bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smartphone-based serious games for mental health: a scoping review
Authors: Gómez-Cambronero Águeda , Mann Anna-Lisa , Mira Adriana , Doherty Gavin , Casteleyn Sven
Published: April 2024

The use of smartphone-based Serious Games in mental health care is an emerging and promising research field. Combining the intrinsic characteristics of games (e.g., interactiveness, immersiveness, playfulness, user-tailoring and engaging nature) with the capabilities of smartphones (e.g., versatility, ubiquitous connectivity, built-in sensors and anywhere–anytime nature) yields great potential to deliver innovative psychological treatments, which are engaging, effective, fun and always available. This article presents a scoping review, based on the PRISMA (scoping review extension) guidelines, of the field of smartphone-based serious games for mental health care. The review combines an analysis of the technical characteristics, including game design, smartphone and game-specific features, with psychological dimensions, including type and purpose of use, underlying psychological frameworks and strategies. It also explores the integration of psychological features into Serious Games and summarizes the findings of evaluations performed. A systematic search identified 40 smartphone-based Serious Games for mental health care. The majority consist of standalone and self-administrable interventions, applying a myriad of psychological strategies to address a wide range of psychological symptoms and disorders. The findings explore the potential of Serious Games as treatments and for enhancing patient engagement; we conclude by proposing several avenues for future research in order to identify best practices and success factors.
Self-replication via tile self-assembly
Authors: Alseth Andrew , Hader Daniel , Patitz Matthew J.
Published: April 2024

In this paper we present a model containing modifications to the Signal-passing Tile Assembly Model (STAM), a tile-based self-assembly model whose tiles are capable of activating and deactivating glues based on the binding of other glues. These modifications consist of an extension to 3D, the ability of tiles to form “flexible” bonds that allow bound tiles to rotate relative to each other, and allowing tiles of multiple shapes within the same system. We call this new model the STAM*, and we present a series of constructions within it that are capable of self-replicating behavior. Namely, the input seed assemblies to our STAM* systems can encode either “genomes” specifying the instructions for building a target shape, or can be copies of the target shape with instructions built in. A universal tile set exists for any target shape (at scale factor 2), and from a genome assembly creates infinite copies of the genome as well as the target shape. An input target structure, on the other hand, can be “deconstructed” by the universal tile set to form a genome encoding it, which will then replicate and also initiate the growth of copies of assemblies of the target shape. Since the lengths of the genomes for these constructions are proportional to the number of points in the target shape, we also present a replicator which utilizes hierarchical self-assembly to greatly reduce the size of the genomes required. The main goals of this work are to examine minimal requirements of self-assembling systems capable of self-replicating behavior, with the aim of better understanding self-replication in nature as well as understanding the complexity of mimicking it.
Counting pupils moving between elusive schools: between-school pupil mobility in the Flemish primary education market
Authors: Van Landeghem Georges
Published: April 2024

The intensity of between-school pupil mobility in Flemish regular primary education is measured for the first time, using enumerative data about a birth cohort. Given the lack of internationally established measures, several indicators representing the system’s, the pupil’s, and the school’s point of view are introduced. It turns out that the level of mobility is significant, as compared to other atypical events in pupils’ trajectories. The consequent importance of mobility as a nuisance factor in education research is discussed. The under-researched issue of school definitions is shown to have an impact on mobility measurement in Flanders and is discussed from the wider perspective of effectiveness research. Directions for future research about between-school pupil mobility are set out.
Evaluation of sustainability reporting of the food industry in Hungary from an EU taxonomy perspective
Authors: Lámfalusi Ibolya , Hámori Judit , Rózsa Andrea , Hegyi Judit , Kacz Károly , Miklósné Varga Anita , Troján Szabolcs , Gombkötő Nóra
Published: April 2024

Compliance with green requirements is becoming increasingly important in assessing the performance of companies. The new CSRD legislation requires a wider range of companies to produce sustainability reports and their content is influenced by the EU's taxonomy regulation setting out the framework for sustainable finance. The disclosure of information affects the perception of companies' sustainability performance, which will affect their access to financial resources and development opportunities. The main question is, both in theory and in practice, how companies can comply with the legislation in the future. It is essential for the competitiveness of Hungary's food industry to keep pace with future environmental sustainability requirements, so we examined the sustainability reporting practices of the sector's key companies in terms of their contribution to the environmental objectives set out in the taxonomy regulation. The research fits well with the EU's overall green transition regulatory procedure and our study is gap-filling at macro-regional and sectoral levels. The sustainability reports were assessed by content analysis using a scoring method. The results show that the sustainability reporting practices of food processing companies in Hungary differ significantly. Furthermore, greater emphasis must be placed on reporting and the credibility of the reports to meet future expectations. Foreign-owned companies and companies with more than 500 employees attribute greater importance to reporting. In the food processing sector, the disclosure of information and data under the taxonomy objectives of mitigation of climate change, sustainable use of water and marine resources, and transition to a circular economy was most common.
Evolution of the Merger Guidelines: Is This Fox Too Clever by Half?
Authors: Shapiro Carl
Published: April 2024

The 2023 Merger Guidelines make some notable improvements over the 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines. They give greater emphasis to the idea that predicting the competitive effects of a proposed merger is inherently difficult and that to block a merger the government need only show a risk that the merger may substantially lessen competition – not that it will do so. They also give greater emphasis to dynamic competition and innovation – especially with regard to acquisitions of potential entrants – and they add useful material on multi-sided platforms. However, the treatment of market definition in the 2023 Merger Guidelines may weaken horizontal merger enforcement by demoting the role of the “hypothetical monopolist test,” which is used to define markets for the purpose of measuring market shares, and by removing extensive material from prior guidelines that explained why market shares measured in narrower markets tend to be more informative than market shares measured in broader markets. The 2023 Merger Guidelines lower the market concentration thresholds that trigger a presumption by the antitrust enforcement agencies that a merger may substantially lessen competition, but the enforcement data suggest that change will have little effect in practice. The 2023 Merger Guidelines also may lead to less effective deterrence of harmful mergers because they are not well targeted at the mergers that are most likely to substantially lessen competition. One cannot prioritize everything.
e-Diagnostic system for diabetes disease prediction on an IoMT environment-based hyper AdaBoost machine learning model
Authors: Jasim Abdulrahman Ahmed , Hazim Layth Rafea , Mohammedqasim Hayder , Mohammedqasem Roa’a , Ata Oguz , Salman Omar Hussein
Published: April 2024

One of the most fatal and serious diseases that humans have encountered is diabetes, an illness affecting thousands of individuals yearly. In this era of digital systems, diabetes prediction based on machine learning (ML) is gaining high momentum. One of the benefits of treating patients early in the course of their noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is that they can avoid costly therapies when the illness worsens later in life. Incidentally, diabetes is complicated by the dearth of medical professionals in underserved areas, such as distant rural communities. In these situations, the Internet of Medical Things and machine learning (ML) models can be used to offer healthcare practitioners the necessary prediction tools to more effectively and timely make decisions, thus assisting the early identification and diagnosis of NCDs. In this study, four conventional and hyper-AdaBoost ML models were trained and tested on the PIMA Indian Diabetes dataset. Patients with diabetes were classified on the basis of laboratory findings. Pre-processing tasks, such as the handling of imbalanced data and missing values, were performed prior to feature importance and normalisation activities. The algorithm with the best performance was examined using precision, accuracy, F1, recall and area under the curve metrics. Then, all ML models were hyper parametrically tuned via grid search to optimise their performance and reduce their error times. The decision process was also evaluated to further enhance the models. The AdaBoost-ET model performed even when features were not selected for binary classification. The model proposed in this study can predict diabetes with unprecedented high accuracy compared with the models in previous studies.
Posture-dependent variable transmission mechanism for prosthetic hand inspired by human grasping characteristics
Authors: Chang Mun Hyeok , Jung Inchul , Seo Kang Woo , Park Jonghoo , Choi Hyungmin , Cho Kyu-Jin
Published: April 2024

Gripping objects firmly and quickly is an important function of the human hand for everyday life. Prosthetic devices face significant challenges in replicating these capabilities, particularly in achieving a delicate balance between swift grasping and substantial grip strength while adhering to weight and form-factor constraints. To address these challenges, this study introduces a novel posture-dependent variable transmission (PDVT) that mimics the human hand’s behavior by employing a spiral-shaped spool. The PDVT’s spiral-shaped spool replicates the human hand’s quick and gentle pre-contact movements followed by a stronger force application after contact with the object. Additionally, a compressive series elastic spring enhances tendon tension across a wide range of finger postures. The manufacturing method of PDVT, utilizing both 3D printing and metal processing, enables the creation of complex spiral shapes. The PDVT demonstrates improvements in both speed and grip strength compared to conventional rigid spool mechanisms. The PDVT has the potential to be applied to various robotic grasping systems.
Development and Evaluation of a Quality Assessment Tool for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Videos: A Review and Comparison of Academic and Online Video Resources
Authors: Alghazawi Laith , Fadel Michael G. , Chen Jun Yu , Das Bibek , Robb Henry , Rodriguez-Luna Maria Rita , Fakih-Gomez Naim , Perretta Silvana , Ashrafian Hutan , Fehervari Matyas
Published: April 2024

Background

Video recording of surgical procedures is increasing in popularity. They are presented in various platforms, many of which are not peer-reviewed. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) videos are widely available; however, there is limited evidence supporting the use of reporting guidelines when uploading LSG videos to create a valuable educational video.

We aimed to determine the variations and establish the quality of published LSG videos, in both peer-reviewed literature and on YouTube, using a newly designed checklist to improve the quality and enhance the transparency of video reporting.

Methods

A quality assessment tool was designed by using existing research and society guidelines, such as the Bariatric Metabolic Surgery Standardization (BMSS). A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was performed on MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify video case reports (academic videos) and a similar search was performed on the commercial YouTube platform (commercial videos) simultaneously. All videos displaying LSG were reviewed and scored using the quality assessment tool. Academic and commercial videos were subsequently compared and an evidence-based checklist was created.

Results

A total of 93 LSG recordings including 26 academic and 67 commercial videos were reviewed. Mean score of the checklist was 5/11 and 4/11 for videos published in articles and YouTube, respectively. Academic videos had higher rates of describing instruments used, such as orogastric tube (P < 0.001) and stapler information (P = 0.04). Fifty-four percent of academic videos described short-term patient outcomes, while not reported in commercial videos (P < 0.001). Sleeve resection status was not universally reported.

Conclusions

Videos published in the academic literature are describing steps in greater detail with more emphasis on specific technical elements and patient outcomes and thus have a higher educational value. A new quality assessment tool has been proposed for video reporting guidelines to improve the reliability and value of published video research.

Graphical abstract
100 anastomoses: a two-year single-center experience with robotic-assisted micro- and supermicrosurgery for lymphatic reconstruction
Authors: von Reibnitz Donata , Weinzierl Andrea , Barbon Carlotta , Gutschow Christian A. , Giovanoli Pietro , Grünherz Lisanne , Lindenblatt Nicole
Published: April 2024

Robotic-assisted microsurgery has gained significant attention in recent years following the introduction of two dedicated microsurgical robotic systems specifically designed for this purpose. These feature higher degrees of movement and motion scaling which are useful tools, especially when performing surgery in areas of the body which are difficult to access. Robotic-assisted microsurgery has been implemented in lymphatic surgery as well as soft tissue reconstructive surgery at our institution over the past 2.5 years. Our study gives an insight into the details and outcomes of the first 100 consecutive (super-) microsurgical anastomoses in peripheral and central lymphatic reconstruction performed with the Symani® Surgical System between 2021 and 2024. In total, 67 patients were treated, receiving robotic-assisted lymphatic reconstruction with lymphatic tissue transfer (LTT) and/or lymphovenous anastomoses (LVA)/lympholymphatic anastomoses (LLA). No anastomosis-associated complications were recorded postoperatively. The majority of patients reported a postoperative improvement of their lymphedema or central lymphatic disorder. In conclusion, we show the successful implementation of the Symani® Surgical System into our clinical practice of lymphatic reconstruction. Although the necessary intraoperative setup and the use of intrinsic motion scaling lead to a slight increase in operating time, the presented study demonstrates the advantages of robotic assistance which becomes particularly evident in lymphatic surgery due to the involved deep surgical sites and the need for supermicrosurgical techniques.
Radionuclide Theranostics in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: An Update
Authors: Di Franco Martina , Zanoni Lucia , Fortunati Emilia , Fanti Stefano , Ambrosini Valentina
Published: April 2024

Purpose of Review

This paper aims to address the latest findings in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) theranostics, focusing on new evidence and future directions of combined diagnosis with positron emission tomography (PET) and treatment with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Recent Findings

Following NETTER-1 trial, PRRT with [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE was approved by FDA and EMA and is routinely employed in advanced G1 and G2 SST (somatostatin receptor)-expressing NET. Different approaches have been proposed so far to improve the PRRT therapeutic index, encompassing re-treatment protocols, combinations with other therapies and novel indications. Molecular imaging holds a potential added value in characterizing disease biology and heterogeneity using different radiopharmaceuticals (e.g., SST and FDG) and may provide predictive and prognostic parameters. Response assessment criteria are still an unmet need and new theranostic pairs showed preliminary encouraging results.

PRRT for NET has become a paradigm of modern theranostics. PRRT holds a favorable toxicity profile, and it is associated with a prolonged time to progression, reduction of symptoms, and improved patients’ quality of life. In light of further optimization, different new strategies have been investigated, along with the development of new radiopharmaceuticals.
Mythos Co-Abhängigkeit
Authors: Bischof Gallus , Bischof Anja
Published: April 2024

Abhängigkeitserkrankungen sind mit hohen Belastungen für das soziale Umfeld verbunden. Während bereits seit den 1950er-Jahren Risiken für Kinder aus suchtbelasteten Familien anerkannt und untersucht wurden, wurde der Blick auf erwachsene Angehörige von Menschen mit Abhängigkeitserkrankungen in Versorgung und Populärpsychologie lange Zeit durch die Vorstellung einer defizitären Persönlichkeitsstruktur mitleidender Angehöriger konzeptualisiert, die unter dem Begriff der „Co-Abhängigkeit“ popularisiert wurde. Der vorliegende Beitrag skizziert den Umfang des Problems, empirische Beobachtungen zu Angehörigen von Menschen mit Abhängigkeitserkrankungen und stellt nicht-stigmatisierende Alternativen zum Co-Abhängigkeitsmodell dar.
Sozialstaat in Gefahr
Authors: Klundt Michael
Published: April 2024

Im bisherigen System der Familienleistungen erhalten die Reichsten am meisten und die Ärmsten am wenigsten. Derweil sind im System der Grundsicherung immer noch keine bedarfsgerechten Regelleistungen für Kinder vorgesehen und der Kinderzuschlag wie auch das Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket erreichen seit Jahren regelmäßig nicht einmal die Hälfte der berechtigten Kinder. Diesen dringenden Reformbedarf versuchen Konzepte einer Kindergrundsicherung zu bearbeiten, um Kinderarmut wirksam zu vermeiden und zu vermindern. Damit verbundene Fragen, Potenziale und Probleme einer Kindergrundsicherung hinsichtlich von Armut und Sozialstaatsentwicklung sind das Thema dieses Extrablicks.
Partial heart transplantation for destructive infective endocarditis
Authors: Mestres Carlos A. , Quintana Eduard
Published: April 2024

Infective endocarditis frequently spreads beyond the valve tissue, especially in the aortic location. Invasive endocarditis may lead to abscess formation or fistula, with substantial tissue loss. Here, the case of a 31-year-old male patient with destructive aortic and pulmonary valve endocarditis and a subaortic mural defect who underwent patch closure of the ventricular septal defect and aortic and pulmonary root replacement and right coronary artery bypass graft is presented. This is an uncommon condition and stress is placed on imaging of the technical aspects of the case.
The mediating role of mothers’ conflict resolution skills in the relationship between mothers’ communication skills and behavioral problems of children aged 3–6 years
Authors: Masaroğulları Nicel , Çerkez Yağmur
Published: April 2024

Although studies have revealed the importance and effect of mothers' communication levels on behavioral problems seen in children, the role of the other key variable in this relationship has not been adequately examined. This study aims to test a theoretical model developed based on the relevant literature to evaluate the mediating role of the mother's conflict resolution skills in the relationship between the behavioral problems of children aged 3–6 years and the mother's communication skills. The study was prepared based on the correlational survey model. Its sample consists of 410 mothers who have children in the age group of 3–6 years and live within the borders of Northern Cyprus. The mothers included in the sample were contacted using a stratified sampling method. The personal information form, Communication Skills Scale-Adult Form, Conflict Resolution Scale, and Social Competence and Behavior Assessment Scale were used to collect the data. Statistical data were analyzed using the SPSS 24.0 and Amos 21.0 software. The statistical analysis of the research data indicates that the fit indices, except for RMSEA, demonstrate that the χ2/df value has an acceptable fit and the GFI, NFI, and CFI values fall within the fit limits. According to the research findings, mothers' tendencies in conflict resolution significantly predict children's social competence and behaviors. Furthermore, the study reveals that mothers' communication skills do not significantly predict children's social competence and behaviors. As a result, it is determined that mothers' conflict resolution tendencies mediate the relationship between their communication skills and children's social competence and behaviors. In light of these findings, several recommendations are proposed for future research and practical applications.
Psychological vulnerability, emotional problems, and quality-of-life: Validation of the brief suicide cognitions scale for Turkish college students
Authors: Arslan Gökmen , Türk Nuri , Kaya Alican
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Brief Suicide Cognitions Scale (BSCS-T) and to explore the mediating role of emotional problems in the relationship between psychological vulnerability and suicide cognitions and quality of life among Turkish young adults. Participants were 418 students in Türkiye. The sample included 181 female (43.3%) and 237 male (56.7%) students aged 18–35 years (mean = 22.86, SD = 3.03). The results provided evidence to support the use of the BSCS-T as a means of identifying young people at high risk of suicide. Furthermore, the results showed that psychological vulnerability significantly and positively predicted emotional problems and suicidal cognitions among college students. In addition, psychological vulnerability negatively predicted students’ quality of life, and emotional problems played a mediating role between psychological vulnerability and both suicide cognitions and quality of life. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce suicide risk and improve psychological well-being. Further research in this area can contribute to suicide prevention efforts and the development of effective strategies to support at-risk individuals in college settings.
Stability analysis of a three-dimensional system of difference equations with quadratic terms
Authors: Yazlık Yasin , Fidancı Mehmet Cengiz , Hassani Murad Khan
Published: April 2024

This study is involved with a class of three-dimensional system of difference equations incorporating quadratic term, which naturally extends and improve several results in the literature. Firstly, we demonstrate the existence of fixed points, the boundedness, persistence and invariance of positive solution of the mentioned system. Later, for this system, we give the global asymptotic stability at fixed point and the rate of convergence result which play an important role in the discrete dynamical systems. And lastly, some numerical examples are given to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the theoretical findings.
The subjective treatment effects of COVID-19 on child well-being: evidence from Luxembourg
Authors: Andreoli Francesco , Kirsch Claudine , Peluso Eugenio , Prete Vincenzo
Published: April 2024

Estimating the impact of COVID-19 on the multiple dimensions of child well-being requires quasi-random variation in exposure to it, which is unlikely to occur during a pandemic. Recent developments in econometrics have highlighted the relevance of subjective evaluations of treatment effects in the absence of randomization. This paper delivers new evidence, based on primary data collected in Luxembourg in Spring 2021 about their subjective appraisal of the effects of COVID-19 on multiple dimensions of children’s well-being. Effects are recovered through specific survey questions, asking children to compare actual outcomes with counterfactual ones, that they believe would have occurred in the absence of COVID-19. Children report negative effects of COVID-19 on subjective health and on schooling outcomes, as well as disruptions on the time used to interact with the family. The paper explores the sources of heterogeneity behind these results.
Pilgrimage and State-Security: Visiting the Tombs of Tzadikim in the Socialist Hungary—Before 1989
Authors: Novak Attila
Published: April 2024

Visiting the graves of the (Hasidic) Rebbes of Bodrogkeresztúr, Nagykálló, Olaszliszka, Sátoraljaújhely and other (Hasidic) places of worship are unique manifestations of Jewish popular religiosity in Hungary. These visits are mainly made on the anniversaries of the deaths of the great Rabbis (“Yahrzeit”). The literature does not pay much attention to the fact that these customs were still alive during the decades of Socialism, and even after 1957, although to a limited extent, foreign citizens also took part in these pilgrimages. The pilgrims were monitored by State security. The increase in the intensity of state security surveillance was not related to religiosity, but to the anti-Zionist state policy that emerged in Eastern Europe after the Six-Day-War, which saw all Jewish organizations as Zionism. The study gives an account of the Rabbis behind the custom, the religious significance of the visit and its role in local society. At the same time, it also shows how the memory of the Hasidic “wonder rabbis” was passed on during the decades of the Hungarian Socialist Kádár regime. Moreover it presents how (from the point of view of the Socialist regime) the pilgrimage (peregrinatio religiosa) and participating in it became elements of the power-relationship system and what it meant for the church politics of the period.
Cultural nationalism and its effect on Chinese higher education: continuity and variation
Authors: Lin Jason Cong , Shen Yuting
Published: April 2024

Since 1840, Chinese political leaders have struggled to draw effectively from Western culture without abandoning the Chinese essence in their design of higher education. In this paper, we use cultural nationalism as the theoretical framework to examine how Chinese political leaders have responded to this challenge. Our analysis shows that cultural nationalism closely links to politics, and although the form taken by cultural nationalism has varied throughout Chinese history, it has significantly influenced Chinese higher education. In particular, we identify a strong cultural nationalism in today’s China, which has already influenced teaching and research in Chinese higher education. Finally, we discuss the implications and limitations of this paper, and call for critical reflections of cultural nationalism and its impact on Chinese higher education.
Evaluation of Pt–Rh Nanoparticle–Based Electrodes for the Electrochemical Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia
Authors: Amrine Roumayssa , Montiel Miguel A. , Montiel Vicente , Solla-Gullón José
Published: April 2024

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most used chemicals. Industrially, ammonia is produced by hydrogenation of N2 through the Haber–Bosch process, a process in which enormous amounts of CO2 are released and requires a huge energy consumption (~ 2% of the total global energy). Therefore, it is of paramount importance to explore more sustainable and environmentally friendly routes to produce NH3. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to ammonia represents a promising alternative that is receiving great attention but still needs to be significantly improved to be economically competitive. In this work, the NRR is studied on Pt–Rh nanoparticle–based electrodes. Carbon-supported Pt–Rh nanoparticles (2–4 nm) with different Pt:Rh atomic compositions were synthesized and subsequently airbrushed onto carbon Toray paper to fabricate electrodes. The electrochemical NRR experiments were performed in a H-cell in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution. The results obtained show interesting faradaic efficiencies (FE) towards NH3 which range between 5 and 23% and reasonable and reliable NH3 yield values of about 4.5 µg h−1 mgcat−1, depending on the atomic composition of the electrocatalysts and the metal loading. The electrodes also showed good stability and recyclability (constant FE and NH3 yield in five consecutive experiments).

Graphical Abstract

Pt–Rh nanoparticle–based electrodes were employed for the NRR to NH3 in 0.1 M Na2SO4. Interesting FE towards NH3 and reasonable and reliable NH3 yield values were observed depending on atomic composition and metal loading. Good stability and recyclability (constant FE and NH3 yield in five consecutive experiments) were also observed.
Anthropocene, planetary boundaries and tipping points: interdisciplinarity and values in Earth system science
Authors: Lam Vincent , Rousselot Yannick
Published: April 2024

Earth system science (ESS) and modelling have given rise to a new conceptual framework in the recent decades, which goes much beyond climate science. Indeed, Earth system science and modelling have the ambition “to build a unified understanding of the Earth”, involving not only the physical Earth system components (atmosphere, cryosphere, land, ocean, lithosphere) but also all the relevant human and social processes interacting with them. This unified understanding that ESS aims to achieve raises a number of epistemological issues about interdisciplinarity. We argue that the interdisciplinary relations in ESS between natural and social / human sciences are best characterized in terms of what is called ‘scientific imperialism’ in the literature and we show that this imperialistic feature has some detrimental epistemic and non-epistemic effects, notably when addressing the issue of values in ESS. This paper considers in particular the core ESS concepts of Anthropocene, planetary boundaries and tipping points in the light of the philosophy of science discussions on interdisciplinarity and values. We show that acknowledging the interconnections between interdisciplinarity and values suggests ways for ESS to move forward in view of addressing the climate and environmental challenges.
Child Sexual Abuse and Associated Factors Among High School Female Students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wada Habtamu Wana , Tesema Kassahun Fikadu , Temesgen Gebremaryam , Dinagde Dagne Deresa
Published: April 2024

Background

Child sex abuse is a severe violation of fundamental human rights that has numerous negative consequences, including physical and psychological ones, and is a huge global public health issue. It is a significant public health issue that affects millions of people annually around the world but is the least acknowledged and reported form of violence in Ethiopia against schoolgirls. Thus, this study is very important to provide recent information on the magnitude of sexual abuse and its associated factors.

Objective

This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of lifetime child sexual abuse and associated factors among high school female students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda (AZW), Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 randomly selected female high school students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda between December 20, 2022, and January 20, 2023. A stratified and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select participants from selected high schools. A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used, and the data were entered using EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS (the Statistical Package for Social Science) version 27. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with sexual abuse using binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05.

Result

In this study area, prevalence of child sexual abuse was 45% (95% CI 40.6–50.2). Students who slept alone at home (AOR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.46–16.67); having no open discussions with their parents (AOR = 4.49, 95% CI 1.62–12.47); drinking alcohol (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.32–8.28); and having friends who drink alcohol or chew chat (AOR = 6.14, 95% CI 1.58–23.9) were the identified factors associated with child sexual abuse.

Conclusion

This study found a high level of child sexual abuse among high school female students in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda. High schools must collaborate with parents to develop a strategy to reduce sexual abuse acting against human rights, focusing on identified factors.
A note on the compactness of the resolvent of the age-diffusion operator
Authors: Walker Christoph
Published: April 2024

The generator of the semigroup associated with linear age-structured population models including spatial diffusion is shown to have compact resolvent.
Change of vegetation cover and land use of the Pómac forest historical sanctuary in northern Peru
Authors: Vera E. , Cruz C. , Barboza E. , Salazar W. , Canta J. , Salazar E. , Vásquez H. V. , Arbizu C. I.
Published: April 2024

The dry forests of northern Peru, in the regions of Piura, Tumbes, Lambayeque, and La Libertad, have experienced significant changes as a result of deforestation and changes in land use, leading to the loss of biodiversity and resources. This work analyzed for the first time the changes in vegetation cover and land use of the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary (PFHS), located in the department of Lambayeque (northern Peru). The employed approach was the random forest algorithm and visually interpreted Landsat satellite images for the periods 2000–2002, 2002–2004, and 2004–2008. Gain and loss rates were computed for each period, and the recovery process was assessed using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). Results indicate an expansion of agricultural land during each period, resulting in the deforestation of 102.6 hectares of dense dry forest and 739.9 hectares of open dry forest between 2000 and 2008. The degree of reforestation in the cleared areas was measured using the NDVI and EVI indices, revealing an improvement from 0.22 in NDVI in 2009 to 0.36 in 2022, and from 0.14 to 0.21 in EVI over the same period. This study is expected to pave the way for executing land management plans, as well as the use and conservation of natural resources in the PFHS in a sustainable manner.
Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation of uninjured dominant shoulder in amateur rugby players vs a control group: a pilot study
Authors: Monteleone Giovanni , Tramontana Alfonso , Sorge Roberto
Published: April 2024

Background

Rugby is a sport involving a great number of shoulder collisions. Traumatic stress of the shoulder can weaken the static stabilizers and promote major injuries as dislocation or full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff. The goal of this study is to evaluate the clinical and ultrasonographic dominant shoulder factures in a group of amateur rugby players, with no history of shoulder injuries, and to compare them with those of a control group.

Methods

52 male subjects join in the study: 26 amateur rugby players and 26 subjects, which did not practice rugby or competitive sport. Clinical history was obtained from all subjects, followed by dominant shoulder physical and ultrasonographic exams.

Results

Rugby players showed a higher prevalence of positive clinical test, suggesting subacromial impingement than control group (p = 0.01).

Among rugby group, five players (19,2%) showed positive test for radiculopathy (p = 0,02), and ten players (73,1%) reported shoulder pain needing pain-reliever drugs at list one time in the last six months (p = 0.001). In rugby group, ultrasound exams showed 23,1% degenerative changes and 30,8% tendon calcifications in supraspinatus tendons (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Uninjured dominant shoulder of rugby players shows higher prevalence of clinical and ultrasound changes compare to control. Some rugby players without history of cervical symptoms show positive clinical test of cervical radiculopathy. Clinical and ultrasonographic monitoring of the shoulder can play a role in prevention and knowledge of silent shoulder damage in these athletes.
Residual subsidence time series model in mountain area caused by underground mining based on GNSS online monitoring
Authors: Lian Xugang , Shi Lifan , Kong Weiyu , Han Yu , Fan Haodi
Published: April 2024

The residual subsidence caused by underground mining in mountain area has a long subsidence duration time and great potential harm, which seriously threatens the safety of people's production and life in the mining area. Therefore, it is necessary to use appropriate monitoring methods and mathematical models to effectively monitor and predict the residual subsidence caused by underground mining. Compared with traditional level survey and InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) online monitoring technology has the advantages of long-term monitoring, high precision and more flexible monitoring methods. The empirical equation method of residual subsidence in mining subsidence is effectively combined with the rock creep equation, which can not only describe the residual subsidence process from the mechanism, but also predict the residual subsidence. Therefore, based on GNSS online monitoring technology, combined with the mining subsidence model of mountain area and adding the correlation coefficient of the compaction degree of caving broken rock and the Kelvin model of rock mechanics, this paper constructs the residual subsidence time series model of arbitrary point on the ground in mountain area. Through the example, the predicted results of the model in the inversion parameter phase and the dynamic prediction phase are compared with the measured data sequence. The results show that the model can carry out effective numerical calculation according to the GNSS monitoring data of any point on the ground, and the model prediction effect is good, which provides a new method for the prediction of residual subsidence in mountain mining.
Data-driven lithofacies prediction in complex tight sandstone reservoirs: a supervised workflow integrating clustering and classification models
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Zhu Peimin , Jiang Ren , Huolin Ma , Ashraf Umar , Zhang Hao , Hussain Wakeel
Published: April 2024

Lithofacies identification plays a pivotal role in understanding reservoir heterogeneity and optimizing production in tight sandstone reservoirs. In this study, we propose a novel supervised workflow aimed at accurately predicting lithofacies in complex and heterogeneous reservoirs with intercalated facies. The objectives of this study are to utilize advanced clustering techniques for facies identification and to evaluate the performance of various classification models for lithofacies prediction. Our methodology involves a two-information criteria clustering approach, revealing six distinct lithofacies and offering an unbiased alternative to conventional manual methods. Subsequently, Gaussian Process Classification (GPC), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Random Forest (RF) models are employed for lithofacies prediction. Results indicate that GPC outperforms other models in lithofacies identification, with SVM and ANN following suit, while RF exhibits comparatively lower performance. Validated against a testing dataset, the GPC model demonstrates accurate lithofacies prediction, supported by synchronization measures for synthetic log prediction. Furthermore, the integration of predicted lithofacies into acoustic impedance versus velocity ratio cross-plots enables the generation of 2D probability density functions. These functions, in conjunction with depth data, are then utilized to predict synthetic gamma-ray log responses using a neural network approach. The predicted gamma-ray logs exhibit strong agreement with measured data (R2 = 0.978) and closely match average log trends. Additionally, inverted impedance and velocity ratio volumes are employed for lithofacies classification, resulting in a facies prediction volume that correlates well with lithofacies classification at well sites, even in the absence of core data. This study provides a novel methodological framework for reservoir characterization in the petroleum industry.
A Discrete Version of the Half-Logistic Distribution Based on the Mimicking of the Probability Density Function
Authors: Barbiero Alessandro , Hitaj Asmerilda
Published: April 2024

We introduce a count distribution obtained as a discrete analogue of the continuous half-logistic distribution. It is derived by assigning to each non-negative integer value a probability proportional to the corresponding value of the density function of the parent model. The main features of this new distribution, in particular related to its shape, moments, and reliability properties, are described. Parameter estimation, which can be carried out resorting to different methods including maximum likelihood, is discussed, and a numerical comparison of their performances, based on Monte Carlo simulations, is presented. The applicability of the proposed distribution is proved on two real datasets, which have been already fitted by other well-established count distributions. In order to increase the flexibility of this counting model, a generalization is finally suggested, which is obtained by adding a shape parameter to the continuous one-parameter half-logistic and then applying the same discretization technique, based on the mimicking of the density function.
Measuring Teacher Talk and the Behavior of Autistic Students in Preschool Through Third-Grade Special Education Mathematics Activities
Authors: Sparapani Nicole , Birkeneder Sandy , Towers Laurel , Garcia Johanna Vega , Parks Cindy , Tseng Nancy , Fann Helen , Bullen Jennifer , Nunnally Amanda Dimachkie
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Teacher talk provides the medium for teaching and learning. However, there has been little emphasis on conceptualizing and measuring teacher talk within specific contexts and populations or the influence that child behavior has on teacher talk. We described and investigated varying models of teacher talk directed individually toward autistic students within 96 special education mathematics activities drawn from larger mathematics lessons. We also examined child behavior within mathematics contexts measured through observation and via teacher report.

Methods

Our participants included 39 preschool–third-grade teachers across 14 districts in California and their 66 autistic students (M
age = 6.74 years, SD = 2.04). We utilized archival video observations from the start of the school year collected as part of a longitudinal study examining a classroom-based intervention for autistic students.

Results

Our findings provide support for a five-factor model of teacher talk (instructional talk, questioning techniques, responsive language, directive language, and foundational talk) and shed light upon teachers’ overuse of directive language to direct or redirect autistic students’ behavior relative to the other talk dimensions. We also documented a significant positive association between teachers’ use of non-task-related directives and student emotion dysregulation.

Conclusions

This detailed evaluation of teacher talk provides a promising means for gauging the quality of instructional talk and the experiences of elementary-aged autistic students within special education mathematics contexts. Tailoring professional development for educators that centers on understanding developmental characteristics associated with autism and highlighting teacher talk as a targeted intervention is an area for further study.
Stair Climbing Improves Cognitive Switching Performance and Mood in Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial
Authors: Stenling Andreas , Quensell Jordan , Kaur Navjyot , Machado Liana
Published: April 2024

Although stair-climbing intervals provide a simple mode of physical activity that can be easily carried out in naturalistic settings and incorporated into the daily lives of a significant proportion of the global population, addressing physical inactivity issues, very little research has focused on the psychological benefits of stair climbing. To address this, the current prospectively registered randomized controlled crossover trial tested whether brief bouts of stair climbing (6 × 1 min intervals) elicit immediate subsequent improvements in cognitive performance and mood in a sample of healthy young adults (final sample: n = 52, 50% female, age range 18–24 years), with consideration of sex, physical activity habits, and exercise intensity as potentially relevant variables. Compared to a no-exercise control session, following the stair climbing participants exhibited superior cognitive switching performance and reported feeling more energetic and happy. In addition, linear regression analyses linked higher stair-climbing intensity (indicated by heart-rate data) to faster response latencies. None of the effects depended on sex or physical activity habits, which implies that males and females can benefit irrespective of their current physical activity habits. Collectively, these results demonstrate that interval stair climbing can confer immediate psychological benefits, providing further evidence in support of stair climbing as a promising means to address physical inactivity issues. TRN: ACTRN12619000484145, Date of registration: 25/03/2019.
Not Just Scraping By: Experimental Evidence for Large Cutting Tools in the High Lodge Non-handaxe Industry
Authors: Stileman Finn , Shipton Ceri , Ashton Nick
Published: April 2024

The presence or absence of handaxes endures as the major criterion of Lower Palaeolithic classification, with contemporaneous core-and-flake industries modelled as simpler counterparts to Acheulean technology. This is based on the supposed absence of formal tools, particularly of large cutting tools (LCTs) which are understood to be important within Acheulean lifeways, functioning as butchery knives among other uses. Scrapers from the core-and-flake industry of High Lodge (MIS 13) evidence formalised flake-tool production techniques, geared towards large tools with long cutting edges and acute angles, comparable in many respects to Acheulean handaxes. A holistic set of experiments was designed to test the production, efficiency, and practical utility of these scrapers. The experiments compared these scraper forms against handaxes and Quina scrapers. Their use in roe deer butchery indicates functional differences but demonstrates the appropriacy of both large, refined scrapers, and handaxes for processing carcasses of this size. The results support the inclusion of High Lodge scraper forms within the standard definition of LCTs. This interpretation challenges perceived discrepancies between handaxe and non-handaxe industries and deterministic explanations for Acheulean material culture. The feasibility of alternative LCTs supports the argument that the Acheulean represents socially inherited behaviours rather than latent reinventions.