bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On partially observed jump diffusions III: regularity of the filtering density
Authors: Germ Fabian , Gyöngy István
Published: October 2024

The filtering equations associated to a partially observed jump diffusion model $$(Z_t)_{t\in [0,T]}=(X_t,Y_t)_{t\in [0,T]}$$

(

Z
t

)

t
∈
[
0
,
T
]

=

(

X
t

,

Y
t

)

t
∈
[
0
,
T
]

, driven by Wiener processes and Poisson martingale measures are considered. Building on results from two preceding articles on the filtering equations, the regularity of the conditional density of the signal $$X_t$$

X
t

, given observations $$(Y_s)_{s\in [0,t]}$$

(

Y
s

)

s
∈
[
0
,
t
]

, is investigated, when the conditional density of $$X_0$$

X
0

given $$Y_0$$

Y
0

exists and belongs to a Sobolev space, and the coefficients satisfy appropriate smoothness and growth conditions.
Explicit Multi-slit Loewner Flows and Their Geometry
Authors: Theodosiadis E. K.
Published: October 2024

In this paper we present explicit solutions to the radial and chordal Loewner PDEs and we make an extensive study of their geometry. Specifically, we study multi-slit Loewner flows, driven by the time-dependent point masses $$\mu _{t}:=\sum _{j=1}^{n}b_j \delta _{\{\zeta _j e^{iat}\}}$$

μ
t

:
=

∑

j
=
1

n

b
j

δ

{

ζ
j

e

iat

}

in the radial case and $$\nu _t:=\sum _{j=1}^{n}b_j\delta _{\{k_j\sqrt{1-t}\}}$$

ν
t

:
=

∑

j
=
1

n

b
j

δ

{

k
j

1
-
t

}

in the chordal case, where all the above parameters are chosen arbitrarily. Furthermore, we investigate their close connection to the semigroup theory of holomorphic functions, which also allows us to map the chordal case to the radial one.
From Empirical Problem-Solving to Theoretical Problem-Finding Perspectives on the Cognitive Sciences
Authors: Adolfi Federico , van de Braak Laura , Woensdregt Marieke
Published: October 2024

Meta-theoretical perspectives on the research problems and activities of (cognitive) scientists often emphasize empirical problems and problem-solving as the main aspects that account for scientific progress. While certainly useful to shed light on issues of theory-observation relationships, these conceptual analyses typically begin when empirical problems are already there for researchers to solve. As a result, the role of theoretical problems and problem-finding remain comparatively obscure. How do the scientific problems of Cognitive Science arise, and what do they comprise, empirically and theoretically? Here, we attempt to understand the research activities that lead to adequate explanations through a broader conception of the problems researchers must attend to and how they come about. To this end, we bring theoretical problems and problem-finding out of obscurity to paint a more integrative picture of how these complement empirical problems and problem-solving to advance cognitive science.
Modular momentum: assessing the efficacy of modular construction in alleviating the UK housing crisis
Authors: Parisi Luana , Donyavi Sohrab
Published: October 2024

This manuscript critically evaluates the potential of modular construction as a viable remedy to the ongoing housing crisis in the UK. In light of the escalating construction costs and the long-standing lack of productivity gains in the residential construction sector, there is in fact an urgent need to explore innovative solutions to address the scarcity of affordable housing. The study delves then into the feasibility and effectiveness of modular construction in providing cost-efficient and sustainable housing alternatives, particularly for the working-class population. Through a comprehensive analysis of construction trends and methodologies, and stakeholder perspectives, this research aims to illuminate the advantages and limitations of modular construction compared to traditional building techniques. Drawing upon data sourced from construction professionals, and government records, the study assesses crucial factors such as construction timelines, financial implications, design adaptability, and overall efficacy in tackling the housing crisis. The findings of this study are poised to offer valuable insights into the potential role of modular construction in transforming housing solutions in the UK. By examining the intersection of housing demand, construction practices, and technological advancements, the manuscript seeks to inform decision-making processes in both public and private sectors. Ultimately, the objective is to identify strategies that can facilitate the widespread adoption of modular construction as a sustainable and scalable solution to the housing crisis, in line also with the principles of the circular economy, thereby enhancing access to safe, affordable, and high-quality housing for all segments of society.
Building trust in large-scale water quality models: 13 alternative strategies beyond validation
Authors: Strokal Maryna , Wang Mengru , Micella Ilaria , Janssen Annette B. G.
Published: October 2024

Validating large-scale water quality models is challenging because of the variety of water quality constituents, and scales for which observations are limited. Here, in this perspective, we propose 13 alternative strategies to build trust in large-scale water quality models beyond validation and discuss their strengths and weaknesses regarding their validity, reliability, and applicability. Our alternative strategies aim to evaluate separately model inputs (Strategies 1–4), outputs (Strategies 5–6) and structures (Strategy 7) as well as these aspects together (Strategies 8–13). This is done via methods such as comparisons (Strategies 1–3, 6–8, 12–13), sensitivity analysis (Strategy 5), use of innovations (Strategy 9), expert knowledge (Strategy 11) and local models (Strategy 13). The proposed strategies vary in their validity, reliability, and applicability. Validation is an important starting point but should be used in combination with other strategies. Our proposed list opens the discussion to improve methods to evaluate global water quality models.
Performing electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions at a high pressure
Authors: Chen Boxu , Feng Manshuo , Chen Yi , Yang Jirui , Liu Ya
Published: October 2024

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction technology offers an effective way to convert CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels, presenting a sustainable solution for carbon emissions. Current electrocatalytic CO2 reduction technologies encounter significant issues such as salt precipitation and hydrogen evolution, which prevent energy conversion efficiency, selectivity, current density, and stability from simultaneously meeting industrial standards. In recent years, researchers have discovered that increasing the CO2 pressure on the gas supply could enhance the coverage of the catalyst and activate more CO2 reduction reaction sites on the catalyst surface, which provides a practical and effective approach for optimizing the energy conversion and mass transfer. In this review, we provide a comprehensive review of the development history and current status of high-pressure CO2 electrocatalytic reduction technology, focusing on its reaction devices, catalytic performance, and reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, we summarize and offer insights into the most promising research avenues to propel the field forward.
Leveraging generative AI for urban digital twins: a scoping review on the autonomous generation of urban data, scenarios, designs, and 3D city models for smart city advancement
Authors: Xu Haowen , Omitaomu Femi , Sabri Soheil , Zlatanova Sisi , Li Xiao , Song Yongze
Published: October 2024

The digital transformation of modern cities by integrating advanced information, communication, and computing technologies has marked the epoch of data-driven smart city applications for efficient and sustainable urban management. Despite their effectiveness, these applications often rely on massive amounts of high-dimensional and multi-domain data for monitoring and characterizing different urban sub-systems, presenting challenges in application areas that are limited by data quality and availability, as well as costly efforts for generating urban scenarios and design alternatives. As an emerging research area in deep learning, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) models have demonstrated their unique values in content generation. This paper aims to explore the innovative integration of GenAI techniques and urban digital twins to address challenges in the planning and management of built environments with focuses on various urban sub-systems, such as transportation, energy, water, and building and infrastructure. The survey starts with the introduction of cutting-edge generative AI models, such as the Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), followed by a scoping review of the existing urban science applications that leverage the intelligent and autonomous capability of these techniques to facilitate the research, operations, and management of critical urban subsystems, as well as the holistic planning and design of the built environment. Based on the review, we discuss potential opportunities and technical strategies that integrate GenAI models into the next-generation urban digital twins for more intelligent, scalable, and automated smart city development and management.
Data-driven assessment of business process resilience
Authors: Kraus Alexander , Rehse Jana-Rebecca , van der Aa Han
Published: October 2024

Process resilience represents a core competence for organizations in light of an increasing number of process disruptions, such as sudden increases in case arrivals or absences in the workforce. It reflects an organization’s ability to restore a process to its acceptable performance level after a disruption. In this regard, the first key step for organizations towards achieving resilience is to understand how resilient their processes actually are. Although recognized as important, few works focus on such resilience assessment in a data-driven manner, thus barring organizations from gaining the necessary insights into how much their processes are affected by disruptions and how long it takes them to recover. To address this problem, we propose an approach for automated resilience assessment, based on recorded event data. Our approach interprets relevant process characteristics, such as the average lead time or arrival rate, as time series, which capture the development of the process execution over time. Based on these time series, it uses statistical modeling, specifically a vector autoregressive model, to determine the inter-relations between those characteristics and assess how the process performance responds to a disruption, i.e., a significant and temporal change in one of the process characteristics. We validate our approach by comparing its accuracy with a what-if analysis using a simulation model and demonstrate its effectiveness by assessing the resilience of the same process to diverse disruptions across different organizations.
The effect of combination treatment with casirivimab and imdevimab versus standard antiviral therapy on clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Authors: Hegazy Sahar K. , Hassan Ahmed H.
Published: October 2024

Background

The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic motivated research efforts to address this catastrophe from the beginning of 2020 to the present. The year 2021 is coming to an end, and several developments in pharmacotherapy for COVID-19 have occurred. In terms of antiviral therapy, monoclonal antibody combinations have become one type of COVID-19 immunotherapy. Remdesivir and favipiravir are two antiviral medications typically used to treat COVID-19. Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) and molnupiravir are other antiviral agents used in COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of combinations of antibodies (casirivimab and imdevimab), remdesivir, and favipiravir on COVID-19 swab results in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at discharge.

Methods

This research is a phase IV non-randomized controlled trial (< 300 patients as sample size) with no comparison to placebo. In this study, 265 COVID-19 patients confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and indications for antiviral medication were non-randomized into three groups at a ratio of (1:2:2): REGN3048-3051 (group A), remdesivir (group B), and favipiravir (group C). A nonrandomized single-blind controlled study design was used. The study's medication was provided by the Hospital of Mansoura University. Following ethical approval, the study was conducted for approximately 6 months.

Results

Compared to remdesivir and favipiravir, casirivimab and imdevimab cause less hepatotoxicity, less renal impairment, and more negative swab results at discharge. The three tested antivirals also had no significant adverse effects. All three antivirals are considered safe based on these findings.

Conclusion

Compared with remdesivir and favipiravir, casirivimab and imdevimab result in better clinical outcomes. All three antivirals are safe and have no significant toxicity.

Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05502081, 16/08/2022.
Does Adoption of Improved Variety Encourage Farmers to Invest in Modern Inputs and Use Good Practices? Evidence from Rice Farmers in Guinea
Authors: Arouna Aminou , Barry Mamadou L. , Kamano Pierre , Yabi Jacob A.
Published: October 2024

Iron toxicity is one of the constraints limiting rice production in Africa. This study used a randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of an iron toxicity-tolerant variety, named ARICA 6, on different outcomes and investment in modern inputs by smallholder farmers. Two rounds of data were collected from 520 rice-farming households in Guinea. Results showed that the use of ARICA 6 increased rice yield by 330 kg ha−1 and net income by US$ 120 ha−1. However, adoption of improved variety may not be enough to crowd in investment in modern inputs because farmers face other constraints.
Explaining the Comparatively Less Robust Human Rights Impact of the ECOWAS Court on Legislative and Judicial Decision-making, Process, and Action in Nigeria
Authors: Okafor Obiora Chinedu , Owie Udoka , Effoduh Okechukwu , Zarma Rahina
Published: October 2024

This article outlines and tackles two inter-related puzzles regarding the comparatively much less robust human rights impact that the ECOWAS Court (in effect, West Africa’s international human rights court) has had on the generally more democratic legislative/judicial branch of decision-making and action in Nigeria vis-à-vis the generally more authoritarian executive branch within Nigeria, the country that is the source of most of the cases filed before the court. The article then discusses and analyzes the examples and extent of the court’s human rights impact on legislative/judicial branch decision-making and action in that key country. This is followed by the development of a set of analytical, multi-factorial, explanations for the two inter-connected puzzles that animate the enquiry in this article. In the end, the article argues that several factors have combined to produce the comparatively much less robust human rights impact that the ECOWAS Court has had on domestic legislative and judicial decision-making, process, and action in Nigeria, through restricting the extent to which the latter could mobilize more robustly the court’s human rights-relevant processes and rulings.
Longitudinal trajectories of metabolic and inflammatory markers in youth with emerging mood disorders
Authors: Shin Mirim , McKenna Sarah , Crouse Jacob J. , Phung Elizabeth , Zmicerevska Natalia , Nichles Alissa , Christine Song Yun Ju , Tonini Emiliana , Carpenter Joanne S. , Hickie Ian B. , Scott Elizabeth M.
Published: October 2024

Metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction is prevalent in middle-aged people with major mood disorders, but less is known about young people. We investigated the trajectories of sensitive metabolic (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance [HOMA2-IR]) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP]) in 155 young people (26.9 ± 5.6 years) accessing mental health services. We examined demographic and clinical correlates, longitudinal trajectories and relationships with specific illness subtypes. Additionally, we compared the HOMA2-IR with fasting blood glucose (FBG) for sensitivity. We observed a significant increase in HOMA2-IR and CRP over time with higher baseline levels predicting greater increases, although the rate of increase diminished in those with higher baseline levels. Body mass index predicted increases in HOMA2-IR (p < 0.001), but not CRP (p = 0.135). Multinomial logistic regression revealed that higher HOMA2-IR levels were associated with 2.3-fold increased odds of the “circadian-bipolar spectrum” subtype (p = 0.033), while higher CRP levels were associated with a reduced risk of the “neurodevelopmental psychosis” subtype (p = 0.033). Standard FBG measures were insensitive in detecting early metabolic dysregulation in young people with depression. The study supports the use of more sensitive markers of metabolic dysfunction to address the longitudinal relationships between immune-metabolic dysregulation and mood disorders in young people.
The Legal Significance of Independent Research based on Article 40 DSA for the Management of Systemic Risks in the Digital Services Act
Authors: Liesenfeld Anna
Published: October 2024

As part of its risk management system, aiming at the mitigation of so-called systemic risks on very large online platforms and very large online search engines (VLOPSEs), the DSA introduces data access rights for independent researchers. With this instrument, the legislator hopes to enable the production of evidence concerning possible threats to society and democracy that might be linked to these platforms or search engines. After an overview of the functioning of the risk management system in the DSA that is characterised by a collaborative governance framework and a learning-based approach, the article will explore the role of the researchers inside this framework. It thereby focuses on the legal significance the researchers’ evidence could have for the risk mitigation obligations imposed on the VLOPSEs in the DSA by interpreting the provisions of the DSA.
The Economy–Security Nexus: Risk, Strategic Autonomy and the Regulation of the Semiconductor Supply Chain
Authors: Farrand Benjamin
Published: October 2024

The EU’s policies in the field of technology broadly defined are increasingly marked by a concern over strategic autonomy, and Europe’s place in the world. Regulatory interventions are framed in terms of “digital sovereignty,” with the Commission seeking to ensure that external dependencies are reduced with the aim of increasing the EU’s resilience to geopolitical instability and external shocks. Using the case study of semiconductors, the chips that power modern electronic devices, this article explores how technology policy in the EU sits at the economy–security nexus, in which economic goals and security goals are interdependent and inseparable. Focusing on the life cycle of the semiconductor supply chain from the control over natural resources through to the cybersecurity requirements placed on the finished products, this article demonstrates the increasing security logic embedded within a burgeoning industrial technology policy.
Postoperative wound care protocol prevents surgical site infection after craniotomy
Authors: Kovryga Kornick Mariya , Lee Eunjung , Wilhelm Lisa , White Janice , Cho Oh-Hyun , Paff Michelle , Hsu Frank P.K. , Chen Jefferson , Dickey Linda , Huang Susan S.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Postoperative wound care after craniotomy is not standardized.

Objective:

Evaluate the impact of a standardized post-craniotomy wound care protocol on surgical site infection (SSI).

Design and Setting:

Prospective quasi-experimental single-center intervention cohort study involving adult patients undergoing craniotomy at a 461-bed academic medical center in Orange County, California from January 2019–March 2023 (intervention) compared to January 2017–December 2018 (baseline).

Methods:

A postoperative neurosurgical wound care protocol was developed involving chlorhexidine cloths to remove incisional clots and to clean the surgical incision and adjacent hair after craniotomy surgery. Protocol adherence was monitored by routine inpatient surveillance of wounds and photo-documentation for real-time feedback to surgeons and nursing staff. Impact of the intervention was assessed using multivariable regression models.

Results:

There were 3560 craniotomy surgeries and 62 (1.7%) SSIs; 1251 surgeries and 30 (2.4%) SSIs during baseline, and 2309 surgeries and 32 (1.4%) SSIs during intervention. Process evaluation after implementation found significant decreases in incisional clots, erythema, drainage, and unclean hair. In multivariable analysis, the intervention was associated with fewer SSI (odds ratio (OR): 0.5 (0.3, 0.9), P = 0.02).

Conclusions:

A standardized post-craniotomy wound care protocol involving cleaning of the incision and adjacent hair, including removal of incisional clots with chlorhexidine cloths was effective in reducing the risk of SSI.
Impacts of indoor masks wearing on air contamination during 10-minute speaking in patients with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant infection
Authors: Park Se Yoon , Kim Min-Chul , Kim Ji Yeun , Park Joung Ha , Bae Seongman , Chung Jin-Won , Yun Saerom , Sung Minki , Kim Sung-Han
Published: October 2024

In 10-minute speaking, N95 respirators significantly decreased SARS-CoV-2 emissions compared with no-mask wearing. However, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the air even when wearing N95 and surgical masks in patients with high viral loads. Therefore, universal masking of infected and uninfected persons is important for preventing COVID-19 transmission via the air.
Antarctic ice-shelf meltwater outflows in satellite radar imagery: ground-truthing and basal channel observations
Authors: Hamann Jakob Stanley , Arney Thomas , Kirkham James David , Wachter Paul , Gohl Karsten
Published: October 2024

Ice shelves regulate the flow of the Antarctic ice sheet toward the ocean and its contribution to sea-level rise. Accurately monitoring the basal and surface melting of ice shelves is therefore essential for predicting the ice sheet's response to climatic warming. In this study, we utilize Sentinel-1A synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery combined with shipboard measurements of water temperature and salinity to investigate the presence of surficial meltwater plumes along the Antarctic coastline. Our approach reveals a strong correlation between areas of pronounced low radar backscatter extending from ice shelves and significant decreases in water temperature and salinity, suggesting meltwater-enriched ocean waters. We propose that the low radar backscatter signature of meltwater outflows is caused by stable stratification of the upper water column, driven by density contrasts from buoyant, low-salinity meltwater and surface current shear that reduce Bragg scattering waves. The resulting smooth water surfaces were observed adjacent to the surface expression of deep basal channels, documented in a helicopter survey along part of the Bellingshausen Sea ice edge. We present high-temporal resolution satellite radar as a tool for identifying meltwater release from beneath ice shelves, capable of all-weather, day-and-night imaging.
Revisiting the Chilean Road to Socialism
Authors: Lehoucq Fabrice
Published: October 2024

This essay reviews the following works:

The Pinochet Generation: The Chilean Military in the Twentieth Century. By John R. Bawden. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2016. Pp. x + 304. US$29.95 paperback. ISBN: 978–0817319281.

La Unidad Popular y la revolución en Chile. By Mario Garcés. Santiago: LOM Ediciones, 2020. Pp. 340. CL$45,000 cloth. ISBN: 978–956–00–1382–8.

Pinochet desclasificado: Los archivos secretos de Estados Unidos sobre Chile. By Peter Kornbluh. Santiago: Catalonia, 2023. Pp. 529. CL$25,900 paperback. ISBN: 978–956–415–039–0.

Historia de la Unidad Popular: Tiempos de preparación: De los orígenes al 3 de septiembre de 1970, vol. 1. By Jorge Magasich Airola. Santiago: LOM Ediciones, 2020. Pp. 346. CL$20,000 paperback. ISBN: 978–956–00–1367–5.

Historia de la Unidad Popular: De la elección a la asunción: Los algidos 60 días del 4 de septiembre al 3 de noviembre de 1970, vol. 2. By Jorge Magasich Airola. Santiago: LOM Ediciones, 2020. Pp. 201. CL$14,400 paperback. ISBN: 978–956–00–1368–2.

Historia de la Unidad Popular: La primavera de la Unidad Popular, vol. 3. By Jorge Magasich Airola. Santiago: LOM Ediciones, 2023. Pp. 397. CL$42,000 paperback. ISBN: 978–956–00–1725–3.

Historia de la Unidad Popular: De tres a dos bloques, vol. 4. By Jorge Magasich Airola. Santiago: LOM Ediciones, 2023. Pp. 257. CL$42,000 paperback. ISBN: 978–956–00–1732–1.

El proceso populista: Momento, fenómeno, régimen: El caso de Chile que no fue: Chile (1932–73). By Claudio Riveros Ferrada. Raleigh, NC: Editorial A Contracorriente, 2018. Pp. xii + 364. US$30.00 paperback. ISBN: 978–0990919193.

A History of Chile 1808–2018, 3rd ed. By William F. Sater and Simon Collier. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022. Pp. xviii + 560. US$120.00 cloth and US$39.99 paperback. ISBN: 978–1009170215.
Prepartum supplementation of dairy cows with inorganic selenium, organic selenium or rumen-protected choline does not affect carotenoid composition or colour characteristics of bovine colostrum or transition milk
Authors: McDermott Fionnuala , Shi Hao , Kennedy Emer , Hogan Sean A. , Brennan Lorraine , O'Callaghan Tom F. , Egan Michael , Nolan John M. , Prado-Cabrero Alfonso
Published: October 2024

Minerals are supplemented routinely to dairy cows during the dry period to prevent metabolic issues postpartum. However, limited information exists on the impacts of mineral supplementation on colostrum carotenoids. This study aimed to determine the effects of prepartum supplementation with three micro-nutrients; inorganic selenium (INORG), organic selenium (ORG) or rumen-protected choline (RPC) on the carotenoid content of bovine colostrum and transition milk (TM) from pasture-based dairy cows. A total of 57 (12 primiparous and 45 multiparous) Holstein-Friesian (HF) and HF × Jersey (JEX) cows were supplemented daily for 49 ± 12.9 d before calving. Colostrum samples were collected from all cows immediately postpartum and TM one to five (TM1–TM5) were collected from a sub-set of 15 cows (five per treatment group) at each consecutive milking postpartum. Carotenoid concentration was determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – diode array detection (UHPLC-DAD). With the use of transmittance, the colour index and colour parameters a*, b* and L* were used to determine colour variations over this period. Prepartum supplementation did not have a significant effect on colostrum β-carotene concentration or colour. Positive correlations between β-carotene and colour parameter b* (R2 = 0.671; P < 0.001) and β-carotene and colour index (R2 = 0.560; P < 0.001) were observed. Concentrations of β-carotene were highest in colostrum (1.34 μg/g) and decreased significantly with each milking postpartum (TM5 0.31 μg/g). Breed had a significant effect on colostrum colour with JEX animals producing a greater b* colostrum than HF animals (P = 0.030). Primiparous animals produced colostrum with the weakest colour compared to second or ≥third parity animals (P = 0.042). Despite statistical increases in the b* parameter in colostrum from JEX cows and multiparous cows, β-carotene concentrations did not significantly increase suggesting that other factors may influence colostrum colour. The b* parameter may be used as an indicator for estimating carotenoid concentrations in colostrum and TM, particularly when assessed via transmittance spectroscopy.
Patterns of abnormal activations in severe mental disorders a transdiagnostic data-driven meta-analysis of task-based fMRI studies
Authors: Boisvert Mélanie , Dugré Jules R. , Potvin Stéphane
Published: October 2024

Background

Studies suggest severe mental disorders (SMDs), such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, are associated with common alterations in brain activity, albeit with a graded level of impairment. However, discrepancies between study findings likely to results from both small sample sizes and the use of different functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tasks. To address these issues, data-driven meta-analytic approach designed to identify homogeneous brain co-activity patterns across tasks was conducted to better characterize the common and distinct alterations between these disorders.

Methods

A hierarchical clustering analysis was conducted to identify groups of studies reporting similar neuroimaging results, independent of task type and psychiatric diagnosis. A traditional meta-analysis (activation likelihood estimation) was then performed within each of these groups of studies to extract their aberrant activation maps.

Results

A total of 762 fMRI study contrasts were targeted, comprising 13 991 patients with SMDs. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified 5 groups of studies (meta-analytic groupings; MAGs) being characterized by distinct aberrant activation patterns across SMDs: (1) emotion processing; (2) cognitive processing; (3) motor processes, (4) reward processing, and (5) visual processing. While MAG1 was mostly commonly impaired, MAG2 was more impaired in schizophrenia, while MAG3 and MAG5 revealed no differences between disorder. MAG4 showed the strongest between-diagnoses differences, particularly in the striatum, posterior cingulate cortex, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Conclusions

SMDs are characterized mostly by common deficits in brain networks, although differences between disorders are also present. This study highlights the importance of studying SMDs simultaneously rather than independently.
Adolescent resilience in the face of COVID-19 stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors
Authors: Zhang Lu , Cropley Vanessa L. , Whittle Sarah , Rakesh Divyangana
Published: October 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to subsequent stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there are protective factors that promote resilience against the negative impacts of COVID-19 stressors in adolescents with prior trauma exposure. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors.

Methods

Aims were investigated in a sample of 9696 adolescents (mean age 12.85 ± 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine (a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed v. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and (b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and improvements in family and peer relationships) in these associations.

Results

There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Improvements in family and peer relationships mitigated the association between COVID-19 stressors and poor mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience.

Conclusions

These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future stressors. Results underscore the protective role of enhanced social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experiences.
Negative wealth shocks and subsequent depressive symptoms and trajectories in middle-aged and older adults in the USA, England, China, and Mexico: a population-based, multinational, and longitudinal study
Authors: Ran Guangquan , Zuo Chuanlong , Liu Danping
Published: October 2024

Background

The association between negative wealth shocks and depression among middle-aged and older individuals remains unclear. Our study aimed to assess the association between negative wealth shocks and depression and its trajectories, and to explore cross-national differences in these associations

Methods

Our sample included 21 999 participants, of which 9519 were from the Health and Retirement Study (2012–2020), 4936 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2012–2020), 2520 from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2020), and 5024 from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (2012–2021). We used latent class trajectory models to identify depressive trajectories, alongside mixed-model logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate associations.

Results

In the USA (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.40–2.16), England (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.09–2.70), and China (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09–1.75), negative wealth shocks were associated with subsequent depressive symptoms, but not in Mexico (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.86–1.29). Additionally, negative wealth shocks were associated with several depressive trajectories in the USA and China. This association occurred only in increasing–decreasing trajectory in England, while no significant association was found across any trajectory in Mexico.

Conclusions

Negative wealth shocks were associated with subsequent depressive symptoms, with significant associations observed in some specific depressive trajectories. These associations exhibited cross-national differences, underscoring the importance of considering country-specific contexts when addressing the mental health impacts of wealth shocks.
The Revolution That Did Not Happen. Labor Insurgency in Late Russian Poland
Authors: Marzec Wiktor
Published: October 2024

Russian Poland was among the most militant tsarist borderlands during the 1905–1907 Revolution in the Russian Empire. However, only a decade later, when revolutionary movements again loomed large and shook the whole region after 1917, Poland remained relatively calm. Forging a new statehood after 1918 rivaled the earlier popular drive toward social revolution. Revolution was aborted in Poland; in other rim regions of the Russian Empire, however, the situation evolved differently, and this scenario should not be taken as self-explanatory. The dynamic of political contention on the ground in the inter-revolutionary decade is the key to understand the pathways of the new state and its society. But the existing accounts deliver only a fragmentary picture, concentrating on the teleology of nation, nation state and its elites or party politics. Meanwhile, the dynamics of labor contention can be hardly squared with unanimous class or national mobilizations. This article addresses this gap drawing from an extensive collection of courses on social unrest and conflict in the Kingdom of Poland based on administrative sources from local Polish and central Russian archives (more than 3300 entries on contentious events). Covering broad available sources, it offers a picture of labor unrest spanning from tinier township workshops, insular, dispersed industrialization of smaller cities harboring quite large mills, to fully-fledged industrial power hubs. The findings show the large heterogeneity of conflict among urban workers. The initial enthusiasm of the 1905 upheaval did not hold sway for long. Workers were tired with the revolutionary mobilization, derailed by the state repression and reluctant to embark on political action again. The lore of 1905 was not an important point of reference for the forthcoming mobilizations. Instead, protests had their own rhythms and spatial patterns, resembling the pre-industrial calendar of festivities turning into insurgencies but also followed pan-imperial causes. Inter-ethnic tensions kicked in: within crews (mostly Polish-Jewish) but above all between rank-and-file workers and foremen, often of German origin. This plurality resulted in various possibilities to build a working class imagined community ranging from a single factory, through branch-wide solidarities, national filiation up to pan-imperial class alliance. Also the tsarist administration, interested in maintaining the basic stability of supply and keep the state going was an important factor. These heterogenous field of tensions did not form any cleavage conductive to singular mobilization. However, it was susceptible to broader political projects binding various claims. Such a project was a new Poland, supported by major parties and perceived by many as nothing less as a revolutionary state for a while promising anti-imperial self-assertion, national rights, political freedom, and social emancipation.
The formation of the tourism labour market in Spain, 1955–1973
Authors: García-Barrero José Antonio
Published: October 2024

This paper studies the process of labour market formation in the tourism industry in Spain. Results show that tourism regions diverged in their capacity to attract local labour, a factor that led to different compositions of the workforce. In the most dynamic regions, circular migration became a key factor as a result of housing shortages, seasonality and labour policy. Tourism agents promoted these flows by different mechanisms such as recruitment at origin and temporary accommodation. Migration benefited growth of firms, natives' upward mobility and migrants' accumulation of capital. However, inequality in the regional labour market and host society increased.
Examining lexical profile in general-audience English podcasts: A close replication of Nurmukhamedov and Sharakhimov (2021)
Authors: Yu Hong , Wen Ju
Published: October 2024

We closely replicated Nurmukhamedov and Sharakhimov (2021), which was the first study to examine the lexical profile of general-audience English podcasts. Nurmukhamedov and Sharakhimov (2021) found that podcast listeners should have a knowledge of the most frequent 3,000 word families and 5,000 word families, respectively, plus proper nouns, marginal words, transparent compounds, and acronyms in order to achieve good and high-level listening comprehension. We followed the methods and procedures of the initial study with a much larger corpus. Specifically, a total of 8,862 podcast transcripts sampled from 12 general-audience podcast programs were used to compile the 14-million-word corpus. Results of the study confirmed Nurmukhamedov and Sharakhimov's (2021) findings in the vocabulary size required to understand general-audience English podcasts. However, some minor differences pertaining to individual podcast programs were revealed, indicating that the sampling of data had an effect on the lexical demand. These findings provide solid evidence to support the validity and generalizability of the initial study's findings. Implications for second language teaching and learning are also discussed.
Table tennis ball landing control in a robotic system by cameras
Authors: Lin Hsien-I , Syu Cyuan-Fan
Published: October 2024

Controlling the landing position of a spinning ball is difficult when using a table tennis robot. A complete physical model requires the factoring in of aerodynamic elements and object collisions, and inaccurate environmental coefficients would increase the landing position error. This study proposed a landing position control method based on a cascade neural network (CNN) that consists of forward and recurrent neural networks (RNNs). The forward NNs are used to estimate the velocity of the outgoing ball according to the velocity and acceleration of the incoming ball captured by cameras and the desired velocity of the outgoing ball. The RNN is employed to reverse-predict ball displacement based on the state of the incoming ball, desired landing point, and ball flight duration. The experiments verified that the method proposed in this study achieved control of differently spinning balls more effectively than the locally weighted regression (LWR)-based model did. The success rate of the CNN at two of six desired landing points was 25.9% and 32.9% higher, respectively, compared with use of the LWR-based model.
Parental mentalization and children’s externalizing problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nieto-Retuerto Maitane , Torres-Gomez Barbara , Alonso-Arbiol Itziar
Published: October 2024

Parental mentalization, as the ability to understand mental states (e.g., desires) behind their children’s actions, may play a relevant role in the prevention of future externalizing problems. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between parental mentalization and children’s externalizing problems. Six electronic databases were searched for studies, published in English or Spanish, linking empirically those two variables. Participants included caregivers and children between 0 and 18 years. The filtering process yielded 42 studies with 52 effect sizes. Random-effect analysis revealed higher parental mentalization associated with fewer externalizing problems, with an effect size of r = −.19 (95% CI [−.25, −.13]). Due to high heterogeneity (I2 = 83.750), further analyses were conducted to explore factors affecting such association. Parenting experience and children’s developmental stage moderated the relationship, but approaches to operationalize mentalization (MM or PRF), sample type (clinical/at-risk vs. community), and reporting figure (primary caregiver vs. other informants) did not. The study highlights the significance of parental mentalization as a potential contributor to the prevention of externalizing behaviors among infants, children, and adolescents. Our findings may underscore practical implications for equipping caregivers with mentalization skills, helping them to answer appropriately to their children needs.
Bereavement coping strategies among healthcare professionals: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis
Authors: Feng Hanbo , Shen Yang , Li Xiaohan
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Coping with a patient’s death is one of the most challenging events faced by healthcare professionals in clinical practice. A broad understanding of the coping strategies used by healthcare professionals is fundamental to the development of effective interventions and the provision of good bereavement care. This review aims to systematically synthesize the coping experience of healthcare professionals in the course of their work when they are confronted with patient deaths.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Wiley online library were searched in April 2023 with no restriction on publication date. A 3-stage thematic synthesis method was applied for data integration and analysis.

Results

Thirty studies involving 545 participants met the inclusion criteria and scored a high level on quality assessment ranging from 9.0 to 10.0. Six themes were identified: emotional coping, cognitive coping, behavioral coping, relational coping, spiritual coping, and occupational coping.

Significance of the results

Overall, the coping strategies used by healthcare professionals in response to bereavement were found to be unique and multidimensional. Understanding how healthcare practitioners use emotional, cognitive, behavioral, relational, spiritual, and professional strategies to cope with bereavement will prove extremely beneficial in helping them to manage their grief, and can furthermore promote their professional growth and ensure the provision of excellent bereavement care for patients.
African customs and traditions and the indigenization of international humanitarian law in armed conflict
Authors: Tshuma Darlington
Published: October 2024

Many ancient African societies had advanced and sophisticated humanitarian protection mechanisms and war codes to regulate the conduct of armed hostilities. A careful examination of both historical and contemporary African customs and traditions provides unique avenues through which to interpret and apply international humanitarian protection in armed conflict. As a sub-branch of international law, international humanitarian law (IHL) seeks to limit the excesses of warfare and regulate the conduct of armed hostilities. However, international conventions such as those of IHL remain severely constrained if they are not framed and reconciled with indigenous understandings and meanings of humanitarian protection. In non-international armed conflicts specifically, this enduring challenge demands that IHL conventions and other international conventions be framed and understood within indigenous frameworks that support local ownership of this internationalized body of law. Encouraging dialogue between international norms and indigenous practices can enhance the relevance, authority and legitimacy of IHL in Africa.
Germination ecology of heteromorphic seeds of slender Russian thistle (Salsola collina)
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Tao Xuelin , Ping Xiaorui , Gao Rui , Song Jieqiong , Li Changping , Li Qiuli
Published: October 2024

Slender Russian thistle (Salsola collina Pall.) is a troublesome weed distributed mainly in the cropping regions of northern China that produces heteromorphic seeds in the same plant. However, limited information is available on the germination ecology of heteromorphic seeds in S. collina. Thus, the present study was conducted to verify the effect of alternating temperature conditions, light conditions, winged perianth, salt concentrations, water stress, and burial depths on the seed germination or seedling emergence of S. collina. The results showed that S. collina produced two different types of fruits/seeds that significantly differed in seed size, seed color, external structure, and germination/dormancy behavior. The type A seeds (green seeds) were nondormant, and the germination percentage was >96% at all alternating day/night temperatures and light conditions; whereas type B seeds (yellow seeds) exhibited dormancy characteristics and poor germination (≤1%). Moreover, the winged perianth did not inhibit the germination of S. collina green seeds. The germination of green seeds declined rapidly when NaCl concentration exceeded 100 mM, and only 2.22% germination was observed at 600 mM NaCl. About 62.00% of green seeds germinated at −0.6 MPa, and 8.00% germination was obtained at −1.2 MPa. The seedling emergence declined with an increase of burial depth, and decreased sharply when the burial depth exceeded 1.0 cm. Only 8.33% seedling emergence occurred at a burial depth of 4.0 cm. The results gathered from present study will help to illustrate the ecological adaptation strategy of S. collina and indicate that shallow tillage can effectively minimize the seedling emergence of S. collina.
Choice of Communication Channel for Dyadic Relationship Dissolution Processes in Abusive and Non-Abusive Relationships
Authors: Frampton Jessica R. , Coduto Kathryn D. , Rowlett Jerrica T.
Published: October 2024

Abstract: This study employs an affordances and multiple goals approach to explore channel choices in the initiation of dyadic relationship dissolution processes. In an experiment, participants imagined breaking up with an abusive romantic partner, breaking up with a nonabusive partner, or not breaking up. Then they indicated their likelihood of using various channels (i.e., face-to-face conversation, texting, social media, voice call, and video call) to communicate with their partner, responded to perceived social affordances measures for each channel, and provided insights in an open-ended prompt. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. Results reveal that face-to-face communication is often preferred for dyadic relational dissolution processes, as bandwidth, social presence, and a lack of accessibility can convey a sense of seriousness and respect for the non-initiator while preventing miscommunication. However, mediated channels offer protection from emotional manipulation (for abusive relationships), physical violence (for abusive relationships), and awkward situations (for nonabusive relationships) thanks to their unique combinations of affordances.