bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalization and Discrimination of Positively Reinforced Explicit Mands in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Chezan Laura Claudia , Bauer Autumn , Drasgow Erik , Garcia Heidi , Warman Adam
Published: January 2024

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit generalization errors following mand training. In this study, we extended the literature on the generalization of positively reinforced explicit mands in three young children with ASD and complex communication needs. First, we used mand training to teach a new, socially appropriate, positively reinforced explicit mand to request preferred toys. Second, we assessed the discriminated generalization of the newly acquired mand by using untrained examples and nonexamples. Results suggest that our mand training resulted in acquisition of a discriminated positively reinforced explicit mand in all three children. Overgeneralization was documented for one of the three children included in the study. We discuss implications for researchers and practitioners related to the importance of assessing for generalization errors following mand training.
Prepare to Compare: Effects of an Intervention Involving Upward and Downward Social Comparisons on Goal Pursuit in Daily Life
Authors: Diel Kathi , Hofmann Wilhelm , Grelle Sonja , Boecker Lea , Friese Malte
Published: January 2024

In a preregistered ecological momentary intervention study, we alternately instructed participants to adopt an upward and downward comparison focus. In all, 349 participants reported 8,137 social comparison situations across 6 days and three comparison conditions (baseline, upward, downward). For each comparison, participants reported social comparison direction, motivation, effort intentions, and emotions in five daily reports and one daily end-of-day summary. As predicted, an upward comparison focus resulted in more self-improvement motivation (pushing) and more negative emotions, whereas days with a downward comparison focus resulted in decreased motivation (coasting) but more positive emotions (vs. baseline). However, at the end of the day, people experienced lower goal approach on upward but higher goal approach on downward comparison days. Hence, engaging in strategic upward comparison was motivating in the short term but resulted in surprisingly opposite effects at the end of the day. We offer possible explanations from cognitive and motivational perspectives.
Paralympic Broadcasting in Sub-Saharan Africa: Production Politics and the Reimagined Postcolonial
Authors: Pullen Emma , Magalasi Mufunanji , Noske-Turner Jessica
Published: January 2024

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was broadcast for the first time on free to air (FTA) television across 49 territories in Sub-Saharan Africa. This article charts the story of this historic development and marks the first study to explore Paralympic broadcast production beyond the cultural specificities of Global North/Western-centric media practices, infrastructure availability and disability discourses. Drawing on an integrated qualitative dataset, including interviews with key individuals from the International Paralympic Committee, TV Media Sport (the broadcast partner) and one national Sub-Saharan broadcaster (Malawi Broadcasting Corporation), this article documents the challenges, logic and politics behind the Sub-Saharan African Paralympic broadcast. In so doing, we consider the extent to which these articulated with epistemic differences, underlying neocolonial sentiments and (mis-)understandings of the geopolitical contours and disability politics of the Sub-Saharan African region. We consider the important role national Paralympic broadcasters may play in the sustainable development of the broadcasts across this region, particularly in relation to its pedagogical value for harnessing progressive localised disability politics, disability activism, and social justice.
The great reconnection: Examining motives for relational reconnection and investigating social penetration as a predictor of well-being
Authors: Brody Nicholas , Blackburn Kate , LeFebvre Leah
Published: January 2024

This study employs multiple methods to examine why individuals engage in relational reconnection and how self-disclosure during the re-initiation process relates to well-being during a time of acute stress. We apply Social Penetration Theory to examine individuals’ motivation to reconnect with dormant contacts, which channels they selected, the extent to which partners engaged in various levels of self-disclosure during relational reconnection, and how self-disclosure related to psychosocial and relational outcomes. Participants ( N = 254) were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk to answer a series of open- and closed-ended questions relating to the most important person they reconnected with during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative thematic analysis identified ten themes driving individuals to reconnect, including relational dormancy, health checks, and reminiscing. Quantitative results showed that depth and breadth of self-disclosure in reconnected relationships were each negatively related to depression and loneliness. Breadth and depth of self-disclosure were also each positively associated with anticipation of future interaction. The ability to re-engage with former social connections showed clear associations with people’s psychological and emotional well-being during the pandemic, and the findings demonstrate the central role of continued self-disclosure during relational reconnection.
Validation of a new 3D quantitative BOLD based cerebral oxygen extraction mapping
Authors: Lee Hyunyeol , Xu Jing , Fernandez-Seara Maria A , Wehrli Felix W
Published: January 2024

Quantitative BOLD (qBOLD) MRI allows evaluation of oxidative metabolism of the brain based purely on an endogenous contrast mechanism. The method quantifies deoxygenated blood volume (DBV) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of venous blood (Yv), yielding oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and along with a separate measurement of cerebral blood flow, cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) maps. Here, we evaluated our recently reported 3D qBOLD method that rectifies a number of deficiencies in prior qBOLD approaches in terms of repeat reproducibility and sensitivity to hypercapnia on the metabolic parameters, and in comparison to dual-gas calibrated BOLD (cBOLD) MRI for determining resting-state oxygen metabolism. Results suggested no significant difference between test-retest qBOLD scans in either DBV and OEF. Exposure to hypercapnia yielded group averages of 38 and 28% for OEF and 151 and 146 µmol/min/100 g for CMRO2 in gray matter at baseline and hypercapnia, respectively. The decrease of OEF during hypercapnia was significant (p ≪ 0.01), whereas CMRO2 did not change significantly (p = 0.25). Finally, baseline OEF (37 vs. 39%) and CMRO2 (153 vs. 145 µmol/min/100 g) in gray matter using qBOLD and dual-gas cBOLD were found to be in good agreement with literature values, and were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.1).
Lazy incremental search for efficient replanning with bounded suboptimality guarantees
Authors: Lim Jaein , Ghanei Mahdi , Lawson R. Connor , Srinivasa Siddhartha , Tsiotras Panagiotis
Published: January 2024

We present a lazy incremental search algorithm, Lifelong-GLS (L-GLS), along with its bounded suboptimal version, Bounded L-GLS (B-LGLS) that combine the search efficiency of incremental search algorithms with the evaluation efficiency of lazy search algorithms for fast replanning in problem domains where edge evaluations are more expensive than vertex expansions. The proposed algorithms generalize Lifelong Planning A* (LPA*) and its bounded suboptimal version, Truncated LPA* (TLPA*), within the Generalized Lazy Search (GLS) framework, so as to restrict expensive edge evaluations only to the current shortest subpath when the cost-to-come inconsistencies are propagated during repair. We also present dynamic versions of the L-GLS and B-LGLS algorithms, called Generalized D* (GD*) and Bounded Generalized D* (B-GD*), respectively, for efficient replanning with non-stationary queries, designed specifically for navigation of mobile robots. We prove that the proposed algorithms are complete and correct in finding a solution that is guaranteed not to exceed the optimal solution cost by a user-chosen factor. Our numerical and experimental results support the claim that the proposed integration of the incremental and lazy search frameworks can help find solutions faster compared to the regular incremental or regular lazy search algorithms when the underlying graph representation changes often.
Defence Diplomacy in Argentina: Finding New Roles for the Military in Democracy
Authors: Oelsner Andrea , Solmirano Carina , Tasselkraut Deborah M.
Published: January 2024

Following the return to democracy in Argentina, the definition of new roles and missions for the armed forces became imperative in order to establish civilian authority over the military and contribute to the consolidation of the democratic regime. After seven years of military dictatorship (1976–1983), the transformation of repressive and war-prone armed forces into law-abiding and peaceful ones was needed to achieve three key political goals: To strengthen the newly restored yet weak rule of law, to rebuild the country’s battered international image, and to help professionalise an ill-reputed military. This article argues that since the return to democracy in 1983, successive governments have pursued these goals by linking issues traditionally falling within the military and security realm to the country’s external agenda. Building upon the defence diplomacy literature – that is, the use of defence and military cooperation as a diplomatic tool – the article develops a conceptual framework to apply to the Argentine case, focussing on how defence diplomacy is developed in three stages which we conceptualise as inward-looking, outward-looking, and symmetrical military-to-military relations. Overall, we contend that defence diplomacy – though still a recent and weakly systematised concept in the field – is a useful tool which should be taken into account when analysing the democratic transitions and the pursued civilian control over the armed forces in Global South countries like Argentina.
Information competency assessment of undergraduates: A Pakistani perspective
Authors: Irfan Naha , Rafiq Muhammad , Arif Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Students who possess information competency are better equipped to use the large volumes of data at their disposal and think critically and creatively. This study aims to address the research gap in Pakistani higher education by examining the information competency of undergraduate students at a premier university. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 669 undergraduates, using descriptive and inferential statistics to draw inferences. The study found that students perceived their information competency to be slightly higher than average, with no significant difference based on gender or academic year. The subject domain significantly predicted students’ information competency level, with engineering students expressing higher information competency levels than students from other disciplines. The social sciences group of students reported feeling less information competent compared to the other five groups. The study addresses the literature gap and provides crucial measures for academicians and library practitioners to create effective digital and information literacy programmes for university students.
Female Authorship Is Driving Studies of Female Athletes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sonnier John Hayden , Coladonato Carlo , Hahn Alexander K. , Paul Ryan W. , Hanna Adeeb Jacob , Windsor Jordan T. , Weiss Conrad T. , Freedman Kevin B. , Bishop Meghan E.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Patient sex is known to affect patient outcomes in sports medicine. Historically, many studies on athletes have focused on male athletes and been generalized to female athletes.

Hypothesis:

Studies with female first or senior authors will isolate female athletes as study participants more frequently than studies with male first or senior authors.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocols, original research studies published between 2017 and 2021 that analyzed athletes were systematically screened from the 6 top sports medicine journals ( British Journal of Sports Medicine; Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery; Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy; American Journal of Sports Medicine; Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine; Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach). Articles were included for analysis if they met the following criteria: (1) original sports medicine research study, (2) analysis involving athletes, and (3) inclusion of ≥10 participants. Exclusion criteria included (1) review articles of any type and (2) cadaveric studies. The determination of author sex was completed using the name-to-gender assignment algorithm Genderize.io ( https://genderize.io/ ).

Results:

A total of 1146 studies were included in quantitative analysis. There were 246 studies with a female first author (21.5%) and 191 studies with a female senior author (16.7%). When looking at all authors (first, senior, and intermediate), 19.9% were female. Female first authors were over 4 times more likely to isolate female athletes in clinical research than male first authors (17.5% vs 3.8%, respectively; P < .001). Female senior authors were approximately twice as likely to isolate female athletes compared with male senior authors (11.5% vs 5.8%, respectively; P < .001).

Conclusion:

Female first authors were significantly more likely to perform research isolating female athletes. While improving the frequency of female athlete research is multifactorial, increasing the number of female researchers may have a direct effect on improving gender equality in sports medicine research.
Stabilizing Mechanisms in Patients Treated Using Hill-Sachs Remplissage With Bankart Repair in Abduction–External Rotation Position
Authors: Zhang Fei , Liao Weixiong , Chen Xianghui , Zhang Baoxiang , Xu Lin , Wang Xiaolin , Zhu Yaqiong , Fu Yangmu , Xiong Wentao , Song Shoulong , Sheng Xianhao , Gao Huayi , Lai Shengwei , Zhang Qiang
Published: January 2024

Background:

Hill-Sachs lesion (HSL) remplissage with Bankart repair (RMBR) provides a minimally invasive solution for treating HSLs and glenoid bone defects of <25%. The infraspinatus tendon is inserted into the HSL during the remplissage process, causing the infraspinatus to shift medially, leading to an unknown effect on glenohumeral alignment during the resting abduction–external rotation (ABER) and muscle-active states.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible check-rein effect and muscle-active control in stabilizing the glenohumeral joint after RMBR in vivo. We hypothesized that the check-rein effect and active control would stabilize the glenohumeral joint in the ABER position in patients after RMBR.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

We included 42 participants—22 patients in group A who met the inclusion criteria after RMBR and 20 healthy participants in group B without shoulder laxity. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging was performed to analyze the alignment relationship of the glenohumeral joint with and without muscular activity. Ultrasonic shear wave elastography was used to evaluate the elastic properties of the anterior capsule covered with the anterior bands of the inferior glenohumeral ligament.

Results:

Patients who underwent RMBR demonstrated more posterior (–1.81 ± 1.19 mm vs –0.76 ± 1.25 mm; P = .008) and inferior (–1.05 ± 0.62 mm vs –0.45 ± 0.48 mm; P = .001) shifts of the humeral head rotation center and less anterior capsular elasticity (70.07 ± 22.60 kPa vs 84.01 ± 14.08 kPa; P = .023) than healthy participants in the resting ABER state. More posterior (–3.17 ± 0.84 mm vs –1.81 ± 1.19 mm; P < .001) and less-inferior (–0.34 ± 0.56 mm vs –1.05 ± 0.62 mm; P < .001) shifts of the humeral head rotation center and less anterior capsular elasticity (36.57 ± 13.89 kPa vs 70.07 ± 22.60 kPa; P < .001) were observed in the operative shoulder during muscle-active ABER than in resting ABER states.

Conclusion:

The check-rein effect and muscle-active control act as stabilizing mechanisms in RMBR during the ABER position.

Clinical Relevance:

Stabilizing mechanisms in RMBR during the ABER position include the check-rein effect and muscle-active control.
Antibiotic prophylaxis in urologic interventions: Who, when, where?
Authors: Marino Filippo , Rossi Francesco , Murri Rita , Sacco Emilio
Published: January 2024

Background:

Periprocedural prophylaxis in medicine encompasses the set of measures (physical, chemical, and pharmacological) used to reduce the risk of infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) refers to the administration of a short-term regimen of antibiotics shortly before a medical procedure to reduce the risk of infectious complications that can result from diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. The outspreading growth of multidrug-resistant bacterial species and changes in the bacterial local ecosystem have impeded the development of a unique scheme of AP in urology.

Objectives:

To review the literature and current guidelines regarding AP for urological diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and to define agents, timing, and occasions when administering pharmacological prophylaxis. Secondly, according to current literature, to open new scenarios where AP can be useful or useless.

Results:

Major gaps in evidence still exist in this field. AP appears useful in many invasive procedures and some sub-populations at risk of infectious complications. AP is not routinely recommended for urodynamic exams, diagnostic cystoscopy, and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. The available data regarding the use of AP during the transperineal prostate biopsy are still unclear; conversely, in the case of the transrectal approach AP is mandatory. AP is still considered the gold standard for the prevention of postoperative infective complications in the case of ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, endoscopic resection of bladder tumor, endoscopic resection of the prostate, and prosthetic or major surgery.

Conclusion:

The review highlights the complexity of determining the appropriate candidates for AP, emphasizing the importance of considering patient-specific factors such as comorbidities, immunocompetence, and the nature of the urologic intervention. The evidence suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable, and a tailored strategy based on the specific procedure and patient characteristics is essential.
The Importance of Zero-Deficiency Complaints in Nursing Homes: A Mere Consequence or Serious Concern?
Authors: Bhattacharyya Kallol Kumar , Peterson Lindsay , Molinari Victor , Fauth Elizabeth B. , Andel Ross
Published: January 2024

Complaints represent an important metric for assessing the quality of nursing home (NH) care. Using the Automated Survey Processing Environment (ASPEN) Complaints/Incidents Tracking System dataset (2017), we examined the relationships between zero-deficiency complaints (ZDCs) and zero-deficiency substantiated complaints (ZDSCs) and the proportion of residents with dementia. NHs ( N = 15,339) were separated into three groups—proportion of residents with dementia in the top, two middle, and the bottom quartiles. Negative binomial regressions assessed zero-deficiency complaint patterns in relation to NHs’ proportion of residents with dementia, controlling for facility characteristics, staffing, and racial pattern. We reported average marginal effects ( AMEs) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs). NHs in the top quartile yielded higher numbers of both ZDC ( AME = .189, 95% CI: .102−.276, p < .001) and ZDSC ( AME = .236, 95% CI: .094−.378, p = .001), than NHs in the bottom quartile. Results suggest a need for more uniform investigation processes and staff training to promote a more valid complaint process for residents with dementia.
Performing Social Control: Poverty Governance, Public Finance, and the Politics of Visibility
Authors: Robinson John N. , Headworth Spencer , Karp Shai
Published: January 2024

The visibility of populations, policies, and the state matters greatly for questions of power, inequality, and democratic life. This article builds on existing scholarship by examining how visibility operates as a lever and effect of social control in a racially and economically stratified society. By doing so, the article identifies a paradox. Race- and class-empowered groups often pressure state actors to implement punitive policies or otherwise visibly contain and control disadvantaged populations. But they also tend to decry and disavow the necessary public costs of these disciplinary interventions. This creates a conundrum for authorities: how to satisfy popular demands for social control while concealing resource commitments. We use the term disciplinary tensions to describe the contradictory political desires that state actors must navigate to maintain legitimacy with privileged constituents. We examine two state projects that, in different ways, crystallize this dilemma: the expansion of low-income housing development in New York in the 1960s and 1970s and state prison construction in California in the 1980s and 1990s. In both episodes, officials responded to disciplinary tensions by turning to covert public finance options: specifically, revenue bonds, which seemingly detach policy from conventional tax-and-spend public finance. We argue that these cases shed light on the shifting nature of power as finance has come to pervade all aspects of government and covert governing tactics supplement and supplant society’s more direct practices of social control. Revenue bonds, in particular, allow governing actors to appease and placate the populace by reconfiguring the state’s disciplinary power so that social control appears to pay for itself.
Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in mercury mining workers in a precarious situation: A preliminary study
Authors: Saldaña-Villanueva Kelvin , González-Palomo Ana K , Méndez-Rodríguez Karen B , Gavilán-García Arturo , Benítez-Arvizu Gamaliel , Diaz-Barriga Fernando , Alcantara-Quintana Luz , Pérez-Vázquez Francisco J
Published: January 2024

Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental xenobiotic; the primary sources of exposure to this metal are artisanal gold mining and the direct production of mercury. In Mexico, artisanal mercury mining continues to be an important activity in different regions of the country. Exposure to mercury vapors releases can have severe health impacts, including immunotoxic effects such as alterations in cytokine profiling. Therefore, in the present work, we evaluated the inflammatory cytokines profile in the blood serum of miners exposed to mercury. A cross-sectional observational study was performed on 27 mining workers (exposed group) and 20 control subjects (nonexposed group) from central Mexico. The mercury urine concentration (U-Hg) was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, and IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured using a Multiplex Assay. The results showed that the U-Hg in the miners had a median value of 552.70 μg/g creatinine. All cytokines showed a significant increase in the miner group compared with the control group, except for TNF-α. In addition, we observed a positive correlation between U-Hg concentration and cytokine levels. In conclusion, mercury exposure correlated with cytokine levels (considered acute inflammatory marker) in miners; therefore, workers exposed to this metal show an acute systemic inflammation that could lead to alterations in other organs and systems.
Scope of School Psychological Practice in Germany: Part 1
Authors: von Hagen Alexa , Müller Bettina , Vannini Natalie , Rublevskis Nils , Schaaf Mirijam , Jeck Stephan , Müller-Staske Marion , Bachmann Gerhard , Sedlak Anna , Wegerer Joanna , Büttner Gerhard
Published: January 2024

Many countries rely on statements issued by professional associations to delimit the scope of school psychological practice. It is, however, not always clear to what extent these statements match current practices and school psychologists’ self-perception of their professional role, as empirical data is often unavailable or limited. This study aims to address this gap by collecting empirical data on the scope of school psychological practice in Germany. In a mixed method study, we first applied the Delphi technique to develop a questionnaire in collaboration with school psychological experts from different federal states of Germany. Second, we collected information on federal policies through semi-structured interviews with regional experts. Third, we invited a representative sample of school psychologists to complete the questionnaire developed through the Delphi technique. In this first report, we focus on the Delphi procedure and overall results of the survey describing the scope of school psychological practice in Germany at a country-wide level. These findings provide a detailed characterization of the broad and heterogeneous scope providing an evidence-base for future research and political decision-making.
Loosening The Grip: Delegation of Financial Decision-Making to Spouse in Old Age
Authors: Hohn Sylvain , Basu Anup , Dulleck Uwe , Henry Julie , Cherbuin Nicolas
Published: January 2024

Gender inequality in control of household finances is a well-known phenomenon. We investigate whether such imbalance also extends to the delegation of financial decision-making (FDM) responsibilities to one’s spouse in old age. This study reports the results from an incentivized delegation experiment among Australian couples of age ≥60 years. Participants were required to complete FDM tasks, which they had the option of completing independently or delegating to their spouse. The odds of women delegating to their spouse were found to be nearly 25 times higher than that of men. This gender difference in delegation was not explained by differences in financial competence, education, age, or cognitive status. The likelihood of delegation increased with the financial competence of the spouse. Individuals who had the option to delegate selectively delegated more often and earlier than those who could only delegate irrevocably. Our evidence suggests that gender norms and control play a dominant role in the delegation of FDM within older couples and can override specialization or efficiency considerations.
PD peritonitis in patients undergoing capsule endoscopy: A descriptive study
Authors: Khair Mina , Palamuthusingam Dharmenaan , Hawley Carmel M , Pascoe Elaine M , Johnson David Wayne , Mon Saw Yu , Fahim Magid
Published: January 2024

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients who undergo gastroendoscopy and colonoscopy are at increased risk of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PD peritonitis) following the procedure (defined as occurring within 7 days of intervention). As per current International Society for PD (ISPD) guidelines, antibiotic prophylaxis is currently recommended pre-colonoscopy in PD patients given the risk of post-colonoscopy PD peritonitis. The risk of PD peritonitis in patients undergoing capsule endoscopy (CE) is unknown. This binational data-linkage study between the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry and all hospital admission data sets in Australia and New Zealand evaluated all patients with PD who underwent CE between 2006 and 2015. The objective of the study was to assess the risk of PD peritonitis in patients undergoing CE. Descriptive statistics were used to describe patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. Overall, 23 patients with PD underwent CE. Twelve patients underwent CE alone (i.e. no other concomitant procedures) and none of these patients experienced an episode of PD peritonitis. The remaining 11 patients underwent CE and other invasive endoscopic/abdominal surgical procedures, of whom 2 suffered PD peritonitis. CE is likely a relatively safe procedure in PD patients. PD patients undergoing CE may not require prior antibiotic prophylaxis. Given their relative safety, CE may be an appealing diagnostic tool in a select group of PD patients for the investigation of gastrointestinal disease.
Research on lane-changing decision and control of autonomous vehicles based on game theory
Authors: Li Guozhen , Shi Wankai
Published: January 2024

Designing a secure and reliable decision-planning model for vehicle lane changing is of utmost practical significance because it is one of the most frequent driving behaviors and has a substantial impact on the safety of drivers’ lives and property. First, a Gaussian mixed Hidden Markov model (GMHMM) is trained for lane change intention recognition (LCIR), and the results reveal that the model has a great performance. This will simplify the game process and provide drivers and passengers with warnings. Second, the safety, efficiency, and comfort payoffs of vehicle lane changes are taken into account when building the game model. When building the safety payoff function, temporal collision risk and spatial collision risk of vehicles are two of them that are carefully taken into account. After that, the vehicle’s trajectory tracking control is decoupled into lateral LQR + feedforward control and longitudinal dual proportional integral derivative (PID) control based on the Frenet coordinate system. Finally, a vehicle lane change scenario is built for simulation analysis, and the effects of driving comfort factor and driving efficiency factor on lane change results are considered. The results show that the proposed game theory lane change model ensures lane change safety while satisfying human drivers’ requirements for lane change efficiency and comfort.
A decision-making of autonomous driving method based on DDPG with pretraining
Authors: Ma Jinlin , Zhang Mingyu , Ma Kaiping , Zhang Houzhong , Geng Guoqing
Published: January 2024

Present the DDPGwP (DDPG with Pretraining) model, grounded in the framework of deep reinforcement learning, designed for autonomous driving decision-making. The model incorporates imitation learning by utilizing expert experience for supervised learning during initial training and weight preservation. A novel loss function is devised, enabling the expert experience to jointly guide the Actor network’s update alongside the Critic network while also participating in the Critic network’s updates. This approach allows imitation learning to dominate the early stages of training, with reinforcement learning taking the lead in later stages. Employing experience replay buffer separation techniques, we categorize and store collected superior, ordinary, and expert experiences. We select sensor inputs from the TORCS (The Open Racing Car Simulator) simulation platform and conduct experimental validation, comparing the results with the original DDPG, A2C, and PPO algorithms. Experimental outcomes reveal that incorporating imitation learning significantly accelerates early-stage training, reduces blind trial-and-error during initial exploration, and enhances algorithm stability and safety. The experience replay buffer separation technique improves sampling efficiency and mitigates algorithm overfitting. In addition to expediting algorithm training rates, our approach enables the simulated vehicle to learn superior strategies, garnering higher reward values. This demonstrates the superior stability, safety, and policy-making capabilities of the proposed algorithm, as well as accelerated network convergence.
A form-finding method for adaptive truss structures subject to multiple static load cases
Authors: Gade Jan , Geiger Florian , Kemmler Roman , Bischoff Manfred
Published: January 2024

Form-finding is an essential task in the design of efficient lightweight structures. It is based on the crucial assumption of one single shape-determining load case, usually represented by self-weight. Adaptive components integrated into the structure open a way to even more efficient lightweight designs, as such structures can adapt their shapes to varying external loads and redistribute internal forces. This article presents a method for form-finding of adaptive truss structures subject to multiple, independently acting load cases, also incorporating possible design constraints. To ensure the consistency of the manufacturing lengths of passive elements in all load cases, special constraints are considered. The method enables to reduce sensitivity of the structural shape with respect to various different loads by means of actuation to meet design and serviceability requirements with a lower structural mass compared to conventional design strategies. This is demonstrated within a replaced real-world-like setting of an adaptive suspension truss bridge.
Effects of Voice Pitch on Social Perceptions Vary With Relational Mobility and Homicide Rate
Authors: Aung Toe , Hill Alexander K. , Hlay Jessica K. , Hess Catherine , Hess Michael , Johnson Janie , Doll Leslie , Carlson Sara M. , Magdinec Caroline , G-Santoyo Isaac , Walker Robert S. , Bailey Drew , Arnocky Steven , Kamble Shanmukh , Vardy Tom , Kyritsis Thanos , Atkinson Quentin , Jones Benedict , Burns Jessica , Koster Jeremy , Palomo-Vélez Gonzalo , Tybur Joshua M. , Muñoz-Reyes José , Choy Bryan K. C. , Li Norman P. , Klar Verena , Batres Carlota , Bascheck Patricia , Schild Christoph , Penke Lars , Pazhoohi Farid , Kemirembe Karen , Valentova Jaroslava Varella , Varella Marco Antonio Correa , da Silva Caio Santos Alves , Borras-Guevara Martha , Hodges-Simeon Carolyn , Ernst Moritz , Garr Collin , Chen Bin-Bin , Puts David
Published: January 2024

Fundamental frequency (  fo) is the most perceptually salient vocal acoustic parameter, yet little is known about how its perceptual influence varies across societies. We examined how fo affects key social perceptions and how socioecological variables modulate these effects in 2,647 adult listeners sampled from 44 locations across 22 nations. Low male fo increased men’s perceptions of formidability and prestige, especially in societies with higher homicide rates and greater relational mobility in which male intrasexual competition may be more intense and rapid identification of high-status competitors may be exigent. High female fo increased women’s perceptions of flirtatiousness where relational mobility was lower and threats to mating relationships may be greater. These results indicate that the influence of fo on social perceptions depends on socioecological variables, including those related to competition for status and mates.
Reimagining Business Ethics as Ethos-Driven Practice: A Deweyan Perspective
Authors: Gohl Christopher
Published: January 2024

As business ethics is grappling with criticisms of its relevance for ethical practice, it may find perspective and direction in various conceptions of ethos. While ‘ethics’ is rooted in ‘ethos’, a term with a long and rich history of interdisciplinary research, conceptions of ethos are so far scarcely discussed in business ethics. The purpose of this conceptual article is to explore the potential of a pivot towards business ethics as an ethos-driven practice, drawing on John Dewey’s work. First, it introduces four conceptions of ethos from interdisciplinary research and explores their varied resonance in business ethics. Second, it offers a unified conception of ethos that builds on John Dewey’s approach to economics, moral life and ethics, particularly on his understanding of habits and forms of valuation. It is then argued that understanding ethos in terms of ‘valued modes of embedded, embodied and associational conduct’ encourages business ethics to engage in the intelligent, practical and meaningful reconstruction of evolving business practices. The article concludes that an ‘ ethotical turn’ for business ethics would not only invigorate practical, corporeal and environmental perspectives but also open the field to interdisciplinary insights and ideas.
Where is the mutilation? Understanding the High Court’s deliberation on FGM in Vaziri and Magennis
Authors: Rogers Juliet
Published: January 2024

In 2015, Vaziri and Magennis – the first case on female genital mutilation (FGM) – was prosecuted in Australia. Three people were convicted. In 2018, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the judgment was a ‘potential miscarriage of justice’. The prosecution pushed for ‘leave to appeal’ to the High Court of Australia and for consideration of the meaning of mutilation. The appeal was held in 2019, and the NSWCCA judgment was overturned. In this article, I examine the absence of discussions of male circumcision and female genital cosmetic surgery in this case and ask not only what form of cut produces a legal definition of mutilation, but where this cut must be and on what form of body.
Forgotten Humanity, Relational Poverty, and Homelessness
Authors: Burnes Donald W.
Published: January 2024

One important concept in the analysis of American attitudes toward those without homes is relational poverty. Having few, if any, ties to other people, especially those people that can provide resources, is a commonly accepted definition of relational poverty, especially for those experiencing homelessness. This essay will expand this definition substantially and will suggest that the housed population in this country bears a significant responsibility for homelessness by forgetting the humanity of those without homes and by continuing to exhibit unwarranted negative attitudes toward the unhoused. In its analysis, this essay explores the dimensions of each of these aspects of relational poverty, their negative impacts, and some possible ways of altering these impacts.
Social Determinants of Health are Associated with Coping of Informal Caregivers of Adults with Heart Failure
Authors: Matus Austin , Quinn Ryan , Stawnychy Michael A. , Thomas Gladys , Goba Miatta , Garo Jenna , Gordon Deborah , Riegel Barbara
Published: January 2024

We explored the influence of social determinants of health (SDH) risk on stress and coping style in heart failure (HF) caregivers. In this cross-sectional study, data from 250 caregivers were analyzed. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine the extent to which SDH risk (measured using a modified PRAPARE tool (National Association of Community Health Centers), range 0–22) predicted stress (Perceived Stress Scale, 0–56) and coping style (active (0–45), avoidance (0–30), and minimization (0–30)) while accounting for caregiver burden (HF Caregiver Questionnaire (HF-CQ) 0–100). Multivariable regression analysis with backwards elimination variable selection approach was used to identify which SDH risk factors best predicted coping styles. SDH risk was significantly associated with avoidance and minimization coping styles. Each unit increase in SDH risk was associated with an increase of 0.6 ± 0.2 units ( p = .0008) in avoidance and 0.7 ± 0.2 units ( p < .0001) in minimization coping style. Race and “supporting others” significantly predicted avoidance coping style; scores were 3.3 ± 0.8 units greater for caregivers who were not White ( p < .0001) and 1.4 ± 0.5 units greater ( p < .01) for each additional person whom they supported. Race significantly predicted minimization coping style; scores were 4.4 ± 0.7 units greater for caregivers who were not White ( p < .0001). Caregivers with higher SDH risk may avoid and minimize to cope with caregiving challenges.
Analysis of Gender Diversity Within Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship Programs
Authors: Cho Elizabeth , Gianakos Arianna L. , Schiff Adam P.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Women continue to be underrepresented in orthopaedic surgery. This study seeks to evaluate gender diversity of faculty and trainees at foot and ankle surgery fellowship programs.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional analysis of 49 US foot and ankle fellowship programs, all publicly available data on program faculty (as of July 2023) were collected, as well as data on current and past fellows between 2018 and 2024.

Results:

Of 49 programs with 195 foot and ankle surgery faculty, 26.5% (n = 13) had at least 1 female on faculty, with only 8.2% (n = 4) having female fellowship directors. Female faculty made up 9.7% (n = 19) of foot and ankle surgery faculty overall. Of 307 total fellows identified within the 6-year period, 19.5% (n = 60) were female. Geographic distribution of programs was as follows: 29% (n = 14) Northeast, 31% (n = 15) South, 19% (n = 9) Midwest, and 21% (n = 10) West. Northeast programs made up 62% of all programs with female faculty, whereas Midwest programs made up the least at 8% ( P = .048). Programs with female faculty had more female fellows from 2018 to 2024 than programs without female faculty (33.7% vs 14%, P < .001).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that females remain underrepresented in foot and ankle surgery fellowship director positions, despite an increasing proportion of females entering orthopaedic surgery. Foot and ankle surgery fellowship programs with female faculty had a higher number of female trainees; as such, diversification of foot and ankle fellowship departments may be an important factor in ongoing efforts to promote gender diversity within the specialty.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, observational cross-sectional analysis
Identifying the Active Ingredients of Climate Change Narratives: A Model of Temporal Perspective, Narrator Perspective, and Psychological Distance
Authors: Chen Meng , Wang Jilong , Yin Zhian
Published: January 2024

Psychological distance has long been regarded as a primary obstacle to driving pro-environmental changes. This study seeks to explore narrative attributes that can be strategically harnessed to solve the distal nature of climate change. By adopting a 2 (retrospective vs. prospective temporal perspective) × 2 (first-person vs. third-person narrator perspective) factorial experimental design, the findings suggested that climate change narratives in retrospective and first-person perspectives manifest superiority in reducing psychological distance, with narrative involvement as the explanatory mechanism. In addition, the two forms of narrative involvement, namely transportation and identification, play distinct roles in addressing various types of psychological distance.
Evenness improvement method for high-speed turnout crossing areas
Authors: Wang Pu , Zhao Zhenhua , Ma Siyuan , Wang Shuguo , Si Daolin
Published: January 2024

In this study, an evenness improvement method for new high-speed turnout crossing areas is proposed for the development of high-speed turnout and amplification of the wheel–rail dynamic impact in the crossing areas. A dynamic analysis model of the vehicle–turnout coupling system is established. In this model, the stock and switch rails as well as the wing and point rails are independent units. These independent units are connected using spring–damper units with variable parameters to accurately simulate the wheel-load transition process and the dynamic characteristics of the turnout. On this basis, an optimized scheme is developed for point rail–wing rail matching based on the center-of-mass oscillation compensation of wheelsets, and the rationality of the optimization method is verified via dynamic simulation evaluation at a high speed. Finally, the proposed method is validated through indoor actual-scale tests. The following are the results of this study. (1) As the vehicle passed over the crossing under the existing design scheme, the center-of-mass oscillation reached an oscillation length of 1.16–1.52 mm such that lifting the wing rail alone failed to eliminate the center-of-mass oscillation of the wheelsets. This is because the point and wing rails were incorrectly matched, leading to a backward shift in the wheel-load transition, thus causing a sharp drop of the wheelsets. Together with wing rail lifting, the longitudinal slope matching of the point rail effectively retained the wheel-load transition characteristics under the existing design scheme and eliminated the center-of-mass oscillation of the wheelsets. (2) As the train passed through the turnout crossing at a high speed, the optimized scheme substantially reduced the center-of-mass oscillation of the wheelsets, wheel–rail dynamic impact, and axle-box vibration while ensuring consistency of the wheel-load transition characteristics with the existing design scheme. (3) The maximum deflection change rate of the wing rail in the assembled crossing was only 1.67 mm/m, which could not meet the requirement of the theoretical longitudinal curve, and would cause the problem of turnout sleeper lifting, affecting the precision of laying turnouts on-site. Computer numerical control machining should be used to achieve the longitudinal curve requirement of the wing rail. The iron plate thickness should be increased gradually to 0.5 mm from the #82 sleeper to the #86 sleeper. Accordingly, the amount of machining of the wing rail should be increased from 0 mm to 2 mm. At the #92–#95 sleepers, this amount of machining should be decreased from 2 mm to 0.6 mm and then increased to 2 mm. This process would accurately realize the theoretical longitudinal slope curve.
A novel active and passive integrated vibration isolator based on piezoelectric stack: Characteristic analysis and experimental investigation
Authors: Pan Tianyue , Shen Xing
Published: January 2024

Passive vibration isolation has the advantages of simple structure, high reliability, and strong ability to absorb high-frequency vibration. Active vibration isolation has wide application range, strong controllability, and good vibration suppression effect for specific frequency band. Active and passive integrated vibration isolation technology combines the characteristics of both and has obvious advantages in dealing with the complex vibration environment in modern engineering practice. In this work, piezoelectric stack actuator is selected as the active control output source and vulcanized butyl rubber is used as the passive vibration absorber. The dynamic model of the novel active and passive integrated isolator is established, then the effects of different parameters on its vibration transmission performance are studied. Furthermore, a typical two-degree-of-freedom vibration isolation system model is established. By comparing the change of vibration transmissibility under different feedback forms, the design of the feedforward–feedback composite controller is applied. Finally, a double-layer vibration isolation test platform is built to verify the vibration reduction capability of the active and passive integrated isolator. The experimental results show that both the passive vibration absorption and active vibration suppression functions of this novel vibration isolator are particularly effective.