bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping at the Microscale Based on the Catastrophe Progression Method
Authors: Gerçek Deniz , Güven İsmail Talih
Published: November 2023

Vulnerability assessment and mapping play a crucial role in disaster risk reduction and planning for adaptation to a future earthquake. Turkey is one of the most at-risk countries for earthquake disasters worldwide. Therefore, it is imperative to develop effective earthquake vulnerability assessment and mapping at practically relevant scales. In this study, a holistic earthquake vulnerability index that addresses the multidimensional nature of earthquake vulnerability was constructed. With the aim of representing the vulnerability as a continuum across space, buildings were set as the smallest unit of analysis. The study area is in İzmit City of Turkey, with the exposed human and structural elements falling inside the most hazardous zone of seismicity. The index was represented by the building vulnerability, socioeconomic vulnerability, and vulnerability of the built environment. To minimize the subjectivity and uncertainty that the vulnerability indices based on expert knowledge are suffering from, an extension of the catastrophe progression method for the objective weighing of indicators was proposed. Earthquake vulnerability index and components were mapped, a local spatial autocorrelation metric was employed where the hotspot maps demarcated the earthquake vulnerability, and the study quantitatively revealed an estimate of people at risk. With its objectivity and straightforward implementation, the method can aid decision support for disaster risk reduction and emergency management.
Assessing and teaching job-related social skills to adults with neurodevelopmental disorders in Italy
Authors: Radogna Claudio , D’Angelo Guido , Lerman Dorothea C.
Published: November 2023

Social challenges in the work place can serve as an obstacle to regular employment for many individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD). Nonetheless, few studies have focused on interventions to improve job-related social skills or included residents of countries outside of the United States. This study replicated and extended prior research by evaluating the acquisition of job-related social skills with three individuals with NDD residing in Italy. Results suggested that a package consisting of behavioral skills training and token reinforcement was effective for teaching the skills in the clinic and in extension to real work contexts. Furthermore, social validity surveys indicated that the participants, professionals, and caregivers of individuals with NDD considered the skills and interventions to be acceptable. These findings have implications for improving employment outcomes for individuals with NDD across the globe.
Abnormal variation of P-wave velocity of red sandstone after cyclical thermal shock in water
Authors: Hu Jianjun , Xie Heping , Gao Mingzhong , Long Xiting , Sun Qiang , Li Cunbao
Published: November 2023

Hot dry rock (HDR) has great development potential because of its advantages of clean, environmental protection and renewable. The study of physical and mechanical properties of HDR is one of the important links in the process of geothermal energy development. Previous studies have mainly focused on the granite thermal reservoir but research on the sandstone thermal reservoir, especially the physical properties of sandstone after multiple thermal shocks, is scarce. Therefore, in this study, cyclic thermal shock experiments of sandstone at different temperatures are carried out, and the variation law of P-wave velocity of sandstone after heat treatment is revealed. It is found that the P-wave velocity of red sandstone decreases with the increase of temperature and cycle times, especially when the temperature is higher than 400 °C, the maximum change rate of wave velocity reaches 52.6%. It is particularly noteworthy that the P- wave velocity of sandstone increases abnormally at about 600 °C. And this article puts forward three hypotheses to explain the wave velocity anomaly. In addition, the nonlinear relationship model among P-wave velocity, temperature and number of cycles is established for the first time, and the correlation coefficient R2 is more than 0.9. This study serves as a reference for the development and utilization of the sandstone geothermal reservoir.
A Retrospective Analysis of Robertsonian Translocations from a Single Center in China
Authors: Lu Wan , Zhou Jihui , Rao Huihua , Yuan Huizhen , Huang Shuhui , Liu Yanqiu , Yang Bicheng
Published: November 2023

Robertsonian translocations (ROBs) are the most common structural chromosomal abnormalities in the general population, with an estimated incidence rate of 1/1000 births. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of ROBs from September 2015 to August 2022 and totally identified ROB carriers from 84,569 specimens karyotyped in a single accredited laboratory in China, including 189 cases of balanced ROBs and 3 of mosaic ROBs. Microsoft Excel and descriptive statistics were used to record and analyze the collected data. The male/female ratio of ROBs is 1/1.29, with der(13;14) and der(14;21) being the main karyotypes. Among the 192 patients, 7 were lost to follow-up, 82 had given birth, and 103 were childless (such as miscarriage, fetal chromosomal abnormalities, in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure, or divorce). A total of 44 amniocenteses were performed in 42 couples; ROB cases with natural pregnancies showed that the normal karyotype and balanced ROBs of fetal accounted for 66.67% (16/24), while the results of assisted pregnancies showed 90.00% (18/20). This study represents the largest collections of ROBs in Jiangxi population and reminder that the ROB carriers can achieve the ideal outcome for pregnancy with the appropriate genetic guidance and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities
Authors: Holas Paweł , Kamińska Justyna
Published: November 2023

There has been increasing scientific and clinical interest in studying psychedelic and meditation-based interventions in recent years, both in the context of improving mental health and as tools for understanding the mind. Several authors suggest neurophysiological and phenomenological parallels and overlaps between psychedelic and meditative states and suggest synergistic effects of both methods. Both psychedelic-assisted therapy and meditation training in the form of mindfulness-based interventions have been experimentally validated with moderate to large effects as alternative treatments for a variety of mental health problems, including depression, addictions, and anxiety disorders. Both demonstrated significant post-acute and long-term decreases in clinical symptoms and enhancements in well-being in healthy participants, in addition. Postulated shared salutogenic mechanisms, include, among others the ability to alter self-consciousness, present-moment awareness and antidepressant action via corresponding neuromodulatory effects. These shared mechanisms between mindfulness training and psychedelic intervention have led to scientists theorizing, and recently demonstrating, positive synergistic effects when both are used in combination. Research findings suggest that these two approaches can complement each other, enhancing the positive effects of both interventions. However, more theoretical accounts and methodologically sound research are needed before they can be extended into clinical practice. The current review aims to discuss the theoretical rationale of combining psychedelics with mindfulness training, including the predictive coding framework as well as research findings regarding synergies and commonalities between mindfulness training and psychedelic intervention. In addition, suggestions how to combine the two modalities are provided.
Latin American Architectural History: Reading Between the Lines, Opening Opportunities
Authors: Hernández Felipe
Published: November 2023

EDITORIAL NOTE

This review article marks a departure for the journal — the start of an occasional series looking at areas often given inadequate attention in the pages of Architectural History. While the United Kingdom, Europe, United States and (at least some of) the countries of the former British empire are generally well covered in the journal, other parts of the world are not, and of these Latin America is perhaps the most conspicuous. This is partly for historical linguistic reasons (most research on Latin America is written in either Spanish or Portuguese) and partly because, when English-language publication is considered, the overwhelming influence of the US in this region means that the magnet of American publication is almost irresistible. This has meant that both Architectural History and the broader discipline as it exists in the UK have missed out on an important area of architectural-historical research and debate. To address this — to bring the architecture of Latin America to the attention of our readers and, conversely, to bring our journal to the attention of researchers in the region — the editorial board invited the Colombian-born architect Felipe Hernández, associate professor at Cambridge and member of the editorial board of Architectural History, to introduce the fascinating work of this continent and the wider issues it raises for the discipline.
The Roots of Scottish Baronial: Drawings for David Bryce’s Book Project, 1827–36
Authors: St Clair Wade Ralph
Published: November 2023

This article re-evaluates an unfinished book project by the celebrated Edinburgh architect David Bryce (1803–76). It demonstrates that a group of drawings in the British Architectural Library hitherto attributed to Bryce’s employer William Burn (1789–1870) was in fact the work of the young Bryce, who executed them between 1827 and 1831. This corpus emerges as the first stage of Bryce’s book project, of which only one volume, ‘Sketches of Scotch and Old English Ornament’ (c. 1831–36), was compiled but not published. Bryce’s initiative, in turn, emerges as the preparatory effort for one of Victorian Scotland’s great sourcebooks, The Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland (1845–52) by Robert William Billings. In itself, Bryce’s unpublished work represents a notably early engagement with the architecture of early modern Scotland; in its relation to the work of Billings, it played an appreciable role in the revival of Scotland’s national architecture.
The Interior Topography of the Picturesque: Level Changes and Stepped Floors in James Wyatt’s Dodington Park and Ashridge House
Authors: Tropp Rebecca
Published: November 2023

The picturesque aesthetic of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in Britain, as manifested in country house architecture, often involved moving the principal floor from an elevated piano nobile down to ground level, lowering one’s visual perspective and facilitating more direct movement between house and garden. While these developments are well recognised in the literature, one repercussion for architects has been largely overlooked: how to deal, in both practical and aesthetic terms, with the vertical challenges posed for a groundlevel principal floor by uneven terrain or pre-existing fabric. A particularly interesting case study is provided by the work of James Wyatt at two very different houses, the classical Dodington Park (1796–1813) and gothic Ashridge House (1807–13), through his carefully conceived and implemented use of small interior level changes, or stepped floors. Although the initial problems were similar, Wyatt’s solutions differed markedly in response to the demands of each commission; they also contrasted with the various approaches adopted by contemporaries such as Humphry Repton, John Nash and John Soane. Overall, this article suggests both the scholarly challenges, and the importance, of devoting enhanced attention to the interior topography of the picturesque experience.
How to disagree better: utilizing advocacy-inquiry techniques to improve communication and spur behavior change
Authors: Castillo Alyssa Y. , Chan Jeannie D. , Lynch John B. , Bryson-Cahn Chloe
Published: November 2023

The ability to provide feedback to a colleague is a key skill required for professional growth and patient safety. However, these conversations are limited by time constraints, differences in values, and a culture of “noninterference.” This advocacy-inquiry-identify-teach framework creates an organized approach to initiating successful “challenging” conversations with peers.
Perspectives on research needs in healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship: what’s on the horizon—Part I
Authors: Marschall Jonas , Snyders Rachael E. , Sax Hugo , Newland Jason G. , Guimarães Thais , Kwon Jennie H.
Published: November 2023

In this overview, we articulate research needs and opportunities in the field of infection prevention that have been identified from insights gained during operative infection prevention work, our own research in healthcare epidemiology, and from reviewing the literature. The 10 areas of research need are: 1) transmissions and interruptions, 2) personal protective equipment and other safety issues in occupational health, 3) climate change and other crises, 4) device, diagnostic, and antimicrobial stewardship, 5) implementation and de-implementation, 6) health care outside the acute care hospital, 7) low- and middle-income countries, 8) networking with the “neighbors”, 9) novel research methodologies, and 10) the future state of surveillance. An introduction and chapters 1–5 are presented in part I of the article, and chapters 6–10 and the discussion in part II. There are many barriers to advancing the field, such as finding and motivating the future IP workforce including professionals interested in conducting research, a constant confrontation with challenges and crises, the difficulty of performing studies in a complex environment, the relative lack of adequate incentives and funding streams, and how to disseminate and validate the often very local quality improvement projects. Addressing research gaps now (i.e., in the postpandemic phase) will make healthcare systems more resilient when facing future crises.
Tackling standardization in clinical research workforce hiring using competency-based job classifications
Authors: Deeter Christine , Hannah Deborah , Stroo Marissa , Brouwer Rebecca , Gaudaur Heather , Freel Stephanie A. , Snyder Denise C.
Published: November 2023

In 2016, Duke reconfigured its clinical research job descriptions and workforce to be competency-based, modeled around the Joint Taskforce for Clinical Trial Competency framework. To ensure consistency in job classification amongst new hires in the clinical research workforce, Duke subsequently implemented a Title Picker tool. The tool compares the research unit’s description of job responsibility needs against those standardized job descriptions used to map incumbents in 2016. Duke worked with human resources and evaluated the impact on their process as well as on the broader community of staff who hire clinical research professionals. Implementation of the tool has enabled Duke to create consistent job classifications for its workforce and better understand who composes the clinical research professional workforce. This tool has provided valuable workforce metrics, such as attrition, hiring, etc., and strengthened our collaboration with Human Resources.
Battlefield, Barracks, or Hospital? A Bioarchaeological Investigation of a Mass Grave at the Jičín Observatory, Czech Republic
Authors: Quade Leslie , Sevillano Laia , Gaudio Daniel
Published: November 2023

In 2016, a rescue excavation at the Jičín Natural Sciences Centre and Observatory uncovered a mass grave containing multiple commingled individuals buried in several layers. Zinc buttons and clothing remnants possibly related to eighteenth–nineteenth-century military uniforms found in the grave suggest that these individuals were soldiers. During this period, the Jičín region experienced numerous battles and was the location of several military barracks, hospitals, and transport routes, in addition to supporting civilian populations. To contextualize this burial site, bioarchaeological analyses including assessments of age-at-death, sex, and stature, and recording the presence of injury or medical intervention were conducted. A high frequency of young adult males suggests that the grave was related to military activity. The presence of infants, limited evidence of perimortem trauma, and absence of signs of medical treatment could indicate that this mass grave was related to military encampments rather than battlefield contexts.
Breakup of particle-laden droplets in airflow
Authors: Xu Zhikun , Wang Tianyou , Che Zhizhao
Published: November 2023

The atomisation of a suspension containing liquid and dispersed particles is prevalent in many applications. Previous studies of droplet breakup mainly focused on homogeneous fluids, and the heterogeneous effect of particles on the breakup progress is unclear. In this study, the breakup of particle-laden droplets in airflow is investigated experimentally. Combining synchronised high-speed images from the side view and the 45

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view, we compare the morphology of particle-laden droplets with that of homogeneous fluids in different breakup modes. The results show that the higher effective viscosity of particle-laden droplets affects the initial deformation, and the heterogeneous effect of particles appears in the later breakup stage. To evaluate the heterogeneous effect of particles quantitatively, we eliminate the effect of the higher effective viscosity of particle-laden droplets by comparing cases corresponding to the same inviscid Weber number. The quantitative comparison reveals that the heterogeneous effect of particles accelerates the fragmentation of the liquid film and promotes localised rapid piercing. A correlation length that depends on the particle diameter and the volume fraction is proposed to characterise the length scale of the concentration fluctuation under the combined effect of the initial flattening and later stretching during the droplet breakup process. Based on this correlation length, the fragment size distributions are analysed, and the scaling results agree well with the experimental data.
The threat of increased transmission of non-knowlesi zoonotic malaria in humans: a systematic review
Authors: Chaturvedi Rini , Biswas Shibani , Bisht Kanika , Sharma Amit
Published: November 2023

Of the 5 human malarial parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the most prevalent species globally, while Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri are less prevalent and typically occur as mixed-infections. Plasmodium knowlesi, previously considered a non-human primate (NHP) infecting species, is now a cause of human malaria in Malaysia. The other NHP Plasmodium species, Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium brasilianum, Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium simium, Plasmodium coatneyi and Plasmodium fieldi cause malaria in primates, which are mainly reported in southeast Asia and South America. The non-knowlesi NHP Plasmodium species also emerged and were found to cross-transmit from their natural hosts (NHP) – to human hosts in natural settings. Here we have reviewed and collated data from the literature on the NHPs-to-human-transmitting non-knowlesi Plasmodium species. It was observed that the natural transmission of these NHP parasites to humans had been reported from 2010 onwards. This study shows that: (1) the majority of the non-knowlesi NHP Plasmodium mixed species infecting human cases were from Yala province of Thailand; (2) mono/mixed P. cynomolgi infections with other human-infecting Plasmodium species were prevalent in Malaysia and Thailand and (3) P. brasilianum and P. simium were found in Central and South America.
Parasite assemblages in volatile host stocks: inter- and intra-cohort variability restrict their value as biological tags for squid stock assessment
Authors: Gutiérrez María Paz , Canel Delfina , Braicovich Paola E. , Lanfranchi Ana L. , Irigoitia Manuel M. , Ivanovic Marcela L. , Prandoni Nicolás I. , Elena Beatriz , Timi Juan T.
Published: November 2023

The Argentine shortfin squid, Illex argentinus, inhabits in the southwest Atlantic; it is a semelparous species which grows rapidly along its 1 year lifespan. The identification of its stocks is critical for sustainable fishery exploitation. Parasites have been used as biological indicators in a lower number of studies dealing with squids, therefore a validation of this methodology is necessary. The intra- and inter-cohort variability of parasite assemblages in the summer-spawning stock of I. argentinus was analysed to assess their value as indicators of stock structure. Four squid samples from the continental shelf of central Patagonia, corresponding to 3 consecutive cohorts, were examined for metazoan parasites. Results evidenced heterogeneity in terms of parasite assemblage composition and structure, dominated by short-lived gastrointestinal parasites, with a strong influence of host size, but no effect of squid sex. These changes are related to their recent habitats and diets, which change with ontogeny and migrations, clouding any interpretation of patterns when samples spatially or temporally separated are compared. Many squid species share these characteristics; therefore, it is recommended that the use of parasites as biological tags should be restricted to simultaneous sampling, while size or age must be considered for deriving proper conclusions.
Does the effect of cognitive behavior therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) vary by patient characteristics? A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Authors: Kuut T. A. , Buffart L. M. , Braamse A. M. J. , Csorba I. , Bleijenberg G. , Nieuwkerk P. , Moss-Morris R. , Müller F. , Knoop H.
Published: November 2023

Debate is ongoing on the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). With an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis we investigated whether the effect of CBT varied by patient characteristics. These included post-exertional malaise (PEM), a central feature of ME/CFS according to many. We searched for randomized controlled trials similar with respect to comparison condition, outcomes and treatment-protocol. Moderation on fatigue severity (Checklist Individual Strength, subscale fatigue severity), functional impairment (Sickness Impact Profile-8) and physical functioning (Short Form-36, subscale physical functioning) was investigated using linear mixed model analyses and interaction tests. PROSPERO (CRD42022358245). Data from eight trials (n = 1298 patients) were pooled. CBT showed beneficial effects on fatigue severity (β = −11.46, 95% CI −15.13 to −7.79); p < 0.001, functional impairment (β = −448.40, 95% CI −625.58 to −271.23); p < 0.001; and physical functioning (β = 9.64, 95% CI 3.30 to 15.98); p < 0.001. The effect of CBT on fatigue severity varied by age (pinteraction = 0.003), functional impairment (pinteraction = 0.045) and physical activity pattern (pinteraction = 0.027). Patients who were younger, reported less functional impairments and had a fluctuating activity pattern benefitted more. The effect on physical functioning varied by self-efficacy (pinteraction = 0.025), with patients with higher self-efficacy benefitting most. No other moderators were found. It can be concluded from this study that CBT for ME/CFS can lead to significant reductions of fatigue, functional impairment, and physical limitations. There is no indication patients meeting different case definitions or reporting additional symptoms benefit less from CBT. Our findings do not support recent guidelines in which evidence from studies not mandating PEM was downgraded.
A pre-Mongol New Persian legal document from Islamic Khurāsān dated ah 608/1212 ce
Authors: Bhalloo Zahir
Published: November 2023

Since the 1990s several caches of New Persian documents have come to light in Afghanistan. These documents, written on paper, are now the most significant sources for understanding how New Persian in Arabic script was used as an administrative and legal language in the eastern Islamic lands between the eleventh and early thirteenth centuries before the Mongol conquest of Khurāsān. After a brief survey of the three main collections in which these New Persian paper documents are preserved today, this article presents a preliminary edition, translation and commentary on one of the New Persian documents held in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. The document, dated ah 608/1212 ce, is a record of court proceedings and the decision of a judge (qāḍī) in a lawsuit over water rights initiated by a woman.
Becoming a humanitarian state: A performative analysis of ‘status-seeking’ as statecraft in world politics
Authors: Bilgic Ali
Published: November 2023

Status-seeking is ubiquitous in world politics, and the literature is currently dominated by state-centrism and rationalism, which is almost exclusively focus on state elites. This results in a thin and limited understanding of what ‘status-seeking’ is, where it works, and how it is effected. This article challenges the existing approaches by introducing a performativity framework and offers an overhaul of how ‘status’ can be studied. It suggests replacing ‘status-seeking’ with ‘status performances’ that are conceptualised as part of ‘statecraft’ process. Drawing on post-structuralist and queer approaches as well as aesthetics in International Relations (IR), it is argued that status performances participate in the production of the state itself as a subject in world politics, so all states are ‘status-seekers’. This subject-production process occurs in multiple political sites, including the academic IR discourse in a country and visual presentations in the media. It is concluded that there is no ‘status’ beyond the subject, and status can never be achieved because it always needs repetitive performances. The argument is illustrated by an analysis of the production of ‘Turkey’ as a humanitarian state and demonstrates how this is effected in state-elite pronouncements, IR scholarship in Turkey, and visual representations.
Barriers and opportunities regarding community-based forest management in Afghanistan: considerations for fragile states
Authors: Khurram Safiullah , Shalizi Mohammad Nasir , Bashari Mujtaba , Akamani Kofi , Groninger John W
Published: November 2023

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), in power during 2002–2021, initiated the process of instituting community-based forest governance and building local capacity for natural resource management. These efforts coincided with the presence of international security forces and the mobilization of civil society organizations, and they were in response to community aspirations to protect and restore often degraded local forests. Legislation was passed to enable forest protection and management, including a provision to encourage participatory management by local community user groups organized as Forest Management Associations (FMAs). By the end of the GIRoA era, c. 20 registered FMAs were operating with c. 400 others in various stages of development across Afghanistan. Our analysis of relevant policy documents revealed that the policy framework developed during the GIRoA era scores favourably on the ideal criteria for community-based resource management. Despite the change in political administration with the inception of the current Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regime, the influence of the GIRoA era serves as a starting point and may have enduring influences on rural communities in Afghanistan and the natural resources that support them. Anecdotal evidence suggests that community-based forest management may persist under the current national leadership despite international isolation and funding constraints. The model developed in Afghanistan may be relevant to other fragile states, especially in contexts where rural forest-dependent communities have strong local institutions, such asshuras, and where forests are not prone to heavy extraction pressure.
Large Language Model (LLM)-Powered Chatbots Fail to Generate Guideline-Consistent Content on Resuscitation and May Provide Potentially Harmful Advice
Authors: Birkun Alexei A. , Gautam Adhish
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Innovative large language model (LLM)-powered chatbots, which are extremely popular nowadays, represent potential sources of information on resuscitation for the general public. For instance, the chatbot-generated advice could be used for purposes of community resuscitation education or for just-in-time informational support of untrained lay rescuers in a real-life emergency.

Study Objective:

This study focused on assessing performance of two prominent LLM-based chatbots, particularly in terms of quality of the chatbot-generated advice on how to give help to a non-breathing victim.

Methods:

In May 2023, the new Bing (Microsoft Corporation, USA) and Bard (Google LLC, USA) chatbots were inquired (n = 20 each): “What to do if someone is not breathing?” Content of the chatbots’ responses was evaluated for compliance with the 2021 Resuscitation Council United Kingdom guidelines using a pre-developed checklist.

Results:

Both chatbots provided context-dependent textual responses to the query. However, coverage of the guideline-consistent instructions on help to a non-breathing victim within the responses was poor: mean percentage of the responses completely satisfying the checklist criteria was 9.5% for Bing and 11.4% for Bard (P >.05). Essential elements of the bystander action, including early start and uninterrupted performance of chest compressions with adequate depth, rate, and chest recoil, as well as request for and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), were missing as a rule. Moreover, 55.0% of Bard’s responses contained plausible sounding, but nonsensical guidance, called artificial hallucinations, that create risk for inadequate care and harm to a victim.

Conclusion:

The LLM-powered chatbots’ advice on help to a non-breathing victim omits essential details of resuscitation technique and occasionally contains deceptive, potentially harmful directives. Further research and regulatory measures are required to mitigate risks related to the chatbot-generated misinformation of public on resuscitation.
Palliative care and spiritual care competency measurement among Turkish Nurses: A scale adaptation study
Authors: Kavalalı Erdoğan Tuğba , Koç Zeliha
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to conduct a Turkish validity and reliability study of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale.

Methods

The sample of the study consisted of 354 nurses. In the first stage, the forward–backward translation method was used to develop the Turkish version of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale. The comprehensibility, purposefulness, cultural appropriateness, and discrimination of the scale items were evaluated with content validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to examine the construct validity of the scale. To evaluate the ability of the scale to give consistent results at different time intervals, the relationship between the scores obtained from the first and second applications was examined with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The reliability of the scale was evaluated with the Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient and item-total score correlation coefficients.

Results

The content validity index of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale was found to be 0.98 after expert opinion was obtained. The goodness-of-fit values of the scale wereχ2/sd: 3.125; GFI: 0.915; AGFI: 0.875; IFI: 0.926; TLI: 0.905; CFI: 0.925; RMSEA: 0.078; SRMR: 0.054. As a result of CFA, some items were removed from the scale, and a Turkish version of the scale consisting of 14 items and three sub-dimensions was developed. The reliability of the scale over time was evaluated with the test-retest method, and it was found that the inter-response agreement was very good (ICC: 0.981;p < 0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was 0.89 and the Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the subscales ranged between 0.78 and 0.85.

Significance of results

It was determined that the Turkish version of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale is a short, easy-to-understand, and psychometrically sound measurement tool that can be safely applied to Turkish nurses.
Early child health in Africa: do ICT and democracy matter?
Authors: Nkoumou Ngoa Gaston Brice , Song Jacques Simon
Published: November 2023

This article examines the effect of information and communication technologies (ICT) and democracy on early child health using data from 51 African countries. We first specify and estimate a panel data model using ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares over the period 2001–2019. We apply the Hodrick–Prescott filter before analysis. Our results show that the extension of mobile phone use significantly contributes to the improvement of early child health in Africa. This effect is indifferent to the state or the level of democracy. Also, the internet diffusion plays a positive role in early child health when the democracy environment improves and becomes better. We suggest policies in favour of a large access to ICT tools and internet infrastructure as well as the promotion of democracy in Africa to better prevent infant mortality.
Artificial intelligence underpins urban water infrastructure of the future: A holistic perspective
Authors: Fu Guangtao , Sun Siao , Hoang Lan , Yuan Zhiguo , Butler David
Published: November 2023

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in water management is widely recognised by research and practice communities alike, with an increasing number of applications showed tackling water supply, stormwater and wastewater management challenges. However, there is a critical knowledge gap in understanding the fundamental role of AI in the development of urban water infrastructure (UWI). This review aimed to provide an analysis of how AI could be aligned to support the future development of UWI systems. Four types of AI analytics – descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive – are discussed and linked to the improvement in the performance of UWI systems from three categories: reliability, resilience and sustainability. It is envisioned that AI technology will play a pivotal role in UWI transitioning to the future through underpinning the five development pathways: decentralisation, circular economy, greening, decarbonisation and automation. The barriers in improving AI adoption in the real world are also highlighted from four dimensions: cyber-physical infrastructure, institutional governance, social-economic systems and technological development in wider society. Embedding AI in the development pathways and tackling the barriers can ensure that AI-empowered systems are deployed in an equitable and responsible way to improve the resilience and sustainability of future UWI systems.
Effectiveness of preemergence- and postemergence-applied oxyfluorfen in rice compared to current standards
Authors: Arnold Casey H. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Butts Thomas R. , Roberts Trenton L. , Bateman Nick R. , Shelton Chad W.
Published: November 2023

Control of barnyardgrass is becoming increasingly difficult as plants evolve resistance to herbicides. ROXY oxyfluorfen-resistant rice (ROXY® Rice Production System) has been developed to provide an alternative mode of action for controlling barnyardgrass and other weeds. In 2021 and 2022, field trials were conducted at the Pine Tree Research Station near Colt, AR; the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, AR; and the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Small Farm Research Center near Lonoke, AR, to determine the level of weed control and crop tolerance following oxyfluorfen applied preemergence (PRE) or postemergence (POST) relative to herbicides currently labeled for use in rice crops. When applied post-plant PRE on silt loam soil, oxyfluorfen alone at 1,120 and 1,680 g ai ha−1 resulted in barnyardgrass control comparable to that of clomazone applied alone at 336 g ha−1. Still, injury to rice was often greater than with clomazone, ranging from 20% to 45%. On clay soil, oxyfluorfen applied at 1,680 g ha−1 resulted in barnyardgrass control that was comparable to that of clomazone alone in both site-years at 3 wk after emergence but caused up to 18% injury to rice. When oxyfluorfen was applied at 560 to 1,680 g ha−1 at the 2-leaf rice growth stage, barnyardgrass control was ≥85% in three of four site-years 1 wk after treatment. However, injury to rice ranged from 38% to 73% for the rates evaluated. Propanil caused the greatest injury by a herbicide currently labeled for use in rice at 34%. Oxyfluorfen should be used as a post-plant PRE herbicide rather than a POST herbicide due to the injury that occurred after a POST application. The data indicate that if used as a PRE herbicide, oxyfluorfen should be applied at 560 g ha−1 to reduce the injury that occurred on silt loam and clay soils.
Basiswissen Statistische Methoden
Authors: Wirtz Markus
Published: November 2023

Statistische Informationen und Argumentationen verstehen

Studierende der Therapie- und Gesundheitswissenschaften benötigen in ihrer zukünftigen beruflichen Tätigkeit Kenntnisse, Fähigkeiten und Fertigkeiten, die es ihnen ermöglichen, den Gesundheitszustand der betreuten und behandelten Menschen gemeinsam mit ihnen positiv zu beeinflussen. Gesundheitswissenschaftliche Forschung dient der Gewinnung und der kritischen Analyse dieses Wissens. Grundlegend dafür sind empirische Forschungsmethoden und statistische Analyseverfahren: Denkt man darüber nach, wie sich eine gesundheitswissenschaftliche Fragestellung beantworten lässt, so bedeutet dies, dass man überlegt, wie man das Problem strukturiert untersuchen (Domäne der Forschungsmethoden) und wie man die Daten statistisch auswerten sollte (Domäne der Statistik), damit eine möglichst klare Antwort erwartet werden kann.
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Dynamic Structure of Eddies of the Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence Zone Revealed by Direct Measurements and Satellite Altimetry
Authors: Frey D. I. , Kubryakov A. A.
Published: November 2023

The goal of this work is to study the dynamical structure of eddies of the Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence zone (BMC eddies) using direct velocity measurements carried out by Shipborne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler during five oceanographic cruises performed in 2016–2022. In total, in situ data of 13 BMC eddies, including nine anticyclones and four cyclones are available. These data show that the orbital velocity in such eddies can reach 189 cm/s and their vertical structure is highly barotropic. In several eddies, the velocities exceeding 100 cm/s are observed down to a depth of 560 m and at a depth of 800 m they are still higher than 80 cm/s. The spatial structure of velocity and horizontal shear in the eddies is strongly asymmetric, with higher velocities in the southern part near the intense thermohaline BMC front. Altimetry data show qualitative agreement with in situ data, but underestimate the horizontal velocity shear and the maximum velocities at the periphery of the BMC eddies. We also use satellite altimetry and Argo float measurements to study these eddies, and estimate their impact on the thermohaline structure. The analysis shows that the eddies with orbital velocities exceeding 100 cm/s cause intense temperature and salinity anomalies reaching 7–9°C and 1 psu in anticyclones and −4°C and 0.8 psu in cyclones at 100–300 m depth.
An Open‐Source, Physics‐Based, Tropical Cyclone Downscaling Model With Intensity‐Dependent Steering
Authors: Lin Jonathan , Rousseau‐Rizzi Raphael , Lee Chia‐Ying , Sobel Adam
Published: November 2023

An open‐source, physics‐based tropical cyclone (TC) downscaling model is developed, in order to generate a large climatology of TCs. The model is composed of three primary components: (a) a random seeding process that determines genesis, (b) an intensity‐dependent beta‐advection model that determines the track, and (c) a non‐linear differential equation set that determines the intensification rate. The model is entirely forced by the large‐scale environment. Downscaling ERA5 reanalysis data shows that the model is generally able to reproduce observed TC climatology, such as the global seasonal cycle, genesis locations, track density, and lifetime maximum intensity distributions. Inter‐annual variability in TC count and power‐dissipation is also well captured, on both basin‐wide and global scales. Regional TC hazard estimated by this model is also analyzed using return period maps and curves. In particular, the model is able to reasonably capture the observed return period curves of landfall intensity in various sub‐basins around the globe. The incorporation of an intensity‐dependent steering flow is shown to lead to regionally dependent changes in power dissipation and return periods. Advantages and disadvantages of this model, compared to other downscaling models, are also discussed.
Spatial transcriptomic interrogation of the murine bone marrow signaling landscape
Authors: Xiao Xue , Juan Conan , Drennon Tingsheng , Uytingco Cedric R. , Vishlaghi Neda , Sokolowskei Dimitri , Xu Lin , Levi Benjamin , Sammarco Mimi C. , Tower Robert J.
Published: November 2023

Self-renewal and differentiation of skeletal stem and progenitor cells (SSPCs) are tightly regulated processes, with SSPC dysregulation leading to progressive bone disease. While the application of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to the bone field has led to major advancements in our understanding of SSPC heterogeneity, stem cells are tightly regulated by their neighboring cells which comprise the bone marrow niche. However, unbiased interrogation of these cells at the transcriptional level within their native niche environment has been challenging. Here, we combined spatial transcriptomics and scRNAseq using a predictive modeling pipeline derived from multiple deconvolution packages in adult mouse femurs to provide an endogenous, in vivo context of SSPCs within the niche. This combined approach localized SSPC subtypes to specific regions of the bone and identified cellular components and signaling networks utilized within the niche. Furthermore, the use of spatial transcriptomics allowed us to identify spatially restricted activation of metabolic and major morphogenetic signaling gradients derived from the vasculature and bone surfaces that establish microdomains within the marrow cavity. Overall, we demonstrate, for the first time, the feasibility of applying spatial transcriptomics to fully mineralized tissue and present a combined spatial and single-cell transcriptomic approach to define the cellular components of the stem cell niche, identify cell‒cell communication, and ultimately gain a comprehensive understanding of local and global SSPC regulatory networks within calcified tissue.
Identifying energy model fingerprints in mitigation scenarios
Authors: Dekker Mark M. , Daioglou Vassilis , Pietzcker Robert , Rodrigues Renato , de Boer Harmen-Sytze , Dalla Longa Francesco , Drouet Laurent , Emmerling Johannes , Fattahi Amir , Fotiou Theofano , Fragkos Panagiotis , Fricko Oliver , Gusheva Ema , Harmsen Mathijs , Huppmann Daniel , Kannavou Maria , Krey Volker , Lombardi Francesco , Luderer Gunnar , Pfenninger Stefan , Tsiropoulos Ioannis , Zakeri Behnam , van der Zwaan Bob , Usher Will , van Vuuren Detlef
Published: November 2023

Energy models are used to study emissions mitigation pathways, such as those compatible with the Paris Agreement goals. These models vary in structure, objectives, parameterization and level of detail, yielding differences in the computed energy and climate policy scenarios. To study model differences, diagnostic indicators are common practice in many academic fields, for example, in the physical climate sciences. However, they have not yet been applied systematically in mitigation literature, beyond addressing individual model dimensions. Here we address this gap by quantifying energy model typology along five dimensions: responsiveness, mitigation strategies, energy supply, energy demand and mitigation costs and effort, each expressed through several diagnostic indicators. The framework is applied to a diagnostic experiment with eight energy models in which we explore ten scenarios focusing on Europe. Comparing indicators to the ensemble yields comprehensive ‘energy model fingerprints’, which describe systematic model behaviour and contextualize model differences for future multi-model comparison studies.
A dataset for benchmarking Neotropical anuran calls identification in passive acoustic monitoring
Authors: Cañas Juan Sebastián , Toro-Gómez María Paula , Sugai Larissa Sayuri Moreira , Benítez Restrepo Hernán Darío , Rudas Jorge , Posso Bautista Breyner , Toledo Luís Felipe , Dena Simone , Domingos Adão Henrique Rosa , de Souza Franco Leandro , Neckel-Oliveira Selvino , da Rosa Anderson , Carvalho-Rocha Vítor , Bernardy José Vinícius , Sugai José Luiz Massao Moreira , dos Santos Carolina Emília , Bastos Rogério Pereira , Llusia Diego , Ulloa Juan Sebastián
Published: November 2023

Global change is predicted to induce shifts in anuran acoustic behavior, which can be studied through passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). Understanding changes in calling behavior requires automatic identification of anuran species, which is challenging due to the particular characteristics of neotropical soundscapes. In this paper, we introduce a large-scale multi-species dataset of anuran amphibians calls recorded by PAM, that comprises 27 hours of expert annotations for 42 different species from two Brazilian biomes. We provide open access to the dataset, including the raw recordings, experimental setup code, and a benchmark with a baseline model of the fine-grained categorization problem. Additionally, we highlight the challenges of the dataset to encourage machine learning researchers to solve the problem of anuran call identification towards conservation policy. All our experiments and resources have been made available at https://soundclim.github.io/anuraweb/.