bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investment in Infrastructure: A Comparative Study of the Regulation of Online Single Submission in Indonesia, Canada, and New Zealand
Authors: Pawestri Widhayani Dian , Sutanto Vincentius , Aditya Kukuh Leksono Suminaring , Maajid Qona’aha Noor , Adila Khofifah Nura
Published: February 2024

The Indonesian Government is attracting foreign investment in infrastructure to support equitable development by simplifying the bureaucratic process for business licensing through Online Single Submission (oss). However, from the oss introduction in 2018, it has not yet transformed Indonesia’s investment climate. This paper consists of a normative legal study which uses a statutory, conceptual, and comparative approach with Canada and New Zealand to identify the oss policy disharmony that negatively impacts the investment climate in the Indonesian infrastructure. The results showed a need to reconstruct systems and policies based on the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 24 of 2018 concerning Online Integrated Business Licensing Services and the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation to accelerate and increase investment in the era of the fourth industrial revolution.
Alphitobius diaperinus larvae (lesser mealworm) as human food – An approval of the European Commission – A critical review
Authors: Siddiqui S.A. , Wu Y.S. , Vijeepallam K. , Batumalaie K. , Hatta M.H.M. , Lutuf H. , Castro-Muñoz R. , Fernando I. , Ibrahim S.A.
Published: February 2024

Due to the increasing threat of climate change and the need for sustainable food sources, human consumption of edible insects or entomophagy has gained considerable attention globally. The larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), also known as the lesser mealworm, have been identified as a promising candidate for mass-rearing as a food source based the on evaluation on several aspects such as the production process, the microbiological and chemical composition, and the potential allergenicity to humans. As a consequence, the European Commission has recently approved the utilization of lesser mealworms as human foods. Lesser mealworms are considered a good source of protein, with a protein content ranging from 50-65% of their dry weight and containing various essential amino acids. Lesser mealworms are also rich in other essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamins B12 and B6. Furthermore, the hydrolysates of lesser mealworms are known to contain antioxidants, suggesting the therapeutic properties of the insects. To enable and ensure a continuous supply of lesser mealworms, various rearing procedures of the insects and information on optimal environmental rearing conditions have been reported. However, like other edible insects, lesser mealworms are still not commonly consumed in Western countries because of various consumer- and product-related factors. Ultimately, the European Commission’s approval of lesser mealworms as a novel food is a key milestone in the development of the insect food industry. Embracing the consumption of edible insects can help address the challenges of feeding a growing population, mitigate the environmental impact of food production, and promote a more sustainable and resilient food system for the future.
The Role of Atmospheric Stabilities and Moisture Convergence in the Enhanced Dry Season Precipitation over Land from 1979 to 2021
Authors: Lan Chia-Wei , Chen Chao-An , Lo Min-Hui
Published: February 2024

Between 1979 and 2021, global ocean regions experienced a decrease in dry season precipitation, while the trend over land areas varied considerably. Some regions, such as southeastern China, the Maritime Continent, eastern Europe, and eastern North America, showed a slight increasing trend in dry season precipitation. This study analyzes the potential mechanisms behind this trend by using the fifth major global reanalysis produced by ECMWF (ERA5) data. The analysis shows that the weakening of downward atmospheric motions played a critical role in enhancing dry season precipitation over land. An atmospheric moisture budget analysis revealed that larger convergent moisture fluxes lead to an increase in water vapor content below 400 hPa. This, in turn, induced an unstable tendency in the moist static energy profile, leading to a more unstable atmosphere and weakening downward motions, which drove the trend toward increasing dry season precipitation over land. More water vapor in the low troposphere is because of higher moisture convergence and moisture transport from ocean to land regions. In summary, this study demonstrates the intricate elements involved in altering dry season rainfall trends over land, which also emphasizes the importance of comprehending the spatial distribution of the wet-get-wetter and dry-get-drier paradigm.

Significance Statement

This study found that global land precipitation during the dry season slightly increased from 1979 to 2021, while precipitation over oceans declined. Moist static energy analysis showed a trend toward less stability in areas with increased dry season precipitation and the opposite trend in regions with declining precipitation. Water vapor content trends and dynamic components were the primary controlling mechanism for precipitation trends. Furthermore, the hotspots with pronounced increases or decreases in dry season precipitation reflect local circulation changes influenced by anthropogenic or natural factors.
A Simple Statistical Postprocessing Scheme for Enhancing the Skill of Seasonal SST Predictions in the Tropics
Authors: Richter Ingo , Ratnam Jayanthi V. , Martineau Patrick , Oettli Pascal , Doi Takeshi , Ogata Tomomichi , Kataoka Takahito , Counillon François
Published: February 2024

Seasonal prediction systems are subject to systematic errors, including those introduced during the initialization procedure, that may degrade the forecast skill. Here we use a novel statistical postprocessing correction scheme that is based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to relate errors in ocean temperature arising during initialization with errors in the predicted sea surface temperature fields at 1–12-month lead time. In addition, the scheme uses CCA of simultaneous SST fields from the prediction and corresponding observations to correct pattern errors. Finally, simple scaling is used to mitigate systematic location and phasing errors as a function of lead time and calendar month. Applying this scheme to an ensemble of seven seasonal prediction models suggests that moderate improvement of prediction skill is achievable in the tropical Atlantic and, to a lesser extent, in the tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean. The scheme possesses several adjustable parameters, including the number of CCA modes retained, and the regions of the left and right CCA patterns. These parameters are selected using a simple tuning procedure based on the average of four skill metrics. The results of the present study indicate that errors in ocean temperature fields due to imperfect initialization and SST variability errors can have a sizable negative impact on SST prediction skill. Further development of prediction systems may be able to remedy these impacts to some extent.

Significance Statement

The prediction of year-to-year climate variability patterns, such as El Niño, offers potential benefits to society by aiding mitigation and adaptation efforts. Current prediction systems, however, may still have substantial room for improvement due to systematic model errors and due to imperfect initialization of the oceanic state at the start of predictions. Here we develop a statistical correction scheme to improve prediction skill after forecasts have been completed. The scheme shows some moderate success in improving the skill for predicting El Niño and similar climate patterns in seven prediction systems. Our results not only indicate a potential for improving prediction skill after the fact but also point to the importance of improving the way prediction systems are initialized.
‘Excellentissimo tubo Dollondiana’: The Stockholm Observatory’s 10-foot Dollond achromatic refractor
Authors: Kärnfelt Johan
Published: February 2024

The instrument collection at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences houses a historically significant 10-foot achromatic refractor crafted by London instrument maker John Dollond. The telescope came into use at the Academy’s Observatory in Stockholm in 1761 and remained in service into the 1820s. This paper aims to add to the biography of this instrument, encompassing its six decades of active service and, after 150 years in storage, its transformation into an exhibition showpiece. The paper begins by introducing the telescope, its maker and the conflict involving Dollond and the Swedish mathematician and physicist Samuel Klingenstierna over the discovery of the achromatic lens. This dispute ultimately resulted in the telescope finding its way to the Stockholm Observatory. Subsequently, the paper delves into how Academy astronomer Pehr Wargentin perceived and utilized this state-of-the-art refractor, along with brief mentions of its use by his successors. The final section narrates how the telescope ended up in the permanent exhibition of the Stockholm Observatory Museum.
Predictors of Acculturation and Adaptation in a Sample of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Authors: Tohme Pia , Fatouh Celine , Yaktine Nour , Abi-Habib Rudy
Published: February 2024

While the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a record of approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, no studies have focused on understanding the processes of acculturation and sociocultural/psychological adaptation among them in Lebanon. The aim of this study was to evaluate Syrian refugees’ patterns of acculturation and adaptation; to evaluate their association with social and psychological factors such as perceived discrimination, cultural distance, and attachment; and to look for predictors of acculturation and adaptation. The sample consisted of 241 Syrian refugees between 18 and 64 years of age. Correlations were found between acculturation and adaptation, both of which were impacted by reasons for displacement. Moreover, results showed that low cultural distance, perceived discrimination, and insecure attachment predicted both psychological and sociocultural adaptation, whereas lower perceived discrimination, attachment avoidance, and high attachment anxiety predicted high host acculturation. Findings are discussed in light of potential interventions facilitating refugees’ adaptation to the Lebanese culture.
Links Between Family-School Value Discrepancies and Teacher-Student Relations in Adolescents From Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Backgrounds
Authors: Hébert Corinne , Goulet Julie , Tardif-Grenier Kristel , Pagani Linda S. , Archambault Isabelle
Published: February 2024

This paper describes the nature of home-school value discrepancies perceived by students, and tests associations between such value discrepancies and teacher-student relationships with student generational status as a moderator. Using a sample of 1,551 students from grades 10 and 11, chi-square tests and ANOVAs were used to describe the nature of discrepancies, while hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to test associations. Second-generation students generally perceived more differences between family-school values. When experiencing less value discrepancies, students reported closer teacher-student relationships. Value discrepancies were also associated with conflict, third-plus-generation standing out. Practitioners should mitigate value discrepancies to improve teacher-student relationships.
Effects of Mortality Salience on Racism in Singapore
Authors: Chew Peter K. H. , Tan Tasha M. X. , Yeo Hui Wen
Published: February 2024

This article aims to examine the effects of mortality salience on explicit racism (Studies 1 and 2) and implicit racism (Study 3) in Singapore. There was no significant effect of mortality salience on both explicit racism and implicit racism (Studies 1–3). Furthermore, while social dominance orientation was associated with higher explicit racism, it did not moderate the effects of mortality salience on explicit racism (Study 2). In contrast, while social dominance orientation was not associated with implicit racism, it moderated the effects of mortality salience on implicit racism (Study 3). The results might be explained by the adoption of a superordinate Singaporean identity, the strict laws against explicit racism in Singapore, and a lack of mortality salience effects. Future research directions include examining the effects of mortality salience on racism in countries with lenient laws against racism and examining right-wing authoritarianism as a potential moderator.
Receiving Each Other's Gifts
Authors: Sattler Dorothea , Nüssel Friederike
Published: February 2024

Anliegen des Beitrags ist es, am Beispiel von Abendmahl und Eucharistie aufzuzeigen, aufgrund welcher Voraussetzungen eine gemeinsame liturgische Feier eine Gabe Gottes an die Gemeinschaft der an Jesus Christus Glaubenden ist. Als Form wird ein Wechselgespräch zweier Theologinnen gewählt, die Mitglied des „Ökumenischen Arbeitskreises evangelischer und katholischer Theologen“ (ÖAK) in Deutschland sind: Friederike Nüssel (evangelisch, Heidelberg) und Dorothea Sattler (römisch-katholisch, Münster). Im Mittelpunkt der Ausführungen steht die von diesem Gremium verantwortete Studie „Gemeinsam am Tisch des Herrn“, 2020 auf Deutsch und Englisch erschienen. Der ÖAK hat auf der Grundlage vieler Forschungsarbeiten das Votum formuliert, sich im Vertrauen auf die sich selbst schenkende Gegenwart Jesu Christi im Heiligen Geist zur Mitfeier von Eucharistie und Abendmahl einladen zu lassen. Ökumenische Sensibilität bei der Gestaltung der Liturgien ist eine naheliegende Konsequenz. Einzelne konfessionelle Traditionen haben ein Gut bewahrt, das heute als eine Gabe in Gestalt einer Mahnung an den gemeinsamen Ursprung erfahren werden kann: die stiftungsgemäße Feier mit geteiltem Brot und dem allen gereichten Becher (im Hintergrund steht die Kontroverse um den Laienkelch), die verbindlichen Leseordnungen und das Totengedächtnis. Die insbesondere von lehramtlicher römisch-katholischer Seite geäußerte Kritik an dem Votum des ÖAK bezieht sich vor allem auf den Themenbereich Amt und Kirchenverständnis. Der ÖAK spricht sich für eine Leitung der eucharistischen Feiern durch ordnungsgemäß ordinierte Personen aus. Den Beitrag rahmen einleitende Hinweise auf Grundfragen der ökumenischen Hermeneutik in Aufnahme von Anliegen der Confessio Augustana (1530) und des Zweiten Vatikanums (1962-65) sowie ein Ausblick auf die Bedeutung der interdisziplinären theologischen Studienarbeit unter ökumenischer Perspektive.
Event-triggered model predictive-preview control strategy for trajectory tracking of autonomous vehicle
Authors: Zhang Jindou , Lu Yanrong , Wang Zhiwen , Hu Yanpeng , Wu Yu
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes an event-triggered model predictive-preview control strategy for autonomous vehicle trajectory tracking. First, the dynamic equation is established based on the preview road curvature and the vehicle’s 2 degree-of-freedom relationship. A model predictive tracking controller is designed by predicting the system dynamics in the future. Second, to reduce the computational burden of the controller, the triggering conditions are designed according to the system’s stability and feasibility. The proposed event-triggered model predictive-preview control strategy not only makes the autonomous vehicles maintain tracking accuracy but also reduces the number of online optimization. Then, asymptotically stable of closed-loop systems are proved by using Lyapunov’s theorem. Finally, simulation experiments show that the proposed strategy has some advantages over traditional model predictive control in terms of improving vehicle tracking accuracy and reducing algorithm complexity.
Examining Procedural Variations of Delivering Competing Stimuli in the Treatment of Stereotypy
Authors: Rosenzweig Julia L. , Li Volsi Catlyn A. , de Man Tiago , Ahearn William H.
Published: February 2024

Competing stimulus assessments (CSA) are effective tools for identifying stimuli that compete with automatically reinforced behavior. However, Jennett et al. suggests there are cases for which non-contingent access to competing stimuli are insufficient at decreasing target responding and additional treatment components may be necessary. The purpose of the current study was to examine procedural variations (i.e., rotating competing items and prompted engagement) when presenting competing stimuli on increasing functional engagement and decreasing stereotypy. Following a functional analysis, a CSA was conducted to identify competing stimuli for four individuals with autism. Items identified were then used with two procedural variations. Levels of stereotypy, functional engagement, and item contact were measured. Results showed that for two participants both treatments were effective, while for the other two participants prompting functional engagement was more effective. Prompting functional engagement is likely a productive strategy for enhancing engagement with competing stimuli for automatically reinforced problem behavior as it may result in functional engagement becoming reinforcing in and of itself.
Corporate Scandals as Punctuating Events That Change Human Resource Roles
Authors: Farndale Elaine , Paauwe Jaap , Boselie Paul , Horak Sven
Published: February 2024

Corporate scandals disrupt the landscape for organizational leaders and employees, providing a burning platform that creates new momentum for change. Here, we explore the implications for the human resources (HR) function as organization-level responses to scandals cannot occur without individual-level changes in employee behaviors—the domain of HR. We apply event systems theorizing to uncover the nature of the scandals through notions of strength, space, and time to better understand the range of possible outcomes for HR function roles. Empirical data are presented from in-depth qualitative case studies carried out in five large multinational corporations in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and financial services industries. Subsequently, we uncover how organization-level scandals punctuate the equilibrium of organizational operations, facilitating a recalibration of the balance between the potentially competing institutional logics of moral legitimacy and business priorities. We furthermore challenge universal HR role typology theorizing regarding the direct influence of external stakeholders on the role that HR can adopt inside organizations. Overall, we demonstrate that organizational responses to corporate scandals require individual-level and collective employee behavior change, placing the HR function at the intersection of managing risk, compliance, and legal requirements.
Sword of Damocles hanging over grassroots cadres in China: Understanding the accountability in campaign-style enforcement
Authors: Qian Xingyu , Yao Yangguang
Published: February 2024

The ‘campaign-style enforcement’ is a forceful policy instrument employed by Chinese authorities to address emergencies and intractable issues. However, the accountability embedded in campaign-style enforcement is largely overlooked, leading to the unclear dynamics of political mobilization at the grassroots level. While prior studies suggest that cadres in China are primarily motivated by promotion opportunities based on their political performance, this study, through a grounded-theory approach involving 557 penalized cadres in Hubei Province, argues that grassroots cadres are more likely mobilized by the stringent accountability system rather than by career promotion. Furthermore, this research develops a theoretical framework to elucidate what conditions may trigger accountability and how it drives grassroots political mobilization in the campaign-style enforcement.
Administrative Decentralization and the Role of Information: The Case of Intimate Partner Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ali Mir Usman , Hamilton Edwards Lauren , Wright James E.
Published: February 2024

The U.S. federal government often devolves administrative processes and decision making to state and local governments. Prior studies have found that the success of decentralization and implementation depends on several mediating factors at the subnational level, such as a state's political ideology or administrative capacity. This study focuses on one mechanism—the ability of states to leverage their information advantage about the local context vis-à-vis the federal government. We are interested in whether the information advantage of state-level firearm background checks decreased the rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) involving a firearm compared to states that relied on federally administered background checks. We take advantage of data from the period of state-mandated stay-at-home (SAH) orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporal context with increased IPV rates. Using a Poisson fixed effects regression, we find that rates of IPV involving a firearm did not increase when the SAH orders were in effect. However, using decision-relevant information in state-administered background checks decreased the rates of IPV resulting in injury and murder-suicide, compared to states that relied on federal background checks.
Missing Typical Weekdays in Travel Surveys: A Pseudo-Panel Approach to Explore Weekly Travel Patterns
Authors: Rifat Hossain Bhuiyan Md. , Ahsanul Habib Muhammad
Published: February 2024

Travel surveys generally rely on single-day travel diaries where respondents report their travel information for a typical weekday. However, the concept of a typical weekday does not represent the current reality, as travel behavior has been largely altered in the post-pandemic period. Besides, the conclusions based on analyzing single-day travel diaries lack the ability to capture daily variations in travel behavior. In response to these concerns, this research proposed a framework to expand single-day travel diaries into longitudinal multi-day travel data using a pseudo-panel approach. Leveraging the constructed longitudinal data, the study evaluated the determinants of people’s daily participation in work–school, routine, and discretionary activities. Fixed and random effects panel data estimation models were used for this purpose. Results showed that activity participation is largely attributed to vehicle ownership, income, education, driving license, and household structure. Noticeable daily trends were observed in work–school and discretionary activities. A negative association between transit pass ownership and activity participation was noticed, suggesting social exclusion faced by transit users. In addition, teleworkers were found to be relatively more engaged in discretionary activities. Suburban residents were found to travel longer to participate in activities compared to urban dwellers. The proposed research framework can support future activity-based modeling aspects, such as activity participation, scheduling, mode choice, shared travel, and destination choice models, specifically addressing the “typical weekday” barrier.
Recycling alkali lignin-derived biochar with adsorbed cadmium into cost-effective CdS/C photocatalyst for methylene blue removal
Authors: Yu Peng , Zhuang Ronghao , Liu Hui , Wang Zhiguo , Zhang Chun , Wang Qiongchao , Sun Hongyu , Huang Wei
Published: February 2024

Cadmium (Cd)-enriched adsorbents wastes possess great environmental risk due to their large-scale accumulation and toxicity in the natural environment. Recycling spent Cd-enriched adsorbents into efficient catalysts for advanced applications could address the environmental issues and attain the carbon neutral goal. Herein, a facile strategy is developed for the first time to reutilize the alkali lignin (AL)-derived biochar (ALB) absorbed with Cd into cadmium sulphide (CdS)/C composite for the efficient methylene blue (MB) removal. The ALB is initially treated with Cd-containing solution, then the recycling ALB samples with adsorbed Cd are converted to the final CdS/C composite using NaS2 as the sulphurizing reagent for vulcanization reaction. The optimal ALB400 demonstrates a high adsorption capacity of 576.0 mg g−1 for Cd removal. Then the converted CdS/C composite shows an efficient MB removal efficiency of 94%. The photodegradation mechanism is mainly attributed to carbon components in the CdS/C composite as electron acceptor promoting the separation of photoelectrons/holes and slowing down the abrasion of CdS particles. The enhanced charge transfer and contact between the carrier and the active site thus improves the removal performance and reusability. This work not only develops a method for removing Cd from wastewater effectively and achieving the waste resource utilization but also further offers a significant guidance to use other kinds of spent heavy metal removal adsorbents for the construction of low-cost and high value-added functional materials.
Do Habitat MRI and Fractal Analysis Help Distinguish Triple-Negative Breast Cancer From Non-Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Xu Run , Yu Dan , Luo Peng , Li Xuefeng , Jiang Lei , Chang Shixin , Li Guanwu
Published: February 2024

Purpose: To determine whether multiparametric MRI-based spatial habitats and fractal analysis can help distinguish triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) from non-TNBC. Method: Multiparametric DWI and DCE-MRI at 3T were obtained from 142 biopsy- and surgery-proven breast cancer with 148 breast lesions (TNBC = 26 and non-TNBC = 122). The contrast-enhancing lesions were divided into 3 spatial habitats based on perfusion and diffusion patterns using K-means clustering. The fractal dimension (FD) of the tumour subregions was calculated. The accuracy of the habitat segmentation was measured using the Dice index. Inter- and intra-reader reliability were evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ability to predict TNBC status was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The Dice index for the whole tumour was 0.81 for inter-reader and 0.88 for intra-reader reliability. The inter- and intra-reader reliability were excellent for all 3 tumour habitats and fractal features (ICC > 0.9). TNBC had a lower hypervascular cellular habitat and higher FD 1 compared to non-TNBC (all P < .001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that hypervascular cellular habitat (OR = 0.88) and FD 1 (OR = 1.35) were independently associated with TNBC (all P < .001) after adjusting for rim enhancement, axillary lymph nodes status, and histological grade. The diagnostic model combining hypervascular cellular habitat and FD 1 showed excellent discriminatory ability for TNBC, with an AUC of 0.951 and an accuracy of 91.9%. Conclusions: The fraction of hypervascular cellular habitat and its FD may serve as useful imaging biomarkers for predicting TNBC status.
Structural Alterations of the Corpus Callosum in Children With Infantile Hydrocephalus
Authors: Adil Derya , Duerden Emma G. , Eagleson Roy , de Ribaupierre Sandrine
Published: February 2024

This study investigates structural alterations of the corpus callosum in children diagnosed with infantile hydrocephalus. We aim to assess both macrostructural (volume) and microstructural (diffusion tensor imaging metrics) facets of the corpus callosum, providing insights into the nature and extent of alterations associated with this condition. Eighteen patients with infantile hydrocephalus (mean age = 9 years) and 18 age- and sex-matched typically developing healthy children participated in the study. Structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging were used to assess corpus callosum volume and microstructure, respectively. Our findings reveal significant alterations in corpus callosum volume, particularly in the posterior area, as well as distinct microstructural disparities, notably pronounced in these same segments. These results highlight the intricate interplay between macrostructural and microstructural aspects in understanding the impact of infantile hydrocephalus. Examining these structural alterations provides an understanding into the mechanisms underlying the effects of infantile hydrocephalus on corpus callosum integrity, given its pivotal role in interhemispheric communication. This knowledge offers a more nuanced perspective on neurologic disorders and underscores the significance of investigating the corpus callosum's health in such contexts.
Surface integrity and fatigue behavior of AISI 4340 steel after hybrid laser-ultrasonic assisted ball burnishing process
Authors: Khodabandeh Alireza , Sayadi Daniyal , Rajabi Sajjad , Khosrojerdi Mohammadreza , Khajehzadeh Mohsen , Razfar Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2024

The final surface modification processes enhance the fatigue strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the workpiece by improving the surface quality, enhancing the microhardness, generating compressive residual stresses on the surface, and creating favorable changes in the microstructure. In this regard, using processes with different mechanisms is regarded as an optimal method to increase the efficiency of the final surface modification processes. This research seeks to experimentally investigate the hybrid laser-ultrasonic assisted ball burnishing (LUAB) process and its effect on the surface integrity and fatigue strength of 4340 alloy steel. The effect of the process on the sample’s microstructure was evaluated by the images obtained from the optical microscope and SEM. Further, the parameters of mean surface roughness and microhardness, as well as the results of the uniaxial tensile test and fatigue test of the workpiece were evaluated. In the case of using appropriate parameters in the process, the results indicated a 93.38% reduction in mean surface roughness and an increase of surface microhardness by 3.4 times compared to the initial sample. Additionally, the investigation of microstructure revealed the accessibility of homogeneous and refinement martensitic structures without surface melting. The results of uniaxial tensile and fatigue tests indicated a 6.29% increase in tensile strength and a 20.71% increase in the endurance limit of the treated sample (LUAB) compared to the initial sample. Finally, the results also showed a change in the fracture mode in the uniaxial tensile test and a reduction in the final fracture area in the fatigue test.
BiLSTM-MLP based hysteresis modeling for soft pneumatic joint actuator
Authors: Liu Shuo , Xu Ming , Zhao Jindong , Su Lirong
Published: February 2024

Soft pneumatic joint actuators show great potential in applications such as medical machinery, wearable devices, and soft grippers due to their inherent compliance. However, due to the internal friction and periodic relaxation of the elastic materials, the output force of soft pneumatic joint actuators has complex hysteresis characteristics, which seriously affects their control accuracy. To address the asymmetry hysteresis of actuator output force, a neural network model combining a bidirectional long-short-term memory network (BiLSTM) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) is proposed. The MLP serves as the output layer of the BiLSTM, which is utilized to capture the time dependency of the actuator output force. By applying further nonlinear transformations, the feature representation of the BiLSTM output is retrieved and merged, improving the prediction and generalization capabilities of the model. The experimental results show that the BiLSTM-MLP model has a maximum output force error of only 0.306 N, an average error of less than 0.08 N, and a goodness of fit more than 0.999. Compared with the MLP, LSTM, BiLSTM, and improved PI models, the BiLSTM-MLP model can have higher prediction accuracy, better characterize the hysteresis properties of soft joint actuators, and provides a promising approach for hysteresis modeling of various elastomer actuators.
Fog harvesting efficiency analysis of biomimicking surfaces: A review
Authors: Uvarani Aka , Behura Aruna Kumar
Published: February 2024

With a rapidly increasing population, pollution levels and industrial water and energy demand are on a constant rise in the past century. Populations residing in arid and semi-arid regions have been victims of water shortage issues since decades. Efficient water harvesting techniques are becoming highly significant today for ensuring the availability of essential resources throughout the globe. Inspired from nature where certain creatures have attractive surfaces which can collect water from the fog or mist even in no rainfall conditions, researchers have developed high-efficient novel water harvesting materials that could effectively address water scarcity issues. Through an in-depth analysis of the wettability and water droplet transportation of these creatures in nature, novel bionic surfaces that combine desirable natures and properties have been developed through innovative fabrication and coupling techniques. This could achieve 2.5 to 5.3 times more efficient water harvesting than conventional superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces. The efficiency value increased by 250% to 600% by merging different morphologies like Desert beetle, cactus and Janus, compared to their individual uniform morphology surfaces. The review also presents current challenges and scope for future development in water harvesting materials.
Perspective and sexual politics in Mémoire de fille
Authors: Kemp Simon
Published: February 2024

It is striking how often the first-person memories in Annie Ernaux's 2016 work of life-writing Mémoire de fille are rendered from a third-person perspective. Visual depictions of the author’s younger self are shown to us as if the older Ernaux who is narrating the story were present at the scene, seeing her former self from the outside. The events recounted include sexual exploitation and public shaming for falling foul of the era's sexual double standards, and, in the aftermath of this, an identity crisis and an eating disorder. How does Ernaux’s complex interplay of empathy and distance with regard to her younger self affect the social and political themes in the work, and the ethical stance of the text towards them? And how is the reader implicated by the perspective through which Ernaux has us view her teenage self of 1958?
Investigation of non-axisymmetric endwall contouring in a high loaded turbine stator cascade
Authors: Du Zhengshuai , Cai Le , Chen Yingjie , Wang Songtao , Tang Hongfei , Zeng Jun
Published: February 2024

The intensity and structure of the secondary flows have significant influences on the turbine cascade losses. Combining with the extension method of Non-linear Programming by Quadratic Lagrangian (NLPQLP), two endwall parametric methods respectively based on the B-spline surface and Fourier series are used to optimize the aerodynamic losses of a turbine cascade. The optimization processes are based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis and two final designs are obtained by different methods. The endwall profile generated by the B-spline surface method (EW-B1) appears to relatively reduce the total pressure loss by 16.58% and the secondary kinetic energy coefficient ( C SKE) by 27.08%, while the endwall profile generated by the Fourier series method (EW-F1) relatively reduces the loss by 16.18% but increases C SKE by 8.99%. The radial movement of upper Passage Vortex (PV) and the weakening of the pressure branch of the Horseshoe Vortex (HVps) are confirmed to be the reasons of loss reduction in EW-B1, while the movement of PV is the main reason for EW-F1 to decrease the total pressure loss. In EW-B1, the weakening of HVps has a much more significant effect on the decrease in loss, which is affected by the non-axisymmetric shapes upstream of the vortex trajectory and the drop in C SKE generation near the throat.
Levelling, differentiation and structure of feeling: Address and interlocutor reference in Indonesian political interviews
Authors: Djenar Dwi Noverini
Published: February 2024

This article discusses the ways in which participants in Indonesian political interviews address and refer to each other. Drawing on Raymond Williams’s concept ‘structures of feeling’, it proposes levelling and differentiation as mechanisms by which interview participants orient to a common feeling. Levelling and differentiation form a dialectical process characterised by tension that emerges through positioning of the self and the addressee relative to social categories and social orders. Such positioning involves exploiting the semantic contrast between kin terms, which denote relationality, and pronouns, which individuate, in addition to mobilising other linguistic resources including names and titles. The article suggests that the differentiation made between how those in the highest office and politicians below them are addressed and referred to is indexical of a shared consciousness about the relevance of rank.
Nature Conservation and the Voluntary Principle
Authors: Francis John M.
Published: February 2024

Primary legislation in Britain has enshrined the ‘voluntary principle’ at the centre of the working relationship between nature conservationists and other land-users. This paper examines the dilemma that arises from the application of the legislation to long-term land management strategies in support of nature conservation. In its historical context this approach does not sit easily with wider goals such as the land-use ethic of Aldo Leopold or the search for an ethic of sustainability.
Structural Capital and Firm Performance: Synergistic Effects of Realized and Potential Absorptive Capacities in Tourism Businesses
Authors: Hurtado-Palomino Américo , Gala-Velásquez Bernardo De la , Zirena-Bejarano Patricia Pilar , Bustamante-Carpio Johan Andre
Published: February 2024

In a competitive and dynamic environment, business performance is a latent concern for managers, requiring firms to implement a set of strategies such as structural capital (SC), potential absorptive capacity (PACAP) and realized absorptive capacity (RACAP) to enhance their performance. Furthermore, our review of the literature found insufficient empirical research to support the theoretical connections between the variables in question. In this sense, the purpose of the present study is to cover this gap and to analyse the effect of SC on business performance. In addition, the mediating effect of RACAP was studied. Finally, the moderating effect of PACAP on the relationship between RACAP and business performance was analysed. Following the non-probabilistic convenience sampling method, a sample of 238 firms in the tourism sector in Peru’s World Heritage Cities was recruited. This study employs partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) for the statistical analysis of mediation and moderation. The results indicate that SC positively affects business performance and RACAP improves it. Likewise, PACAPs positively moderate the effect of RACAP on firm performance (FP). These results contribute to the theoretical understanding of the determinants of FP. Furthermore, it is helpful in practical managerial decision-making in the tourism sector in developing countries.
Repression and growth in the periphery of Europe: The politics of changing growth regime in Turkey
Authors: Apaydin Fulya
Published: February 2024

This study shows that in peripheral economies that are linked into circuits of global capital on unequal terms, attempts to change the core features of an existing growth regime without broader political support intensify externally induced conflict among the ruling coalition. Under these circumstances, a transition to a new demand regime within a short time frame is more likely to take place via authoritarian intervention when the political cost of repression is lower than the cost of redistribution. In developing these points, the analysis builds on evidence from Turkey: following the 2008 global credit crunch, the Justice and Development Party’s (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi, AKP) domestic demand-led and credit-fueled growth under dependent financialization has experienced a major crisis. However, the subsequent push to replace this regime with a profit-led model with an emphasis on exports worsened the conflict among the political coalition supporting the party as their preferences over monetary policy began to diverge. A temporary resolution of this deepening rift has been possible by way of an authoritarian intervention under R. T. Erdogan’s presidential bid in 2017–18. By situating the debate on the relationship between growth regimes and political institutions, the study further unpacks the nexus between democratic backsliding, dominant social blocs, and economic growth in the periphery of Europe.
Optimized piezo-shunted metadamping towards the high-stiff high-damped metamaterial
Authors: Bera Kamal K , Biswas Souryadeep , Banerjee Arnab
Published: February 2024

The phenomena of damping enhancement and higher decay coefficient are obtained by introducing a piezoelectric transducer at the resonating unit of the metamaterial. The difference between the damping ratio of the piezo-transducer controlled and that of the equivalent uncontrolled metamaterial is termed metadamping, and thereby it is used to indicate the enhancement of energy dissipation characteristics. The optimum inductance and resistance of the impregnated piezo-transducer are computed to minimize the response of the outer mass of a unit cell by implementing [Formula: see text] optimization technique. A parametric study is conducted after applying Bloch’s theorem, and the enhancement of damping over the complete Brillouin zone is determined to get a comprehension of the metadamping phenomenon. Impregnation of the piezo-transducer at the resonating unit not only enhances the normalized bandwidth more than twice but also significantly increases the damping emergence when compared to the equivalent uncontrolled metamaterial. This envisioned the promise of high-stiff, high-damped metamaterial for enhanced transient vibration control as well as wider attenuation bandgap.
VIV array for wind energy harvesting
Authors: Chen Shilei , Wang Yuanyi , Song Rujun , Gao Yongsheng , Wang Zuankai , Yang Zhengbao
Published: February 2024

Harvesting energy from flow using vortex-induced vibration (VIV) piezoelectric transducers has gained significant attention in recent decades due to their advantages, such as simple structure, blade-less layout, and low maintenance costs. However, most existing studies have focused on designing and analyzing a single piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH), without investigating the fluid-structure interaction and coupling of multiple PEH arrays. Here, we conducted an experimental study using a 2 × 2 PEH array to investigate its dynamic response under different wind speeds and spacings. Results show that the output voltage of the PEH array increases as the vertical spacing decreases, and the maximum average output voltage of 20.6 V per PEH is obtained when the minimum vertical spacing, maximum horizontal spacing, and resonance wind speed conditions are met. Compared to a single PEH, the 2 × 2 array arrangement increases the average output voltage by up to 168%. Additionally, the average output power under the resistance of 1 MΩ increases by 629% to 4.3×10−4 W per PEH, and the maximum output power increases by 792% to 5.3×10−4. Experiments indicate that the vortex shedding coupling can induce higher vibration in a well-defined array, which paves a new way for developing bladeless wind farms.
Presurgical Infant Orthopedic Videos on YouTube™: A Thematic Analysis of Caregiver Narratives
Authors: Alrubaiaan Raed , Nair Bhavana , Amir-Rad Fatemeh , Aljanahi May , Kumar S Vijay , Prasad Sabarinath
Published: February 2024

Objective

Information regarding how caregivers cope when using presurgical infant orthopedic (PSIO) appliances is sparse. This study aimed to understand caregivers’ perspectives and experiences with contemporary PSIO treatment.

Design

PSIO videos shared on the YouTube™ platform were used as the data source. Videos with caregivers were identified (n = 21) and portions with caregiver narratives were transcribed. This was followed by the application of a six-step thematic analysis as conceptualized by Braun and Clarke (2006, 2019).

Results

Two themes were identified from the caregiver narratives in the PSIO videos. The Family Journey theme included reaction to diagnosis, choice of center, burden of care, care commitment, coping, and testimonials. The Information theme included PSIO techniques and PSIO benefits.

Conclusion

Multifaceted challenges and coping strategies were described by caregivers during the PSIO phase. Caregivers remained committed to treatment despite the burden of care, were motivated by an understanding of the benefits of PSIO, and customized care based on their individual strengths and needs. Study results can help providers gain an understanding of what caregivers experience outside the clinical environment.
Sugammadex Use Outside of the Postoperative Setting
Authors: Gartner Hayley T. , Rech Megan A.
Published: February 2024

Background:

Sugammadex rapidly reverses the nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) rocuronium and vecuronium. The role of sugammadex is not well-defined outside of the postoperative setting.

Objective:

This study aims to describe sugammadex use outside the postoperative setting for the reversal of nondepolarizing NMBAs.

Methods:

This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study conducted in patients who received sugammadex outside of the postoperative setting at an academic medical center between June 2016 and November 2022. The primary outcome was the effect of sugammadex use for rocuronium reversal, defined as any increase in train-of-four (TOF) after sugammadex administration and/or progress note documentation if TOF was unavailable. Secondary outcomes included adverse events and documentation of contraceptive counseling in patients taking hormonal contraceptives with child-bearing ability.

Results:

A total of 14 383 patients received sugammadex during the study period. Of those patients, 39 (0.3%) were outside of the postoperative setting for the reversal of rocuronium and included in the study. Twenty-nine (74%) patients had an increase in TOF after sugammadex administration and/or progress note documentation if TOF was unavailable. Ten (26%) patients lacked documentation regarding the effect of sugammadex. No adverse reactions were reported. Three (8%) patients included in the study were of child-bearing ability, and 1 of the 3 patients was counseled on using an alternative method of contraception following sugammadex administration.

Conclusion and Relevance:

There is a paucity of literature for the use of sugammadex outside of the postoperative setting. This study found that while the use of sugammadex was rare, overall, it was safe and well-tolerated.