bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of RC T‐beams toughness using laced stirrups reinforcement for blast response predictions
Authors: Allawi Abbas A. , Shubber Arshad Nadhom , Al Gharawi Mohanned , El‐Zohairy Ayman , Ibrahim Teghreed H. , Al‐Ahmed Ali Hussein Ali , Arafa Ibrahim T.
Published: December 2022

The dynamic behavior of laced reinforced concrete (LRC) T‐beams could give high‐energy absorption capabilities without significantly affecting the cost, which was offered through a combination of high strength and ductile response. In this paper, LRC T‐beams, composed of inclined continuous reinforcement on each side of the beam, were investigated to maintain high deformations as predicted in blast resistance. The beams were tested under four‐point loading to create pure bending zones and obtain the ultimate flexural capacities. Transverse reinforcement using lacing reinforcement and conventional vertical stirrups were compared in terms of deformation, strain, and toughness changes of the tested beams. The inclination angles of the used lacing reinforcement with respect to the longitudinal reinforcement were 45° and 60°. The lacing reinforcement was efficient and participated actively in resisting the bending moments and shear forces at the same time. For the same diameter of lacing reinforcement, the 60° inclination angle imposed more ductility before failure than beams with lacing reinforcement of a 45° inclination angle. Moreover, the lacing bar diameter was more effective in improving the load‐carrying capacities when using the inclination angle of 45°. A finite element (FE) model was developed and validated using the experimental results based on the measured deformations and strains to conduct a parametric study. The investigated parameters included the effect of the arrangements of the applied loads, laced rebar diameter, inclination angle, tension reinforcement ratio, and concrete strength.
Experimental investigation on the effect of liquid phase and vapor phase separation over performance of falling film evaporator
Authors: Anjankar Pankaj , Lakade Sanjay , Padalkar Atul , Nichal Sandeep , Devarajan Yuvarajan , Lakshmaiya Natrayan , Subbaiyan Naveen
Published: December 2022

Energy, cost, and environmental concerns play a vital role in understanding governing parameters of distributor design in falling film evaporators. Distributor design is a hidden parameter in many experimental papers. The uniform distribution of liquid refrigerant over the tube bundle mostly depends on two‐phase liquid refrigerant and vapor refrigerant. This work conducted experiments with two distribution systems with and without separation of liquid‐vapor refrigerant after expansion valve for the same evaporator capacity with R134a as a refrigerant. Results reveal that; separating vapor refrigerant has a positive impact on the approach of the evaporator with an open system distributor arrangement. The highest delta T and lowest practice are found at a heat flux of 13.97 kW/m2 with an available system distributor compared to a closed system with a heat flux of 14.25 kW/m2. The open system arrangement in the distributor is the novel parameter for distributor design, ensuring uniform distribution with minimum pressure drop and dry suction. An open system distributor has an average 16.1% capacity increase over a closed system. The experimental analysis helps to understand different parameters for the design of distributors in falling film evaporators for uniform distribution.
Prediction of infected pancreatic necrosis in acute necrotizing pancreatitis by the modified pancreatitis activity scoring system
Authors: Mao Wenjian , Li Kang , Zhou Jing , Chen Miao , Ye Bo , Li Gang , Singh Vikesh , Buxbaum James , Fu Xiaoyun , Tong Zhihui , Liu Yuxiu , Windsor John , Li Weiqin , Ke Lu ,   for the Chinese Acute Pancreatitis Clinical Trials Group (CAPCTG)
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a significant complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Early identification of patients at high risk of IPN would enable appropriate treatment, but there is a lack of valid tools. This study aimed to assess the performance of the Pancreatitis Activity Scoring System (PASS) and its modifications (by removing or reducing the weight of opioid usage) in predicting IPN in a cohort of predicted severe ANP patients.

Methods

Data was prospectively collected in the TRACE trial (2017–2020) involving 16 sites across China. The predictive performance of PASS, modified PASS (mPASS), and conventional indices were assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Hosmer‐Lemeshow Ĉ‐test, Brier score, and Fagan's nomogram. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA) was used to define the relationship between the best‐performing PASS/mPASS model and IPN.

Results

A total of 508 subjects were enrolled (median age, 43 years; 62.8% males) in the original trial, and 122 developed IPN (24%) within 90 days after randomization. Compared with non‐IPN patients, the scores of PASS and its modified models were significantly higher in the IPN patients (all p < 0.001). Among the PASS and its modifications, mPASS‐4 had the largest AUC, the lowest Brier score, and good calibration. The mPASS‐4 model demonstrated an AUC of 0.752 in predicting IPN (the optimal cut‐off for the mPASS‐4 was 292.5) and outperformed the conventional indices. The MLRA results showed that mPASS‐4 >292.5 was an independent risk factor of IPN (OR: 3.6, 95% CI: 2.1–6.3).

Conclusion

The PASS and its modifications during the first week of ANP onset predict the development of IPN, with mPASS‐4 performing best. The mPASS‐4 model simplifies the original PASS, increasing the likelihood of clinical implementation.
Veterinary nanomedicine: Pros and cons
Authors: Jafary Fariba , Motamedi Shima , Karimi Isaac
Published: December 2022

In recent years, nanotechnology has improved life with continuous growth in different fields. Nanoparticles can be employed in industry, imaging, engineering, and various biomedical filed because of their special physicochemical properties like rapid, effective, highly specific solutions, higher stability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and cost. In this line, veterinary medicine has been influenced by nanotechnology in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, cancer therapy, immunization, vaccine production, drug delivery, and health besides to related issues of animal production, maintenance, and welfare. The other important point is the interwoven linkage between animals and humans whether as a food source or as a companionship. Inorganic nanoparticles, polymeric, solid lipid, liposomal, nanocrystal, nanotubes, nanoemulsions, micelles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and dendrimers are kinds of nanoparticles that can be used widely. In this review, the impacts of nanotechnology on veterinary medicine have been summarized, criticized, and acknowledged as “veterinary nanomedicine” discipline.
A study using a canine hydrotherapy treadmill at five different conditions to kinematically assess range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine in dogs
Authors: Hodgson Heidi , Blake Scott , de Godoy Roberta Ferro
Published: December 2022

Background

Incline treadmill and underwater treadmill (UWTM) exercises are common canine rehabilitation modalities , which are often used in isolation in dogs recovering from spinal surgery. Early use of an incline during UWTM exercise may have the potential to improve rehabilitation outcomes in dogs, but, it is hypothesised that dorsoventral movement of the spine may be excessive meaning it is unsuitable in some circumstances.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to identify changes in canine spinal kinematics in dogs when using a dry treadmill at different angles of incline compared to an underwater treadmill using the same inclines.

Methods

Eight dogs were encouraged to walk on a dry, horizontal, underwater treadmill as well as under the same conditions with both a 10% and 20% incline. This was then repeated at a 10% and 20% incline with the addition of water to hock level. Data were collected using reflective anatomical markers placed at the occipital protuberance, T1, T13, L3, L7 and sacral apex, captured by a high‐speed camera facing the lateral aspect of the treadmill. Dorsoventral motion of the spine as well as flexion, extension and range of motion (ROM) of T1, T13, L3 and L7 were recorded.

Results

We found significant differences in dorsoventral spinal ROM at T1, L3 and L7, but no significant differences in T13 ROM. No significant differences were found in flexion and extension of any of the joints assessed when comparing dry conditions to the use of water (P>0.05).

Conclusions

The lack of significant differences in joint flexion and extension at T1, T13, L3 and L7 indicates the potential safe use of combining underwater treadmill and incline exercise in canine rehabilitation. However, a lack of uniformity in results makes distinguishing any patterns of significance difficult. More research is needed to establish the effects of these exercises in additional planes of motion before a treatment protocol can be established.
Transition of thermally induced flow in a square cavity using an iterative predictor–corrector meshfree approach
Authors: Hilali Youssef , Bourihane Oussama
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to propose a new approach based on meshfree method to solve the dimensionless steady nonlinear natural convection equations. The solution methodology uses the moving least squares (MLS) shape functions to discretize the weak form of the governing equations and the Newton–Raphson algorithm to compute the nonlinear solution. Parametric studies of natural convection concerning closed two‐dimensional (2D) cavity with different operating conditions filled with air is used to assess the impact of the proposed approach on the performance of computed solutions. The cavity is formed by adiabatic and isothermal walls. For that, in all considered cases, the vertical sidewalls of the enclosure are heated differentially and maintained at hot and cold temperatures. The horizontal top and bottom walls are considered thermally insulated. The thermophysical properties of the working fluid are assumed to be constant except the density variations causing a body force term in the momentum equation. No‐slip boundary condition is applied at all enclosure boundaries and all internal body boundaries. The considered cases are described and analyzed in detail to check the validity of the proposed method. A comparison is performed between the results obtained from the present computer code and those available in the literature. The influence of various controlling parameters is analyzed and discussed graphically through the obtained streamlines, isotherms, and (maximum and average) Nusselt number. The numerical results computed by the proposed method are found to be in good agreement with the reference data.
Benefit Corporations: Trends and Perspectives
Authors: Stella Richter Mario , Passador Maria Lucia , Sertoli Cecilia
Published: December 2022

This chapter frames the recent rise and vibrant growth of the phenomenon concerning benefit companies in the broader context of the general trend of a re-thinking of corporate purpose, shareholder welfare, shareholder theory, enlightened shareholder value, as well as corporate social responsibility.

After tracing this framework, the present study particularly focuses on the necessity (or advisability) of a regulatory initiative regarding benefit companies and, if so, for which purposes. According to the authors, the point is to decide whether it is necessary to pass a law on benefit societies to be able to steer the management of the companies towards pursuing the dual purpose (i.e., a specifically determined social interest after balancing the selfish shareholder interest and that of other parties).

In conclusion, the authors believe that, except in those cases where benefit corporations contribute to the creation of shareholder wealth, it is hard to imagine them being used in a numerically meaningful way.
Social Enterprises and Benefit Corporations in Argentina
Authors: Cracogna Dante
Published: December 2022

Argentina has no specific legislation on social enterprises or benefit corporations. Notwithstanding, there exist legal forms of organization that can be considered to be the former, and we have begun to see the latter emerge. This chapter considers the BIC (Benefit and Collective Interest) Companies bill passed in 2018 by the Chamber of Representatives of the Argentine Congress, which was moved to the Senate to complete its enactment process. However, since the bill was not discussed by this second Chamber within the period stipulated by the law, it had to be reintroduced in Congress. Two new bills were submitted that reproduce the previous bill’s text with some minor changes. Both are currently undergoing the corresponding legislative process. This review examines the bill passed by the Chamber of Representatives, the innovations included in the two subsequent bills, and the emergent experience of existing benefit corporations.
The Social Enterprise Movement and the Birth of Hybrid Organisational Forms as Policy Response to the Growing Demand for Firm Altruism
Authors: Ventura Livia
Published: December 2022

Social enterprise can be described as a complex and variegated phenomenon marked by different extensions and definitions according to the legal system of reference. This contribution is focused on a specific area of the social enterprise spectrum, that of the hybrid dual-purpose businesses, conceiving social enterprises as private organisations that carry out commercial activities to pursue social and environmental, as well as economic, objectives. In the past few decades, several legal systems have introduced new hybrid entities designed to adequately meet the needs of social entrepreneurs and capable of bringing together social and environmental aims with business approaches. The birth of social enterprise, with the introduction of philanthropic goals into the articles of association’s corporate purpose clause, is particularly difficult to understand through the lenses of the economic analysis of law or the neoclassical economics and its homo economicus paradigm. This study attempts to offer an interpretative key for understanding these hybrid models abandoning the classical homo economicus paradigm to embrace a reading based on behavioural law and economics and the Yale approach to the economic analysis of law, according to which altruism and beneficence should be considered as ends in themselves, as goods desired by people and for which they are willing to pay the price. In this line of reasoning, social enterprises, as a bottom-up phenomenon are the legislator’s policy response to the growing demand for firm altruism emerging from civil society.
B Corps, Benefit Corporations and Socially Oriented Enterprises in Canada
Authors: Giagnocavo Cynthia
Published: December 2022

Benefit corporations are quite new in Canada, having been brought into force only on 30 June 2020 in the province of British Columbia. B Corps, however, are present and gaining ground across most provinces and territories. Benefit corporations under the new legislation are deemed to meet certification as B Corps. Other similar stakeholder interest companies are considered, such as community interest/contribution companies, social enterprises and co-operatives. Reference is made as well to Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence, which already lays the ground for a broader consideration of stakeholder interests and benefits under corporate law in Canada. Finally, diverse opinions on introducing benefit corporation legislation are presented.
Social Enterprises and Benefit Corporations in China
Authors: Li Jian , Zhao Meng , Xu Caiyun
Published: December 2022

The reform of China’s social welfare system, the development of civil society, and the prosperity of corporate social responsibility have nourished the seeds of social enterprises in China, while the introduction of international social enterprise concepts has inspired social enterprises to take root. There are no legal forms specifically designed for social enterprise. Therefore, social enterprises have to adopt a legal status with one of the existing legal forms, such as enterprises, civil nonenterprise units, and specialized farmers’ cooperatives, and they are regulated and protected by the laws and regulations related to them. Also, the identity of social enterprises is given through the B Corp certification system or the indigenous certification system. Although the Chinese government is still cautious about formulating specific social enterprise laws and policies at the national level, there have been breakthroughs in local governments’ supportive attitudes and actions toward social enterprises. From a macroperspective, the state’s emphasis on the participation of market forces in public services and the introduction of China’s innovative policies in areas such as rural revitalization, elderly care, and so on have a positive impact on the practice of social entrepreneurship.
The Suitability of French Law to B Corp
Authors: Hiez David
Published: December 2022

In the Napoleonian code tradition, French law provides the model for B-Corp-friendly company law, with no legal impediment to the development of such entities. But French law also contains on two other trends: social and solidarity economy, appeared in the nineteenth century and renewed in 2014, and since 2019 purpose enterprises, which corporate social responsibility engagement is legally labelled. All these forms differ but do not oppose each other and sometimes are mixed.
The Suitability of Luxembourgish Law to B Corp
Authors: Hiez David
Published: December 2022

Luxembourg is famous as an important finance capital in Europe but its legislation on social enterprises and its approach to B Corp is less well known. Its company law is traditionally copied on Belgian law, so that it is B Corp friendly in the same respect, even if its last major reform in 2016 is more autonomous and suspect of excessive attention paid to multinational enterprises. But Luxembourg has also been inspired by social and solidarity economy and created in 2016 a special legal modality for social enterprises: the societal impact company. The social impact company is an original legislation, open to diverse legal forms of companies, accredited by the Minister and, above all, the acknowledgement of two different classes of shares: impact shares and return shares. Meanwhile, Luxembourg is a good example of public support for corporate social responsibility, with a national label; the outcome is a low number of B Corp, since many companies choose to get the national label.
Certified B Corps in Mexico
Authors: Méjan Luis Manuel C.
Published: December 2022

This chapter describes the legal framework for the classification of various entities (both commercial and non-commercial) as corporations with social or environmental impact in Mexico. Considering the absence of ad hoc legislation and the widespread incentives for companies to become certified as enterprises with a commitment to social interest, several recommendations are put forward. Specifically, this chapter details how a legal regime could be integrated into the country’s current regulatory environment to increase the number of firms eligible for B Lab certification.
Finding Space for the B Corporation Within the South African Legal Landscape
Authors: Bradstreet Richard S. , Stoop Helena
Published: December 2022

South African law has traditionally only recognised the corporate form as either a means of achieving shareholder wealth maximisation or pursuing non-profit objectives—these two purposes being mutually exclusive. The radically overhauled Companies Act of 2008 sought to, inter alia, reaffirm the concept of the company as a means of achieving both economic and social benefits, and provides some flexibility for directors of a profit company to actively pursue social objects although the board is ultimately mandated to act in the best interests of the company’s present and future shareholders. This chapter surveys the South African legal landscape of social enterprise regulation, and evaluates it from the perspective of the benefit corporation model, identifying impediments to the operation of entities with such dual profit and philanthropic purposes within the existing framework.
Social Enterprises in the Netherlands: Towards More Institutional Diversity?
Authors: Serres Coline , De Moor Tine
Published: December 2022

The Netherlands has a strong third sector and a long tradition of organizations pursuing social and/or environmental goals, often considered social enterprises. However, the country lacks a common definition and framework for social enterprises, and rather considers social entrepreneurship as a particular branch of entrepreneurship, leaving aside social enterprises incorporating as non-profits and cooperatives. Because of this narrow approach, many social enterprises not incorporated as social businesses are overlooked by the Dutch government but also by scholars. In this chapter, we adopt the approach of the EMES school of thought and review the legal forms that the Netherlands offers for social enterprises to incorporate. In early 2022, Dutch social enterprises have five options to incorporate: (1) private limited company, (2) public limited company, (3) cooperative, (4) foundation, and (5) association. Besides reviewing each of these forms and their implications when applied to social enterprises, we reflect on the place of social economy in the Netherlands. We also present ongoing legal developments for a better institutionalization of social enterprises in the Netherlands. We end our reflections by suggesting that Dutch social enterprises could receive the appropriate mechanisms, controls, and recognition they deserve by combining several existing labels and certifications.
Social Enterprises, Benefit Corporations and Community Interest Companies: The UK Landscape
Authors: Andreadakis Stelios
Published: December 2022

The present chapter deals with the social enterprises’ landscape in the United Kingdom, with emphasis on certified B corps, benefit corporations and community interest companies (CIC). Although the United Kingdom has the reputation of a jurisdiction that supports the shareholder value maximisation paradigm, it has introduced special rules for social enterprises and has facilitated the development of benefit corporations and B corps. The UK experience may be significantly different from the United States’ one, but it can operate as a roadmap for countries that aim at becoming more inclusive in terms of corporate social responsibility and social purpose.
Corporate Purpose: How the Board of Directors Can Achieve an Inclusive Corporate Governance Regime
Authors: Blanc Mathieu , Chenaux Jean-Luc , Philippin Edgar
Published: December 2022

Large corporations are currently facing critical challenges after many financial crises and scandals, which led to a loss of public confidence. In addition, inequality, climate change, and new technologies create systemic risks for corporations. In that context, economic and legal scholars, as well as directors and regulators, extensively debate issues revolving around the “profit” of corporations as well as about the “purpose” of companies, a notion that is different from their mere “object.” In our view, the theory of the purpose-driven company could help overcome the never-ending dispute between the partisans of shareholders’ wealth maximization and the promoters of stakeholder governance. To materialize and implement the company’s purpose, missions, and core values, the board of directors (in engagement with shareholders) shall assess its impact on a broader social and economic environment. The identification and expression of the purpose will facilitate the company’s value creation and long-term business sustainability. The board of directors shall further take into consideration all stakeholders as well as define and identify the main purpose recipient (customers, employees, environment, etc.). Within this frame, the board of directors will act as both a corporate purpose guardian and a mediator of the various (potentially) conflicting interests held by the different constituencies.
Social Enterprises: Conceptual Debates and Approaches
Authors: Díaz-Foncea Millán , Marcuello Carmen
Published: December 2022

The concept of social enterprises spread globally in the early 1990s. The term social enterprise originated from different institutions, practices, and academic debates. This chapter aims to present and analyze the main debates and approaches to the concept of social enterprise. For this purpose, the different schools of thought and the characteristics of each of them were examined. This chapter also describes the most recent trends in the evolution of the concepts and experiences of social enterprises.
Evaluation of a series of nucleoside analogs as effective anticoronaviral-2 drugs against the Omicron-B.1.1.529/BA.2 subvariant: A repurposing research study
Authors: Rabie Amgad M. , Abdalla Mohnad
Published: December 2022

Mysterious evolution of a new strain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the Omicron variant, led to a new challenge in the persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) battle. Objecting the conserved SARS-CoV-2 enzymes RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease (ExoN) together using one ligand is a successful new tactic to stop SARS-CoV-2 multiplication and COVID-19 progression. The current comprehensive study investigated most nucleoside analogs (NAs) libraries, searching for the most ideal drug candidates expectedly able to act through this double tactic. Gradual computational filtration afforded six different promising NAs, riboprine/forodesine/tecadenoson/nelarabine/vidarabine/maribavir. Further biological assessment proved that riboprine and forodesine are able to powerfully inhibit the replication of the new virulent strains of SARS-CoV-2 with extremely minute in vitro anti-RdRp and anti-SARS-CoV-2 EC50 values of about 0.21 and 0.45 μM for riboprine and about 0.23 and 0.70 μM for forodesine, respectively, surpassing both remdesivir and the new anti-COVID-19 drug molnupiravir. These biochemical findings were supported by the prior in silico data. Additionally, the ideal pharmacophoric features of riboprine and forodesine molecules render them typical dual-action inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication and proofreading. These findings suggest that riboprine and forodesine could serve as prospective lead compounds against COVID-19.
Oscillating singular integral operators on compact Lie groups revisited
Authors: Cardona Duván , Ruzhansky Michael
Published: December 2022

Fefferman (Acta Math 24:9–36, 1970, Theorem 2$$'$$

′

) has proved the weak (1,1) boundedness for a class of oscillating singular integrals that includes the oscillating spectral multipliers of the Euclidean Laplacian $$\Delta ,$$

Δ
,

namely, operators of the form $$\begin{aligned} T_{\theta }(-\Delta ):= (1-\Delta )^{-\frac{n\theta }{4}}e^{i (1-\Delta )^{\frac{\theta }{2}}},\,0\le \theta <1. \end{aligned}$$

T
θ

(
-
Δ
)

:
=

(
1
-
Δ
)

-

n
θ

4

e

i

(
1
-
Δ
)

θ
2

,

0
≤
θ
<
1
.

The aim of this work is to extend Fefferman’s result to oscillating singular integrals on any arbitrary compact Lie group. We also consider applications to oscillating spectral multipliers of the Laplace–Beltrami operator. The proof of our main theorem illustrates the delicate relationship between the condition on the kernel of the operator, its Fourier transform (defined in terms of the representation theory of the group) and the microlocal/geometric properties of the group.
Safety and Feasibility of Primary Closure Following Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration for Treatment of Choledocholithiasis
Authors: Xiang Lunjian , Li Jingjing , Liu Dingzhi , Yan Lang , Zeng Hongrui , Liu Yan
Published: December 2022

Background

T‐tube drainage following laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration may lead to T‐tube displacement and water–electrolyte disorders, affecting patients’ quality of life. In particular, biliary peritonitis may develop in a small number of patients after T‐tube removal, requiring reoperation. This prospective cohort study was performed to investigate the safety and feasibility of primary closure following laparoscopic CBD exploration for the treatment of choledocholithiasis.

Methods

Patients who were treated for choledocholithiasis by laparoscopic CBD exploration with primary closure from January 2019 to March 2022 comprised the PC group (n = 145). Patients who were treated for choledocholithiasis by laparoscopic CBD exploration with T‐tube drainage during this period comprised the TD group (n = 153). Perioperative and follow‐up outcomes were collected and statistically analyzed.

Results

The TD and PC groups showed significant differences in the operation time (124.6 ± 40.8 vs. 106 ± 36.4 min, P = 0.000) and postoperative hospital stay (7.1 ± 2.6 vs. 5.9 ± 2.0 days, P = 0.000). No significant difference was observed in terms of blood loss, the ratio of conversion to laparotomy, and postoperative parameters. Preoperative albumin and total bilirubin levels were the risk factors of bile leakage after surgery. No patients developed CBD stricture or carcinogenesis, The rates of residual and recurrent stones in the TD and PC groups were 1.97% vs. 1.40% and 1.31% vs. 1.40%, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 1.000 for both).

Conclusions

Primary closure following laparoscopic CBD exploration is safe and feasible for selected patients with choledocholithiasis.
Klinische Umsetzung von Früherkennung und Frühintervention bei Psychoserisiko
Authors: Trimmel Melanie , Hinterbuchinger Barbara , Friedrich Fabian , Mossaheb Nilufar
Published: December 2022

Spezialisierte Früherkennungs- und Frühinterventionszentren stellen neben Bestrebungen, psychotische Erstmanifestation zu verhindern oder zu verzögern, auch den Erhalt des psychosozialen Funktionsniveaus der Patient:innen in den Vordergrund der klinischen Behandlung. Zur Erfassung eines symptomatischen erhöhten Psychoserisikos existieren operationalisierte Kriterien und standardisierte Instrumente. Indizierte Präventionsmaßnahmen bei Personen mit deutlich erhöhtem Psychoserisiko beinhalten pharmakologische und insbesondere nicht-pharmakologische, psychologisch-psychotherapeutische Maßnahmen. Im Rahmen von psychotischen Erstmanifestationen kommt der organischen und psychiatrischen Differentialdiagnostik sowie störungs- und altersspezifischen Therapien im Rahmen spezialisierter Früherkennungsprogramme eine große Bedeutung zu. In diesem Artikel soll anhand eines Fallbeispiels ein Einblick in die ambulante und stationäre Tätigkeit eines Früherkennungs- und Frühinterventionsbereiches gegeben werden.
A discrete time evolution model for fracture networks
Authors: Domokos Gábor , Regős Krisztina
Published: December 2022

We examine geological crack patterns using the mean field theory of convex mosaics. We assign the pair $$\left({\overline{n } }^{*},{\overline{v } }^{*}\right)$$

n
¯

∗

,

v
¯

∗

of average corner degrees (Domokos et al. in A two-vertex theorem for normal tilings. Aequat Math https://doi.org/10.1007/s00010-022-00888-0, 2022) to each crack pattern and we define two local, random evolutionary steps R0 and R1, corresponding to secondary fracture and rearrangement of cracks, respectively. Random sequences of these steps result in trajectories on the $$\left({\overline{n } }^{*},{\overline{v } }^{*}\right)$$

n
¯

∗

,

v
¯

∗

plane. We prove the existence of limit points for several types of trajectories. Also, we prove that celldensity$$\overline{\rho }= \frac{{\overline{v } }^{*}}{{\overline{n } }^{*}}$$

ρ
¯

=

v
¯

∗

n
¯

∗

increases monotonically under any admissible trajectory.
Are urban mangroves emerging hotspots of non-indigenous species? A study on the dynamics of macrobenthic fouling communities in fringing red mangrove prop roots
Authors: Mosquera Enis , Blanco-Libreros Juan F. , Riascos José M.
Published: December 2022

Urbanization represents a radical transformation of natural habitats that alters all the biotic and abiotic properties governing ecosystems. Urban expansion often results in oversimplified communities, where most specialists decline or disappear and a few generalist or exotic species become dominant. The consequences of urban expansion in mangrove forests are understudied, although these systems have been altered by humans for centuries and the growth of human population in tropical coasts is expected to be faster than in higher latitudes. To assess the importance of indigenous and non-indigenous species in driving temporal and spatial changes in community structure of red-mangrove prop-root macrobenthic communities, we studied heavily altered mangrove forests from two bays from the Caribbean coast of Colombia in 2005 and 2021. In all places/periods, the community richness was low, a few taxa were dominant (11 taxa, out of 40, comprised ~ 90% of the total abundance) and 35% of those taxa were non-indigenous species whose presence is related with known stressors in urbanized systems. Hence, call for efforts to assess whether urban mangrove forests are emerging as hotspots for non-indigenous biota. Community structure did not change within or between bays, there was a clear, significant turnover of core species between 2005 and 2021, with non-indigenous species playing a prominent role in this variability. This was puzzling—ecological theory asserts that the abundance of a species is related to their permanence: core species are relatively stable through time, while rare species appear or disappear—but this may not apply for stressed communities influenced by non-indigenous biota.
Robust-stable scheduling in dynamic flow shops based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Grumbach Felix , Müller Anna , Reusch Pascal , Trojahn Sebastian
Published: December 2022

This proof-of-concept study provides a novel method for robust-stable scheduling in dynamic flow shops based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) implemented with OpenAI frameworks. In realistic manufacturing environments, dynamic events endanger baseline schedules, which can require a cost intensive re-scheduling. Extensive research has been done on methods for generating proactive baseline schedules to absorb uncertainties in advance and in balancing the competing metrics of robustness and stability. Recent studies presented exact methods and heuristics based on Monte Carlo experiments (MCE), both of which are very computationally intensive. Furthermore, approaches based on surrogate measures were proposed, which do not explicitly consider uncertainties and robustness metrics. Surprisingly, DRL has not yet been scientifically investigated for generating robust-stable schedules in the proactive stage of production planning. The contribution of this article is a proposal on how DRL can be applied to manipulate operation slack times by stretching or compressing plan durations. The method is demonstrated using different flow shop instances with uncertain processing times, stochastic machine failures and uncertain repair times. Through a computational study, we found that DRL agents achieve about 98% result quality but only take about 2% of the time compared to traditional metaheuristics. This is a promising advantage for the use in real-time environments and supports the idea of improving proactive scheduling methods with machine learning based techniques.
Addressing Adolescents’ Prejudice toward Immigrants: The Role of the Classroom Context
Authors: Albarello Flavia , Manganelli Sara , Cavicchiolo Elisa , Lucidi Fabio , Chirico Andrea , Alivernini Fabio
Published: December 2022

According to social learning theory, classrooms are essential socialization contexts for intergroup attitudes, but analyses of contextual factors net of the impact of individual variables affecting prejudice toward immigrants are very limited. This study was conducted on a large sample of Italian adolescents (N = 2904; Mage = 13.70; females = 48.5%; 168 classrooms). It examined the role of classroom contextual factors affecting adolescents’ prejudice toward immigrants, relying on the combination of groups’ warmth and competence, and their antecedents (i.e., competition and status). Multilevel structural equation analyses revealed that classroom contextual factors (i.e., classroom socio-economic status-SES; classroom open to discussion climate; classroom educational achievements) indirectly affected, at the class level, adolescents’ perceived warmth and competence of immigrants through the mediating role of perceived competition (and status) of immigrants. These findings suggest that interventions targeting the classroom context can help to hinder prejudice in adolescence at the class level.
Clinical applications and prospects of PET imaging in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas
Authors: Wollring Michael M. , Werner Jan-Michael , Ceccon Garry , Lohmann Philipp , Filss Christian P. , Fink Gereon R. , Langen Karl-Josef , Galldiks Norbert
Published: December 2022

PET imaging using radiolabeled amino acids in addition to MRI has become a valuable diagnostic tool in the clinical management of patients with brain tumors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of PET studies in glioma patients with a mutation in the isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH). A considerable fraction of these tumors typically show no contrast enhancement on MRI, especially when classified as grade 2 according to the World Health Organization classification of Central Nervous System tumors. Major diagnostic challenges in this situation are differential diagnosis, target definition for diagnostic biopsies, delineation of glioma extent for treatment planning, differentiation of treatment-related changes from tumor progression, and the evaluation of response to alkylating agents. The main focus of this review is the role of amino acid PET in this setting. Furthermore, in light of clinical trials using IDH inhibitors targeting the mutated IDH enzyme for treating patients with IDH-mutant gliomas, we also aim to give an outlook on PET probes specifically targeting the IDH mutation, which appear potentially helpful for response assessment.
Fragile Heterosexuality: A Cross-cultural Study Between Germany and Italy
Authors: Borras Guevara Martha Lucia , West Keon , Brambilla Marco , Bruckmüller Susanne
Published: December 2022

Prior research in the UK and the USA found that heterosexual identity was perceived as more easily compromised than gay identity: a finding dubbed the “Fragile Heterosexuality” effect. However, there is as yet no evidence that this effect occurs outside the USA and UK. With representative samples from Germany (N = 1236) and Italy (N = 1249), we investigated the fragile heterosexuality effect using participants’ agreement with gender-neutral statements about the perceived fragility of sexual orientation of others. We found evidence supporting the fragile heterosexuality effect in both countries. We also investigated six possible moderators of the effect. Higher estimates of gay/lesbian population weakened the effect, and higher levels of anti-gay prejudice strengthened the effect. Contact (quantity/quality), right wing authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation did not moderate the effect. These findings contribute to previous literature by highlight that the fragile heterosexuality effect appears across countries of diverse LGBTQ friendliness and languages, and also suggest plausible explanations for the effect.
State Nurseries are Not for Us: The Limitations of Early Childhood Policies Beyond Price Barriers in Barcelona
Authors: González-Motos Sheila , Saurí Saula Enric
Published: December 2022

Access to early child education services has been proven to be an efficient tool in fighting educational inequalities. However, while wealthier families are likely to use childcare services, disadvantaged children tend to be left out. Research has explained this effect, known as Mathew Effect, and has studied both the constraints in the availability and affordability of childcare services, and the cultural norms surrounding motherhood. This paper aims to highlight other factors that also explain the Mathew Effect from a public policy perspective, beyond the economic barriers that limit access to formal childcare services. Through 34 interviews with mothers who have children between one and three years of age who attend both state and private nurseries in the city of Barcelona, we examine the characteristics of regulated childcare services and the objective factors of those mothers’ everyday lives in order to understand the decision-making processes involved in choosing childcare for the under-threes. The results indicate that sliding-scale pricing has allowed mothers with low incomes to access state nursery schools, while the quality of the services offered has served to attract the middle and upper classes. However, early childhood care services have not been adapted to the needs of working-class mothers who, although not being in a situation of social vulnerability, cannot afford private nurseries because of their high costs.
Synthesis, characterization, and DFT investigation of rhodamine B dye removal by activated carbon produced from argan nutshell
Authors: Ouardi Youssef El , Aissouq Abdellah El , Chennah Ahmed , Ouammou Abdelkrim , Laatikainen Katri
Published: December 2022

A significant environmental concern is posed by wastewater containing dyes. When dealing with a polluted medium, adsorption is a beneficial method for the removal of contaminants. This study used argan nutshell as a precursor to synthesize activated carbon via chemical activation with Na2CO3 at 600 °C. The prepared activated carbon (Na@Ac) was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and zeta potential measurements. The results showed that the prepared activated carbon has a high surface area (1543 m2/g) and microporous structure. Furthermore, many parameters for Rhodamine B (RhB) dye removal efficiency, including pH, initial pollutant concentration, and temperature, were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design. Based on the RSM, the best efficiency was 96.84% for the removal of RhB at pH 5, temperature 20 °C, and initial concentration 33.2 mg/L. The kinetic of RhB dye adsorption onto Na@Ac was effectively explained by a pseudo-second-order model, with a maximum uptake capacity of 35.9 mg/g. Moreover, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to understand the adsorption mechanism of the RhB dye onto the Na@Ac. Based on the DFT calculations, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions may be preferred mechanisms of RhB dye adsorption onto Na@Ac. The Na@Ac could be a promising adsorbent for the removal of Rhodamine B from polluted wastewater.
How to build a crop model. A review
Authors: Pasley Heather , Brown Hamish , Holzworth Dean , Whish Jeremy , Bell Lindsay , Huth Neil
Published: December 2022

Cropping system models are deployed as valuable tools for informing agronomic decisions and advancing research. To meet this demand, early career scientists are increasingly tasked with building crop models to fit into these system modelling frameworks. Most, however, receive little to no guidance as to how to do this well. This paper is an introduction to building a crop model with a focus on how to avoid pitfalls, minimize uncertainty, and maximize value. We synthesized knowledge from experienced model builders and literature on various approaches to model building. We describe (1) what to look for in a model-building dataset, (2) how to overcome gaps in the dataset, (3) different approaches to fitting and testing the model, and (4) how to avoid common mistakes such as over-parameterization and over-fitting the model. The process behind building a crop model can be overwhelming, especially for a beginner, and so we propose a three-pronged approach: conceptualize the model, simplify the process, and fit the model for a purpose. We revisit these three macrothemes throughout the paper to instil the new model builder with the methodical mindset needed to maximize the performance and impact of their crop model.
Inorganic Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots: A Versatile Nanomaterial Platform for Electronic Applications
Authors: Huang Chien-Yu , Li Hanchen , Wu Ye , Lin Chun-Ho , Guan Xinwei , Hu Long , Kim Jiyun , Zhu Xiaoming , Zeng Haibo , Wu Tom
Published: December 2022

Metal halide perovskites have generated significant attention in recent years because of their extraordinary physical properties and photovoltaic performance. Among these, inorganic perovskite quantum dots (QDs) stand out for their prominent merits, such as quantum confinement effects, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and defect-tolerant structures. Additionally, ligand engineering and an all-inorganic composition lead to a robust platform for ambient-stable QD devices. This review presents the state-of-the-art research progress on inorganic perovskite QDs, emphasizing their electronic applications. In detail, the physical properties of inorganic perovskite QDs will be introduced first, followed by a discussion of synthesis methods and growth control. Afterwards, the emerging applications of inorganic perovskite QDs in electronics, including transistors and memories, will be presented. Finally, this review will provide an outlook on potential strategies for advancing inorganic perovskite QD technologies.
A Flexible Tribotronic Artificial Synapse with Bioinspired Neurosensory Behavior
Authors: Zeng Jianhua , Zhao Junqing , Bu Tianzhao , Liu Guoxu , Qi Youchao , Zhou Han , Dong Sicheng , Zhang Chi
Published: December 2022

As key components of artificial afferent nervous systems, synaptic devices can mimic the physiological synaptic behaviors, which have attracted extensive attentions. Here, a flexible tribotronic artificial synapse (TAS) with bioinspired neurosensory behavior is developed. The triboelectric potential generated by the external contact electrification is used as the ion-gel-gate voltage of the organic thin film transistor, which can tune the carriers transport through the migration/accumulation of ions. The TAS successfully demonstrates a series of synaptic behaviors by external stimuli, such as excitatory postsynaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, and the hierarchical memory process from sensory memory to short-term memory and long-term memory. Moreover, the synaptic behaviors remained stable under the strain condition with a bending radius of 20 mm, and the TAS still exhibits excellent durability after 1000 bending cycles. Finally, Pavlovian conditioning has been successfully mimicked by applying force and vibration as food and bell, respectively. This work demonstrates a bioinspired flexible artificial synapse that will help to facilitate the development of artificial afferent nervous systems, which is great significance to the practical application of artificial limbs, robotics, and bionics in future.