatory Design and Relational Design? This is the fourth paper in a series of papers which introduced Radical Participatory Design in the first two papers and Relational Design in the third paper. In this fourth paper, we explore the decision-making dynamics in Radical Participatory Design and Relational Design projects.

We use the term political ecology to speak about the power dynamics within any ecological system – a geographical population, a community, an ecosystem, and so forth. We analyze the political ecologies of individualist decision-making models. Then we explore how to embody a relational ontology within decision-filled human ecosystems and how a relational way of being changes decision-making. Referring to biology, we discuss ingredients for relational decision-making – relationality, emergent design principles, and autonomy. Those ingredients can lead to emergent and symbiotic design. Emergent design refers to design that emerges from consistently following a few basic principles. Symbiotic design occurs over time when deeply, relationally embedded entities retain autonomy and indirectly evolve to create a design that would not have occurred through an intentional design process. We then introduce Radical Biocracy as a type of decision-making model where decisions are not deliberated by groups or team members but emerge from the relationally autonomous choices and actions of individuals.
A model of tidal flow and tracer release in a giant kelp forest
Authors: Strong-Wright Jago , Taylor John R.
Published: October 2024

Benthic macroalgae (including brown macroalgae or kelp) constitute one of the largest contributors to coastal primary production, but their ability to store and sequester carbon remains uncertain. Here, we use a numerical model of the flow/kelp interactions to study how tidal currents interact with an idealised numerical model of a giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, intending to better understand the potential for kelp growth in nutrient-limited conditions and the export of important tracers such as dissolved organic carbon. We calibrate and test our model using observations of currents within and surrounding a kelp forest in Southern California. By varying the density of kelp in our model, we find that there is a kelp density that maximises the export of tracer released from the kelp forest. Since the tracer advection/diffusion equation is linear with respect to the tracer concentration, the same kelp density corresponds to the maximum uptake for a tracer with a constant far-field concentration. The density at which this maximum occurs coincides with the density typical of natural kelp forests, where kelp growth may be limited by the uptake of dissolved nutrients from the surrounding water. Additionally, the drag induced on the tidal currents by the kelp forest results in a mean circulation through the kelp forest and a mean displacement of the kelp forest canopy.
Direct numerical simulation of sand particles transporting in the atmospheric Ekman boundary layer
Authors: Wang Yixiang , Li Cruz Y. , Peng Daniel Ziyue , Tse Tim K.T.
Published: October 2024

This study presents a direct numerical simulation that investigates the transport mechanisms of sand particles in the neutrally stable atmospheric Ekman boundary layer (AEBL). The simulation models the AEBL in a half-channel flow, taking into account the Earth's rotation and adding a Coriolis term to the Navier–Stokes equations. The Lagrangian point-particle method with one-way coupling is used to track the sand particles. The main objective is to examine the impact of gravity and particle Stokes number on the sand particle dynamics. The results indicate that gravity has a significant effect on large-size sand particles, as seen in the mean and root-mean-square sand velocity profiles. The slip velocity profiles of sand particles relative to the surrounding air show that larger particles experience higher drag forces in the viscous sublayer, which hinders their forward movement. This effect is also amplified by gravity. Furthermore, the mean profiles of the streamwise and spanwise slip velocities exhibit distinct demarcations of the viscous sublayer, buffer layer and log-law region. The spatial and temporal Voronoï analysis reveals that gravity increases the clustering level of sand particles in the entire turbulent Ekman layer and reduces the time for the change of the Voronoï volume, particularly for large-size particles.
Stress management preferences and stress experiences among Latinx immigrants in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mixed-methods results from a community-academic research team
Authors: Stryker Shanna D. , Rabin Julia , Castelin Stephanie , Jacquez Farrah , Chinchilla Karen , Peralta Jenniffer , Vaughn Lisa M.
Published: October 2024

Background

Latinx individuals in the U.S. have higher levels of stress than other ethnic groups. Latinx immigrants living in non-traditional immigration destinations (NTIDs) have worse access to social and medical support and were particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to contextualize stress in Latinx immigrants in an NTID during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand Latinx immigrants’ preferences for stress management interventions given the sociopolitical and public health context.

Method

Using a community-based participatory research approach with mixed methods research design, community co-researchers gathered data using a quantitative survey and then contextualized survey results using a qualitative community conversation.

Results

Community conversation participants were surprised at the relatively low levels of reported stress and pandemic impact in survey participants, and they proposed the reason was the level of pre-pandemic stressors. Guatemalan immigrants in an NTID reported more stigma but fewer changes between pre- and post-pandemic stress levels. Survey respondents preferred to learn about stress management through YouTube videos or groups led by professionals.

Conclusions

Understanding the diversity of stress experiences among Latinx immigrant groups is critical to developing effective interventions. Coping strategy preferences are variable among different Latinx immigration groups, but asynchronous and/or professional-led stress management was preferred.
ON THE BINARY SEQUENCE
$(1,1,0,1,0^3,1,0^7,1,0^{15},\ldots )$
Authors: NORTON GRAHAM H.
Published: October 2024

Let

$\mathbb {F}$

be a field and

$(s_0,\ldots ,s_{n-1})$

be a finite sequence of elements of

$\mathbb {F}$

. In an earlier paper [G. H. Norton, ‘On the annihilator ideal of an inverse form’, J. Appl. Algebra Engrg. Comm. Comput.28 (2017), 31–78], we used the

$\mathbb {F}[x,z]$

submodule

$\mathbb {F}[x^{-1},z^{-1}]$

of Macaulay’s inverse system

$\mathbb {F}[[x^{-1},z^{-1}]]$

(where z is our homogenising variable) to construct generating forms for the (homogeneous) annihilator ideal of

$(s_0,\ldots ,s_{n-1})$

. We also gave an

$\mathcal {O}(n^2)$

algorithm to compute a special pair of generating forms of such an annihilator ideal. Here we apply this approach to the sequence r of the title. We obtain special forms generating the annihilator ideal for

$(r_0,\ldots ,r_{n-1})$

without polynomial multiplication or division, so that the algorithm becomes linear. In particular, we obtain its linear complexities. We also give additional applications of this approach.
PUFA and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation analysis
Authors: Li Qiong , Xu Xinchun , Zhao Chenyang , Wang Yonghong , Chen Xiaohu , Liu Miao , Yue Chaoyan
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to explore the potential causal association between PUFA and the risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) using Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis. A two-sample MR analysis was conducted utilising large-scale European-based genome-wide association studies summary databases. The primary MR analysis was carried out using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, complemented by other methods such as MR-egger, weighted-median and weighted mode. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to validate the robustness of the findings. Results indicated a 31 % reduced risk of ICP for every 1 standard deviation (sd) increase in n-3 fatty acids levels (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·54, 0·89, P = 0·004) and in the ratio of n-3 fatty acids to total fatty acids (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·53, 0·91, P = 0·008). Conversely, there was a 51 % increased risk of ICP for every 1 sd increase in the ratio of n-6 fatty acids to n-3 fatty acids (OR = 1·51, 95 % CI: 1·20, 1·91, P < 0·001) and a 138 % increased risk for every 1 sd increase in the ratio of linoleic fatty acids to total fatty acids (OR = 2·38, 95 % CI: 1·55, 3·66, P < 0·001). The findings suggest that n-3 fatty acids may have a protective effect against the risk of ICP, while n-6 fatty acids and linoleic fatty acids could be potential risk factors for ICP. The supplementation of n-3 fatty acids, as opposed to n-6 fatty acids, could be a promising strategy for the prevention and management of ICP.
Local Newspaper Decline and Political Polarization – Evidence from a Multi-Party Setting
Authors: Ellger Fabio , Hilbig Hanno , Riaz Sascha , Tillmann Philipp
Published: October 2024

How does the decline of traditional news outlets affect political polarization? We provide novel evidence on this question by examining the link between local newspaper exits, media consumption, and electoral behaviour in a multiparty setting. Our empirical analysis combines a unique panel of all German local newspapers between 1980 and 2009, electoral returns, and an annual media consumption survey of more than 670,000 respondents. Using a difference-in-differences design, we demonstrate that local newspaper exits increase electoral polarization. Additional analysis points to changes in media consumption as the underlying mechanism driving this result: following local news exits, consumers substitute local news with national tabloid news. Our findings extend prior results in the US context to a multiparty setting and shed new light on the causal chain running from changing local news landscapes to electoral behaviour.
Ecosocial policy and the social risks of climate change: foundations of the US ecosocial safety net
Authors: Brown C. Taylor , Chang Yu-Ling
Published: October 2024

As climate change progresses, natural hazards are projected to continue to increase in frequency and intensity, posing a new form of social risk, implicating both the welfare and environmental state and raising the salience of ecosocial policy as a mechanism to attend to the distributional effects of climate change mitigation and adaptation. This study posits a novel conceptual framework for ecosocial policy and offers the US ecosocial safety net as a case analysis. While we conceptualise disaster relief policy as a mode of the environmental state, it includes unique ecosocial policies that constitute the backbone of the US ecosocial safety net. This study describes and compares the developmental and functional synergies between the US welfare and environmental state manifested in the form of an ecosocial safety net by explicating the Individual Assistance Program and the National Flood Insurance Program. Our findings reveal synergies between US disaster relief and welfare, including parallel developmental trends, philosophies of deserving/undeserving, functions of racial capitalism and relationships with economic growth. This study and its conceptual framework of ecosocial policy offer a groundwork for the study of ecosocial policy in other contexts.
Re-examining ‘personalised conditionality’: full-time obligations, partial adjustments and power asymmetries in the UK’s approach to work-related conditionality
Authors: Hughes Ceri
Published: October 2024

Work-related conditionality policy in the UK is built around the problematic assumption that people should commit to ‘full-time’ work and job search efforts as a condition of receiving benefits. This is potentially in conflict with the idea that what is required of people should be tailored to their circumstances in some way – ‘personalised conditionality’ – and implies a failure to recognise that conditionality is being applied to a diverse group of people and in a context where the paid work that is available is often temporary and insecure. Drawing on thirty-three qualitative interviews with people subject to intensive work-related conditionality whilst receiving Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance in Manchester, the paper explores the work-related time demands that people were facing and argues that these provide a lens for examining the rigidities and contradictions of conditionality policy. The findings indicate that expectations are often set in relation to an ideal of full-time hours and in a highly asymmetric context that is far from conducive to being able to negotiate a reasonable set of work-related expectations. Work search requirements affect people differently depending on their personal circumstances and demand-side factors, and can act to weaken the position of people entering, or already in, work.
Small cash transfers to older people: do they reduce poverty?
Authors: Ku Inhoe , Kim Soohyun , Yoon Halim
Published: October 2024

The literature has shown that, in developing countries, large cash transfers to older people improve the wellbeing of the recipients and their families. While social pensions have recently emerged in East Asia to deliver small cash benefits to older people, there is little consistent evidence of their effects. We examine the effects of the Basic Pension Scheme, a social pension in South Korea, on income and consumption poverty among older adults. We apply a difference-in-differences event study design and other complementary approaches to data covering the full period of program development from 2006 to 2021. The results show that the social pension decreases income poverty but not consumption poverty. While this study analysed the best data currently available, using better-quality data in future research would enable more robust analysis. Further research is also warranted to find how to improve the effectiveness of a non-contributory pension programme as a tool for reducing income and consumption poverty among older adults.
Pro patria mori: When States encourage civilian involvement in armed conflict
Authors: Radončić Mina , Stanley-Ryan Ashley
Published: October 2024

Contemporary armed conflicts have increasingly been accompanied by belligerents’ calls for civilians to support their military efforts. This article investigates the legal consequences of civilians taking up arms provided by or with the tacit support of the State. It first looks at the implications of civilian involvement from the perspective of a State's international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law obligations, focusing on removing civilians from the vicinity of hostilities, informing and training civilians on the implications of directly participating in hostilities, and respecting and ensuring respect for the law. It then demonstrates that the broader fabric of public international law is tested when civilians are encouraged to engage in hostilities, through a close analysis of the challenge of attributing civilian acts to the State. The article closes with practical recommendations for States to ensure that they uphold their humanitarian and human rights obligations, and to render the law of international responsibility effective when civilians commit systemic violations of IHL.